ohnny Pesky heard the news yesterday while watching his old team play the Blue Jays on television. There was John Harrington, talking about the proposal for a 45,000-seat stadium that will replace Fenway Park. There were the diagrams, showing the new dimensions that will mirror the ones in the current edition.
Pesky, a fixture on Yawkey Way since the 1940s, isn't one to hold onto memories too tightly. He's excited about the prospect of a new ballpark. He's hoping to be around when it opens.
But the first time he sees the new park, the old one will tug on his heartstrings.
''When you go into the park for over 50 years,'' Pesky said, ''it's like going into an old house and putting on your slippers and robe.
''But you can't stand in the way of progress.''
Former Sox relief pitcher Dick Radatz knew this day was coming. When your rivals are able to outspend you for free agents, a state-of-the-art ballpark quickly becomes a necessity.
''I think it's a wonderful idea,'' Radatz said. ''They're trying to preserve what they have as much as they can.
''Obviously I'm hoping they have bigger seats. Hopefully they're facing the playing surface.''
Radatz said changes in the baseball marketplace have forced many teams to build new stadiums. For the Red Sox, a new park should produce a better team.
''There's less talent coming through the minor leagues,'' Radatz said. ''You have to keep your thumb on the free agent market.''
When Pesky visits the current park, he sees small seats, parking problems, and congestion. He thinks the new place should fix that.
''Hopefully it'll loosen this place up,'' Pesky said, ''but keep the significance of what Fenway Park was to this area.''
Included in that significance are the six days each season when the New York Yankees come to town. When Radatz pitched in the early '60s, that rivalry represented some of his favorite Fenway memories.
''It was a big thrill to see the Mantles and Marises,'' Radatz said. ''It gave us all a big lift.''
