Just some quick thoughts. I’ll post more in depth about this weekend when I have more time.
The last few days have been like a dream. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony was overwhelming and a great opportunity to catch up with some of the stars that I had played with and against. Guys like Joe Morgan, who I have known for years, my former teammates: Pudge (Fisk), Eck (Eckersley), and Chicken Man (Boggs), and guys who I would frequently talk to about hitting during my playing days such as Reggie Jackson and Mike Schmidt, were all very supportive on this important day.
I also had the opportunity to acknowledge the people who had helped me get to where I am today: My wife and family have given me the stability and grounding I need, the countless supporters from my childhood in South Carolina who encouraged me to succeed in the field of athletics, and the people like Johnny Pesky, Cecil Cooper, and Don Zimmer who pushed me to superstar levels as a professional. I owe so much to these people and to the fans that have supported me and allowed me to make a living with this game that I love.
You played with so many guys over the years, are there many of them that you still keep in close touch with? I seem to remember you being close with Cecil Cooper, but surely there must have been others. Have you kept in touch with Freddy Lynn, Dewey Evans, or maybe even Yaz?
I am still close with Cecil. He is god parent to my kids and I’m god father of his kids.
One thing that the Red Sox are really good about is keeping players in touch and associated with the team through the Alumni Association.
We see a lot of players that I still see at events like: Pudge Fisk, Rico, Tommy Harper, Dewey, Freddy Lynn, Jim Lonborg, Mike Andrews, Yaz, Louis Tiant, and a lot of other guys. Once you affiliate with the Jimmy Fund you get to participate in the golf tournaments and see a lot of former players. The Red Sox are great at using the former players as team ambassadors. I see guys that I didn’t play with but knew of like Johnny Pesky, Frank Malzone, and Dom DiMaggio every year down spring training.
As former players, we are lucky to have this ownership group who finds ways to keep the former players in touch with each other and with the fans in Red Sox Nation.
