John “Johnny” Pesky was born in Portland, Oregon and went off to play baseball rather than going to college. He has a wonderful family. He learned to play baseball in Catholic grammar school. A nun worked with him to develop his early skills. He built a bond with her over time and would return to visit her after completing grammar school. He had good coaching and players in high school to help him. He played mostly shortstop and some second base. His first two years were spent with minor league teams before making it to the Boston Red Sox. After one year, he went into the Navy in 1942 and missed three years of major league play. He returned after the war and played with some great players such as Ted Williams and Dom DiMaggio and second baseman Bobby Doyle. Williams was the greatest hitter ever and Doyle is in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. All four came from the west coast of the United States and became good friends.

John “Johnny” Pesky volunteered for the Navy because he did not want to be drafted. He got into a program where he was attached to air [Annotator's Note: V-5 US Navy Aviation Cadet Program, 1939 to 1943]. He was a bad flier, but got his commission after a few months. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor [Annotator’s Note: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii] while his brother stationed in Guam. It was a fun time for Pesky. Pesky thought the Navy would serve better food and keep him out of the weather and snow. The food was always very good. He entered the Navy in Boston [Annotator’s Note: Boston, Massachusetts] and got involved in a flight program in Amherst, Massachusetts. In four months, he learned to fly a Piper Cub. Next was Chapel Hill [Annotator’s Note: Chapel Hill, North Carolina] for three months to get in shape. He next flew biplanes, but could not understand code. The Navy looked for people like him. He played baseball for the Navy from the beginning at Chapel Hill. After getting his wings, he played ball on the base with other professional players. They played 30 or 40 games a year. They had to do their work, but were also allowed to play games. At Pearl Harbor, he was a station officer. He was a jack of all trades and master of none. It was like going to class to follow a veteran and learn from him. It was serious business. He went to forward areas after they were cleaned out. He worked with Navy air. He learned more and more as he progressed and stood duty on the base. He was in the Navy for a year before reaching Pearl Harbor. Pesky kept in touch with his brother in forward areas and when he came to Pearl. The Navy provided equipment for Pesky to play with Ted Williams and other professional players. President Roosevelt [Annotator's Note: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States] wanted baseball to provide relaxation for the troops. Games were played around various bases located in Hawaii to entertain those based there. Pesky remembers being harassed by personnel who wanted to see a game played despite the rainy weather. The spectators complained to the players that they had to exist through bad weather in the forward areas and were not about to let the ballplayers off the hook due to rain [Annotator’s Note: he laughs]. It was good-natured kidding. They did not like ballplayers because they were given too much. It is even worse with players now. There were military baseball leagues with various teams. Some of the young men would be lost in the forward areas. It was sad to lose a friend, but Pesky had to press on with his Naval duties. He was happy to return to the States to play ball. He could have kissed the president. He needed points to leave the Navy [Annotator's Note: a point system was devised based on a number of factors that determined when American servicemen serving overseas could return home]. He had just enough to separate as an ensign [Annotator's Note: lowest rank of commissioned officer in the US Navy and Coast Guard; O1]. If he would have stayed another month, he would have been promoted to lieutenant (j.g.) [Annotator's Note: lieutenant junior grade, second rank of commissioned officer in the Navy and Coast Guard; O2]. Pesky was proud of his achievement. He served little time in the brig [Annotator's Note: military prison aboard a Naval vessel or base; slang for jail]. His behavior was impeccable. He considered staying in the Navy, but could make more money playing ball. He did what he liked.

