Monday's Johnny Pesky Celebration Ended at Fenway

Janell Cameron of Swampscott joined fellow members of the Johnny Pesky family, close friends of No. 6 and Red Sox ownership and players at Fenway Park for a private ceremony to celebrate Mr. Red Sox on Monday.

The group gathered upstairs behind home plate overlooking the field — seeing the grass mowed behind Johnny's position, shortstop, to reveal his uniform number, 6. 

The scoreboard showed No. 6 at bat, and a video tribute to Johnny played on an outfield video display, said Janell, Johnny's niece.

The celebration followed Johnny's funeral mass and burial in Swampscott. 

The Fenway nightcap included former players Nomar Garciaparra, Luis Tiant, Bill Lee. It included a buffet and a lot of stories about Johnny, said Janell, the Hadley School secretary.

Rich Flavin recited poems and former players spoke.

One of them recalled that Johnny earned $20,000 in 1947 when he batted .324 and had 207 hits — and his pay was cut to $17,500 the next season because of his low RBI and homer numbers.

Janell said his baseball earnings were not an issue for her Uncle Johnny.

She recalled him saying how lucky he was, getting to do his favorite thing — playing baseball.

Johnny who lived in Swampscott died at the age of 93 on Monday, Aug. 13.

He is buried in the next to his wife, Ruth.

He visited Fenway for the final time a week earlier when the Red Sox played and beat the Minnesota Twins.