By Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY 

Johnny Pesky, the one-time teammate of Ted Williams who spent more than a half-century in the Red Sox organization, and whose name became synonymous with the right field foul pole at Fenway Park, has died. He was 92.

Pesky, a lifetime .307 hitter in 10 major league seasons, gave up three years of his career in his early 20s to, like Williams, serve in World War II. The 5-foot-9 shortstop hit just 17 career home runs, but a home run he hit on behalf of Red Sox pitcher Mel Parnell - just inside the right field foul pole, 302 feet from home plate - earned that landmark the designation "Pesky's Pole." The moniker became official in 2006.

There weren't many hats he didn't wear on behalf of the Red Sox - player, broadcaster, coach and - from 1963-64 and 1980 - as their manager. He was a tireless ambassador for the club, be it at their spring training base in Fort Myers, Fla., or

The club retired his No. 6 in 2008.