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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
We all think that we might know a good amount about sports; more specifically, baseball. Everybody in the greater-Boston area has that friend or that older relative who is really good at telling stories about the Red Sox or remembering players and their accomplishments. Few, however, are better at doing it than Herb Crehan.
For the past 21 years, Crehan has been a main contributor to Red Sox Magazine, where he has written over 100 feature articles on specific players, games, or team events and achievements. Crehan also runs his own website called bostonbaseballhistory.com, where there are hundreds of articles about the city of Boston’s incredible history with the sport of baseball.
On Monday, Crehan visited the Needham Council On Aging to discuss his experience covering the Red Sox for so many years with local seniors, while also discussing and relating to the favorite Red Sox memories and experiences of his audience.
Among the many favorite names mentioned by Crehan were: Bobby Doer, Dustin Pedroia, Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, Mookie Betts, Johnny Pesky, Jimmy Piersall, Mel Parnell, Tim Wakefield, Orlando Cabrera, Pedro Martinez, Frank Malzone, and of course, the due-to-be retired “Big Papi,” David Ortiz.
Crehan was very complimentary of a man who he says was not only one of his favorite all-time Red Sox players, but also one of his favorite all-time people.
“Johnny Pesky was a heck of a player. I was fortunate enough to meet him several times and write a couple of nice pieces on him,” said Crehan. “Out of all the Sox players I’ve ever met, Pesky was probably the nicest out of all them, a true gentleman.”
The audience of about 45 seniors agreed with Crehan, with several people raising their hands and telling stories about Pesky’s kindness.
A great debate amongst all of Red Sox Nation the last few years has been which World Series Championship (’04. ’07, ’13) was the your favorite? Crehan said the decision is a tough one, but 2013 was extremely special to him.
“The ’04 team will obviously go down as the greatest Red Sox team ever simply because they were able to finally beat the Yanks and reverse the curse,” said Crehan. “Personally, the 2013 championship was my favorite one because, to that point, out of all my years covering the Sox, I had never seen them win it at Fenway, and they finally did in 2013. That was a special night for me and one that I will never forget, especially after the horrible events that took place at the marathon that year.”
Of course, Crehan also had to offer his insight on David Ortiz and his incredible career when asked by the audience.
“David has done so much for this city and this fan base, and he’ll no-doubt go down as one of the greatest and most clutch hitters to ever exist,” said Crehan. “The way he’s just been ripping the cover off the ball this season at his age [40] has been extremely special. You’ll never see another guy like him wearing a Sox uniform. He’s a one in a million.”
