Red Sox bring back Jacoby Ellsbury for Dustin Pedroia night
Beyond the Monster is an ongoing series where we take you back in time and look at moments in Red Sox history.
During the 2021 season, the Red Sox honored retired second baseman Dustin Pedroia in front of a sold-out Fenway Park.
The Red Sox paid tribute to Pedroia for “Dustin Pedroia Day” against their arch rivals the New York Yankees. The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry hasn’t been anything like it was back in the early 2000’s.
There’s been some moments over the last few years including when Ryan Braiser told Gary Sanchez to “get in the f-cking [batters] box”. The Red Sox also played Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” following the 2018 playoff match up when the Red Sox eliminated the Yankees from the postseason.
Whenever Boston holds a ceremony at Fenway Park, the club pulls out all the stops. The Red Sox stuck it to the Yankees and their fan base with some special guests. The Red Sox had some guests for Pedroia. Tim Wakefield, Mike Lowell and Jacoby Ellsbury.
The former Red Sox center fielder made a surprise appearance for Pedoria’s ceremony that had Fenway Park buzzing.
Ellsbury played seven seasons with the Red Sox and won two World Series with the club. He played 715 games, with 865 hits, 65 home runs and 314 RBIs with the Red Sox.
Following the 2013 World Series win, Ellsbury was a free agent and he decided to pull a Johnny Damon and sign with the Yankees. New York would sign the speedy center fielder to a seven-year, $153 million deal.
Ellsbury never had the same success in New York like he had in Boston. He’s Yankees tenure was filled with ailments and injuries. He only played 520 games with the Bronx Bombers before eventually being released back in 2019.
The Yankees signing of Ellsbury was one of the worst contracts handed out by general manager Brian Cashman.
The Red Sox bringing back Ellsbury to help honor Pedroia was not only fitting but an amazing troll job. During Ellsbury’s time in Boston he was the clubs primary leadoff hitter. He would hit directly in front of Pedroia forming a formidable one-two punch at the time of the order.
“Me and Ells were tight,” Pedroia said following the ceremony. “He hit in front of me all the time and we had some conversations that were legendary. We kind of came up together, pushed each other. He meant a lot to me. His family does, too. He’s a great guy.”
Red Sox fans were upset when Ellsbury left for the enemy. However, Friday night helped begin to erase that anger as the former leadoff hitter was there for Pedroia, wearing the home whites with No. 2 on the back.
Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisHenrique
For additional Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, MLB and NFL content follow Beyond the Monster on Twitter @BeyondtheMnstr.