Eddie Popowski

Born: 1913
Died: December 4, 2001

Eddie Popowski didn't take the field in Major League as a player, but "Pop" spent 65 years as a member of the Boston Red Sox franchise. He died Dec. 4, 2001 at the age of 88.

He first joined the Red Sox organization in 1937, spending time as a player, a scout, a minor league manager and a Major League coach, a player-manager and a special instructor. 21 of those seasons were spent managing minor league teams. Popowski's teams finished first 14 times and 4 of those teams won pennants.

His major league debut came in 1967 as a third base coach with Boston. After serving as third base coach, first base coach an interim manager (9 games in 1969 and one in 1973), he became a special assignment coach in 1975.

"Today is just a sad day," said Johnny Pesky, in an online article. Pesky was serving the organization as a special assignment instructor. "I feel badly. He and (special instructor Charles) Wagner are the longest continuous employees in the organization.

"I remember the first year I met him was 1940. I was just out of high school and that was my rookie year. He was the second baseman and Eddie Pellagrini was the shortstop. He was always an active little guy. I coached with him with the Red Sox and really enjoyed it."