John “Johnny” Pesky was in baseball his whole life. It enabled him to see a lot of things and play with some great players. The money improved, but not to the extent that it is today. Players today are paid in one year what players earned in a lifetime during his career. It is a matter of how people react. There are more lawyers and shoemakers today who are baseball fans and have experience in playing sports during their lifetime. Pesky copied baseball heroes he had while growing up and starting his professional career. He learned from them. When Pesky returned from the Navy, he was anxious to get discharged in Seattle [Annotator’s Note: Seattle, Washington]. He had just enough points [Annotator's Note: a point system was devised based on a number of factors that determined when American servicemen serving overseas could return home] to get out, unlike his brother who had to stay in the military longer to reach the right level. His brother was a medic on Guam and was discharged in Pearl Harbor [Annotator’s Note: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii]. Four months after discharge, Pesky returned to playing baseball. He was discharged in January [Annotator’s Note: January 1946] and four months later, he was back in the ballpark. He had a normal life and although he wanted a better salary, he was not greedy. His behavior as a Naval officer affected his later life. He was admired for his commission even though he had not received a college education. He is a left handed hitter that throws right. Others may do the opposite. There are switch hitters, but he preferred to see the ball. He was hit in the coconut [Annotator’s Note: he taps his head] several times. The gag was that his head was examined and nothing was found. It was all good-natured. He did not get mad easily even though he might have been taunted from the opposing dugout. He wanted to hear what they said so that he would know who he liked and who he disliked. If someone was a better player, he was to be admired. You learned from the good people. There was a joke by broadcaster Mel Parnell [Annotator’s Note: Melvin Parnell was a Boston Red Sox pitcher turner radio and television announcer for their games] about Pesky’s Pole in right field. It started with a 1948 game where Pesky hit one around the pole. Pesky was flattered by that since he only hit 17 home runs in his career. He did hit a lot of singles without striking out much and could run with the good legs God gave him. He played with Ted Williams and Vern Stephens who hit a lot of home runs. Pesky played against great hitters like Joe DiMaggio and Hank Bauer. Pesky meanwhile would hit through and over the infielders [Annotator’s Note: he motions with a swiftness to show how he did so, then he smiles]. Pesky’s instincts improved as he watched the good players. He mimicked them, but he had to be himself. The lead players in the line-up hit .300 or better. The lead-off hitters were Dominic DiMaggio, Pesky, Ted Williams, Vern Stephens and Bobby Doerr [Annotator’s Note: Boston Red Sox line-up of hitters in the late 1940s and early 1950s]. Hitting .300 as a team results in a lot of runs. Sometimes Pesky would turn to get hit just to get Williams up to bat. It stung a bit but the extra run was worth it. The hurt leaves after a while. Today, Pesky has a good medical plan through Mass General Hospital for Fenway [Annotator’s Note: Fenway Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team]. The best doctors help the players. There is a three man staff at Boston that is very good. The Red Sox are privileged to have them. Each new player gets a good physical. Coaching was a lot of fun for Pesky. He did that for a while [Annotator’s Note: in the early 1960s and in 1980]. Certain players required extra attention. Wade Boggs, a Hall of Famer, is an example. He had to have extra work on ground balls. Jim Rice hit a lot of home runs, but had trouble with his throws. Some players can adjust and others cannot. Pesky liked playing best. It provided for his family. If he was 25 years of age today, he could make a few bucks with his skills.

John “Johnny” Pesky learned to show up on time and be on time in the Navy. He found tough decisions when choosing between those that slack up and those that have less talent. A slacker may tighten up later. It is important to continue to study World War 2. He hopes there are no more wars. He learned from the college guys. His brother was a college guy, but Pesky was a better player [Annotator’s Note: he smiles]. To thine own self be true is a rule that he learned in life. Baseball provided him with a lot of opportunities. The athlete today is better than during Pesky’s day. To future generations, Pesky would tell them to maintain the rules and regulations in baseball. There will be good players and those who are not. Practice helps improve throwing and hitting skills. If you get hurt, you have to find another course in life. The strength within yourself is the important thing.

John “Johnny” Pesky found himself lost while flying during flight training. Landing in a farmer’s field, he admitted that he could not find his base. He was performing stunts and thought he was another Eddie Rickenbacker [Annotator’s Note: Edward Rickenbacker was a distinguished flying ace of World War 1]. The farmer said others had gotten lost that week besides Pesky. He pointed the correct direction for Pesky to fly. After missing a tree at takeoff, he found the field directly over it. He learned to fly by habit. The same was true of hitting for Pesky. When he went to Pearl harbor [Annotator’s Note: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii], he was officer of the day on base. He spotted an impaired officer being aggressive with a female officer. Pesky informed the male officer that he had to stop or he would call the Marine Shore Police. The male agreed to the relief of the female officer. Later, the male officer apologized. Pesky knew that he would have broken the man’s arms if he had not agreed to stand down. Pesky was wiry and strong at the time. He was captain of the base and would have had to subdue a lieutenant commander. Pesky was glad to get out of the Navy.