Sean Collier Remembered at Pesky Pole Ceremony at Salem State

Silence, song and baseball brought family, friends and fans together Saturday at Salem State University to celebrate and remember.

They celebrated Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, a Salem State honorary degree recipient and Swampscott resident who died last summer at age 92.

They remembered Sean Collier, a 2009 Salem State University  criminal justice graduate, and victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. 

Sean, 26, was a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer shot and killed Thursday night in his vehicle near Vassar and Main Street in Cambridge.

Saturday's ceremonies came after days of violence and uncertainty in the region.

The ceremonies took place on a perfect red and green infield at the university’s baseball field, tucked at the end of a winding path by the central campus.

The ceremonies were simple:

Silence for victims of four senseless killings.

Singing by a Salem State a Capella group, Ssockapella, whose members sang the National Anthem at home plate.

Johnny's southpaw son David throwing out of the first pitch from the mound.

The rituals, the place and the time — after the marathon tragedy and a suspect's capture  — made the Johnny Pesky right field pole dedication all the more memorable.

Johnny hit 17 homers in his Red Sox career, at least some of which found the seats in Fenway Park's notably short porch in right field, where the foul pole is known as Pesky's Pole.

New England sports broadcasting legend Dick Flavin recalled his friend Johnny's occasional homers and his enduring influence on generations of Red Sox players from Yaz to Big Papi.

He also recalled how Johnny sacrificed three years of his baseball career serving the nation in the Navy during Word War II.

The shortstop, coach and manager was known as Mr. Baseball. 

In May 2009, Salem State University awarded Johnny the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

His citation stated, “You are an American icon, representing all that is good and real and honest about our nation and its national pastime.“

In retirement, Johnny spent time around the campus, interacting with students and employees at the Salem Diner across from Central Campus. The honorary degree was awarded to "a gentleman, one with a heart so large that you are unable to say ‘no’ to children who are ill, to charities that request your assistance and to every man, woman and child on the street who simply wishes to shake your hand and say ‘thank you’.”

Saturday's ceremonies came before the Salem State vs. Bridgewater State baseball game.

Soon, the players, with their easy banter and constant chatter, took the field.

Fans ate pop corn and hot dogs. Baseballs popped as they struck leather mitts and rang as they struck by bats and sailed to the outfield or skipped over the infeld grass.

The event was a great tribute to a great guy, her Uncle Johnny, said Janell Cameron of Swampscott.

It came at a time when it was needed, a pick-up after a tough week, said Janell.

"We all needed (it)," she said.