The Great Carl Yastrzemski

Carl Yastrzemski’s Early Life

Carl Yastrzemski was born in 1939 in Southampton, New York, and grew up on Long Island on a potato farm. His father, Carl Sr., was a semi-pro but never played in the major leagues. The younger Yaz attended Bridgehampton High School, where he excelled as a three-sport athlete. Several colleges recruited him to play football where he was a standout but decided to pursue both baseball and basketball at Notre Dame.

The Red Sox signed him to a minor league contract in 1959, and he made his major league debut with the team a few years later in April of 1961. Yastrzemski quickly established himself as one of the best players in baseball even in the shadows of the legendary Ted Williams.

His Time Playing For The Boston Red Sox And Legendary 1967 Season

One of the most iconic baseball players of all time, Carl Yastrzemski, played his entire 23-year career with the Boston Red Sox. He made his Major League debut in 1961 and quickly became known for his hitting prowess. In 1967, he had one of the most legendary seasons in baseball history, leading the Red Sox to a World Series appearance while also winning the Triple Crown. Throughout his career, Yastrzemski was revered for his class and sportsmanship, setting the example for future generations of players.

Yaz retired from baseball in 1983 with 3,419 hits, 452 home runs, and 1,844 RBIs. Arguably the most productive career for a Red Sox player not named Ted Williams.

Yaz’s Retirement From Baseball And His Life After Sports

Yaz was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989, and his number (8) was retired by the Red Sox that same year. Carl Yastrzemski is one of the few players who truly lived up to the legend surrounding him, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest players in Red Sox and baseball history.

Even many years after his retirement in 1983, he does not feel totally comfortable around the million-dollar ballplayers and chooses not to be in the spotlight for the fans. He occasionally makes appearances at Fenway, such as throwing out the first pitches of the ’04, ’07, ’13, and ’18 World Series.

Although he knows everyone in Boston loves him and misses him, he has moved on and does not want to think about it. As he said, “I don’t like to reminisce about when I played. I had my day in the sun, and it’s over with”. Today, he works as a roving hitting instructor for the Red Sox and enjoys fishing in his free time.

Grandson Mike

His grandson, Mike Yastrzemski, now plays for the San Francisco Giants.

Mike was born in Andover, Massachusetts, and played baseball and football in high school. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013 after playing his college ball at Vanderbilt University. Mike would later make his debut for the San Francisco Giants in 2019 and has become a starter for them over the past few seasons. Including finishing 8th in the MVP voting during the pandemic shortened 2020 campaign.

Mike has said that his grandfather is his biggest baseball influence and that he’s incredibly proud to be following in his footsteps. Like his granddad, he is an outfielder and bats left-handed. Continuing the legacy of one of the greatest players in baseball history.

What Is Your Favorite Carl Yastrzemski Moment?