YAZ ... THEN AND NOW

In 1983, while attending an auctioneers' convention in Houston, TX, I drove my family to Arlington to see the Boston Red Sox! I figured it would be a chance in a lifetime to meet and greed the Sox. What stands out in my memory is shaking Carl Yastrzemski's hand. Ben and Josh obtained autographs of many Sox players.

Today's New York Times recounts both Yaz and his grandson Mike Yastrzemski's meeting at Fenway Park last night The headlines read "A Boston Legend is Beaming. His grandson Came to Visit."

I was serving in Vietnam when the Red Sox won the Pennant. It was a banner year for Yaz who won the triple crown. His 44 home runs tied with Harmon Killerbrew.

Carl Yastrzemski was truly a Heavy Hitter. He had a total of 452 home runs,  3,308 games and 3419 hits playing all 23 seasons for the Sox.. Yaz was humble. He played left field and the Green Monster then first base in his final years.

It is heartening to see Mike Yastrzemski playing in the Majors with the SF Giants. Yaz's only, Carl Jr. son died of a heart attack at age 43.


ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN