RE “RED Sox legend Johnny Pesky dies” (Page A1, Aug. 14):
As a teenager I belonged to a small club of girls who were rabid baseball fans. The World War II was over, and all the great Sox players had returned from the service. The air at Fenway Park buzzed with excitement.
Our group wanted to honor one of the players, and I don’t know how the choice was made, but we were thrilled when our leader informed us that the fabulous Johnny Pesky and his wife had accepted our invitation to attend a meeting the following week.
We hastily made preparations, hiring a small meeting room in downtown Boston and ordering a cake. But what would we do for a program after the introductions were made? Luckily there was a piano in the room, and as I had studied for several years I was delegated to provide the entertainment. We ended, of course, with a lively group rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
Johnny and Ruthie were extremely gracious and lots of fun to be with. Our club officially became the Johnny Pesky Fan Club.
And a great privilege came our way — during the late innings of many an afternoon game at Fenway we were secretly allowed in to cheer on our hero.