The Red Sox Rolled Out The Red Carpet For The Nature Boy For Dustin Pedroia Night Tonight And It Was Everything And More
For everything Red Sox ownership is guilty of, and worthy of criticism for, they somehow manage to find ways to tip the scales back to even with stuff like this.
And make no mistake, when you see stuff like this, that actually “works”, and resonates in a positive fashion with the fan base, ownership has nothing to do with it other than saying “yah let’s do that” and then taking all the credit for it.
This was all the work of the little people behind the scenes in the marketing and PR departments that actually make shit happen and move the needle, because those are the forward, outside-the-box thinkers that conceptualized and executed tonight.
Pedroia officially called it a career in February, maybe a couple years later than he should have after years of chronic knee injuries. But props to the Red Sox for not muddying the waters, shipping him, or ruining the relationship. In fact, they went above and beyond by surprisingly inducting Pedroia into the Red Sox Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Usually, that honor is reserved for players 5 years after their career is over, but for Pedroia, they made a special exception.
They started the night off by announcing Pedroia like he was a WWE superstar, he came out of center field to co2 blasts, pyro, and cannons like it was a fuckin Barstool Blackout Show. The only thing missing was Devlin in a Darth Vader costume.
Then they rolled a tribute video that brought the entire causeway to tears.
Then they brought out a surprise guest list that included Tim Wakefield, Mike Lowell and the most overpaid athlete of all time Jacoby Ellsbury. Following that were video messages played on the big screen from the likes of Terry Francona (which was great to see and speaks volumes to how beloved Pedroia is considering how dirty Sox brass did him upon his exit), the best announcer in the biz Don Orsillo, and of course, the one and only David Ortiz.
What a friggin picture
You would think that was the end of it, but the surprises weren’t over. Next thing you know Pedro Martinez and Luis Tiant swaggered in. Holding hands and all.
It was like the greatest episode of “This Is Your Life” of all time.
Somehow after all that Pedroia was somehow capable of throwing out a ceremonial first pitch to former teammate-turned-manager Alex Cora.
Everybody though that was it. And it began to wind down. And it would have been an incredible tribute if it was the end. But the surprises weren't done.
The Space Odyssey 2001 theme boomed from the speakers and, holy fuck, that's the Nature Boy's music!
Out strode the stylin', profilin', limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin' n' dealin' son of a gun!
Not sure Pedoia has ever been as happy as he was in this moment, ever in his life.
After they finally wound things down for real Pedro gave Pedroia a wheel barrow ride because that’s what Pedro does, and I continue to maintain Pedro has got to be the best fucking guy to drink with and listen to tell stories currently alive today. I honestly would give anything.
Talk about a job well done by the Red Sox to honor and say thank you to somebody who did so much for their organization and the community they reside in.
It's refreshing to see a professional sports organization do right by a guy who means so much to its fans and who did so much for them. And by do right by a guy I mean go above and beyond, like the Sox did tonight.
Hats off to a hell of a career Dustin Pedroia.
p.s. - never forget one of the best rundowns ever
p.p.s. - One of the best quotes that summed Dustin Pedroia up to a t, from the fuckin man Joe Maddon, (also one of the only guys not to treat me like the red-headed step child when he was in Chicago) -
"That guy shouldn't even be in the LEAGUE, and look at him. He has A LOT of Pete Rose in him."
p.p.p.s. - is this the best photo ever?