The Red Sox honored a legend Sunday.
A statue of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski was unveiled outside of Fenway Park’s Gate B during an emotional ceremony that included former and current Red Sox players. The statue depicts Yaz tipping his helmet to the fans at Fenway Park before his final at-bat on Oct. 2, 1983.
Yaz played 23 seasons, all with the Red Sox. He is Boston’s all-time leader in games played (3,308), runs (1,816), hits (3,419) and RBIs (1,844), and he won a Triple Crown during the Red Sox’ 1967 Impossible Dream season. The statue is a perfect tribute to a guy who left it all on the field while enjoying a ton of success over a lengthy career.
“It means tremendous importance to me,” Yastrzemski said during Sunday’s ceremony. “This is as important to me as being elected to the Hall of Fame and having my number retired. It’s a tremendous honor.”
Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Luis Tiant and Bill Lee were among the former players in attendance Sunday. Current players included Dustin Pedroia, Jonny Gomes, Daniel Nava and manager John Farrell. It was an emotional day that was capped with Yaz throwing out the first pitch before the Red Sox’ game against the Blue Jays.
