The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 61

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2004 The Boston Pesky happy to be back Win would help make up for '46 ByBobHohler GLOBE STAFF Only yesterday, which will be announced today Ed Montague, who has 28 years of service, including the 1986 World Series, will serve as the crew chief. Montague will work behind the plate in Game 1, with Dale Scott at first base, Brian Gorman at second, Chuck Meriwether at third, Gerry Davis in left field, and Charlie Relif ord in right. All have World Series experience, except Gorman and Meriwether Steven Tyler will perform the national anthem and "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson will sing "God Bless America" for Game 1. James Taylor will sing the anthem and Donna Summer will perform "God Bless America" forGame2. Sox are 6-3 in Series openers.

Johnny Pesky was eating breakfast at his regular spot on the North Shore when someone else reminded him of a student who died on Lansdowne Street during a celebration that spun out of control after they won the pennant. "Her death was a tragic accident," Mike Timlin said. "Hopefully, everyone will learn from it." Manager Terry Francona urged fans to party peacefully. "I hope we give them a lot of reason to celebrate over the next week," he said, "but I also hope they use some common sense." Trot Nixon added, "I'd give Game 7 back to have her back. It's up to the public to enjoy the moment but not get stupid." Byung Hyun Kim, Pedro Asta-cio, and Lenny DiNardo, who had worked out in Fort Myers, since the end of the regular season in case the Sox needed them, returned to Boston and received the team's thanks.

None were expected to be added to the Series roster, RED SOX NOTEBOOK John Powers of the Globe staff contributed to this report. FALL FLOOR MODEL .4 treadmills ellipticals bikes stairclimbers home gyms THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE TRUSTED FITNESS CO. IN N.E. HUGE SELECTION BEST SERVICE SINCE 1988 .1, RECISIOH ESS HPPi INWARD WINNIM A FINANCING A QUIPMENT moment that has stayed with him for 58 years. The 85-year-old Pesky was getting ready to ride to Fenway Park, where the Red Sox held their final workout before they open the 100th World Series tonight against the Cardinals on YawkeyWay.

"You think they're going to hold the ball?" the wise guy cracked. On Oct 15, 1946, the Sox and Cardinals were deadlocked, 3-3, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 7 of the World Series at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Enos Slaughter of Cardinals was running on a pitch that Harry Walker hit to left-center for a double. By the time Sox center fielder Leon Culberson weakly threw the ball to Pesky, and Pesky fired to the plate, Slaughter had scored the decisive run, lifting the Cardinals to a 4-3 victory and a world championship.

"If I had a Nomar Garcia- parra arm, I might have had him," Pesky said. "I knew as soon as I got the ball, I couldn't get him." The loss was the first of four straight for the Sox in the seventh game of a World Series. They also lost Game 7 in 1967 (again to the Cardinals), '75 (to the Reds), and '86 (to the Mets). And Pesky was blamed for holding the ball too long, though he was exonerated from the start by his teammates, and since then by historians. "I hope it doesnt break the kid's heart," Pesky said he heard his manager, Joe Cronin, utter at the time.

Pesky and Bill Buckner, who committed a game-turning error in Game 6 of the '86 Series, have served as the chief scapegoats for Boston's 86-year championship drought even though countless factors have contributed to the phenomenon. So the Sox would Visit us at www.pfe-inc.com ym, HI GAME MOT HEfiDQUfiRYERS! love to win the 2004 Series, in part, for Pesky. 'Tor all the people who had to suffer from 1918 until now, this is for them, especially Johnny," hitting coach Ron Jackson said. Pesky, who still keeps a corner locker in the Sox" clubhouse, remains a favorite among the players. "Someone gets blamed in every World Series, and it just happened to be him," Alan Embree said.

"I think he's relishing the fact we're back." Indeed, he is. "I want to see them win because it's been a long time coming," Pesky said. "I can die happy then." High Lowe After starting the postseason in the bullpen, Derek Lowe appeared proud to return to the starting rotation after his exceptional performance against the Yankees in Game 7 of the Championship Series to help clinch the American League pennant He noted that the last four times he has pitched in the postseason over the last two years, he has helped the Sox stave off elimination. "The more times you're out in that situation, the better," he said. "In the playoffs, you go with the hot guys.

Coming into the playoffs, I was about as cold as you could get. You understand why you got sent to the pen even though you didnt want to. You just try and take advantage of opportunities you're given." Lowe will be available in the bullpen in the first two games Bill Mueller's last World Series was 1982, when he was 1 1 and his hometown Cardinals played the Brewers. "I was at the seventh game with my dad up in the right-field nosebleed section," he said. "Cecil Cooper hit a homer up by us, but the Cardinals won, so that was pretty cool." Many of Mueller's friends and relatives still live in St Louis.

"They're torn, I guarantee you," he said. "There's some confusion right now. I'm going to find out who my true friends and relatives are." Mueller also has a bad memory of Busch Stadium. He suffered a devastating knee injury there when he slammed into a wall chasing a foul ball in 2001 The Sox expressed sorrow for Victoria Snelgrove, the 21-year-old Emerson College I 1 POOL TABLES GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICES ON ALL POOL TABLES AND GAME TABLES 1 TORNADO --J FOOSBALL HOCKEY BAR STOOLS 4 J- DMIU RECREATION SJ VWOR! -P ST0RE H0URS: M0N- m-10 AM 9 PM Ujp SAI. 10 AM 6 rlI, 3UN.

li rm 5 rM 1278 Worcester Road Route 9 Natick, Sherwood Plaza (Behind Pizza Hut, facing Natick Mall) (508) 655-5111.