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Yaz undergoing bypass
BALTIMORE - Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski will have to undergo heart bypass surgery because of a blockage in one of his main arteries, a source with knowledge of the situation indicated. Yaz is at Massachusetts General Hospital, but there was no further word on the number of blockages the 1967 Triple Crown winner is dealing with.
NESN broadcaster Jerry Remy was reminscing about Yaz in the Sox clubhouse this afternoon.
"I remember him sitting in the clubhouse next to my locker after the 1978 playoff game (vs. the Yankees) crying like a baby," Remy recalled. He added, "He was a fierce competitor. He wasn't the most talented Hall-of-Famer but nobody outworked him."
"Until the day he retired he wanted to be the best. He spent hours and hours and hours working on things. He was tireless," Remy recalled.
Remy said he hasn't seen too much of Yaz over the years except "'maybe twice a year" when he shows up for Red Sox events and during spring training when he comes to work with some of the minor league hitters. Remy said he always respected Yaz and got along well with him.
The popular Yaz, who will turn 69 on Friday, was an 18-time All-Star and spent his entire career in Boston, taking over left field for Ted Williams in 1961 and playing through 1983.
In 1967, Yastrzemski helped revitalize the flagging franchise during the "Impossible Dream" season. And all over New England that summer, kids tried to imitate his unique lefty batting stance, with the bat held high over his head.
With calls of "Yaz" echoing around Fenway Park, he won the Triple Crown that year, hitting .326 with 44 home runs and 121 RBIs. Behind the AL MVP, the Red Sox won their first pennant since 1946, but lost the World Series in Game 7 to St. Louis.
Yastrzemski was elected to the Hall on the first ballot in 1989. He has often shied away from celebrity and rarely made public appearances, but drew a big ovation when he threw out the first ball before Game 1 of last year's World Series.
Yaz finished with 452 career home runs and 1,844 RBIs. He had 3,419 lifetime hits and batted .285. He also won seven Gold Gloves, expertly playing the caroms off the Green Monster.
Yastrzemski is one of five former Red Sox players to have his number retired by the team. His No. 8 is painted at Fenway, along with those of Williams, Carlton Fisk, Bobby Doerr and Joe Cronin.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report
Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for Yaz!
I was 6 in 1967, growing up in Augusta, Maine. All the kids in the neighborhood, including me, had plain white t-shirts with an "8" and "Yaz" written in marker on the back. No t-shirt industry in those days! He was a hero to all kids then, a larger than life figure. Get well soon, Yaz!
Get Well Yaz!!
a true captain
Get Well soon Yaz! Red Sox Nation would like to see you more often when you are feeling better. Theo,John and the rest of the ownership group how about "Yaz Day"? Triple Crown? WOW! Will never happen again!
I was 12 in '67, but Yaz was my favorite before the Dream and for as long as I can remember baseball. And he remains my hero to this day. Get well, Yaz!
A Turkish Sox fan enmeshed in the history of Sox ... Yaz being one of the essential chapter. Hearing a Bostonian "Rings a bell!" about the "classy guy" ... what can I say? Go to school ma'am! And speedy recovery Yaz!
Hoping everything goes well and Yaz is up and feeling great soon. It took a while for me to "warm up" to Yaz. He without question was a committed athelete, but, in
early years was not above playing "diva." He got out of that and my enduring memories are of the dedication and respect he had for the sox and the game.
The man they call Yaz! New England is the Red Sox and the Red Sox are New England. The reason, Carl Yastrzemski. It too bad some of the current players, don't understand tradition, sportsmanship, hustle, dedication & determination. Can you imagine Manny with these traits? Get well soon, New England is praying for you.
favorite all time red sox ... get well #8
To one of the all time best, to my brother's greatest hero while growing up - to someone I"ll always be honored to say I saw #8 play at Fenway - Yaz I hope everything goes well and that you are healthy as can be as soon as possible!
What ever happened to health privacy laws?
Yaz!
Moya Crogayachekoham!
My thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Speedy Recovery. Please get well soon, stay off the Keilbasa!
The Red-Sox Nation that you helped build stands with you and your Family!
sincerely,
G.I. Joe
U.S. Army (retired)
25th ID, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Players have had some great years. DiMaggio's streak, Williams' .400 year, Bonds' record-breaker. No one ever had a year like Yaz had in '67, where every day he seemed to do something that helped the team win. It was unreal.
Best wishes Captain Carl!
my alltime favorite redsox player! YAZ get well soon ! our thoughts and prayers are with you ! see you at the world series!
My Grandfather took me to Yaz's 3000 hit game. I'll never forget it! Bypass surgery is pretty routine these days and he's going to the right place. Good luck Yaz!
I can close my eyes and still picture the Captain not even turning around for a fly ball tricking a batter into thinking it was a homer and then taking a ball off the wall and throwing guy out at second.
Get well Yaz.
Yaz..1967..Impossible Dream..I graduated from high school in 1967. Riding down the street in my old car and listening to the Sox on the radio. Girlfriend trying to change the channel to find the latest Beatle song. Ahhhh the memories. Get well Captain Carl!!!!
Gary K.
Yaz, Good Luck and God Bless! You replaced a legend and then became a legend how often does that happen? Impossible Dream year turned Red Sox history around you and your teamates deserve to be commended for the rebirth of Red Sox Baseball!!!
A TRUE BASEBALL PLAYER. GET WELL YAZ!
Yaz under the knife already, Tuesday night. Get well.
I was 10 in 1967,and to this day I remember Yaz and Rico were just great to watch...I hate to see any of them get old..but especially those great ones! Here's to a speedy recovery and best wishes!
The founding father of Red Sox Nation, Carl Yastrzemski has the heart of a lion and the courage to match. Anybody who ever watched him play knows this. He'll handle his surgery with typical Yaz toughness and strength.
The Captain...my hero...will be just fine. Get well soon, Number 8!!
"Our Boston team is always on the beam, 'cause we've got Yaz!!"
Let's Go Yaz!!! So many amazing memories of you while growing up. You are and always will be my favorite ball player!! GET WELL SOON!!!! A true CLASS ACT!
Get Well, Yaz. We'll always love ya!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carl Yastrzemski has the heart of a lion. Those of us who watched him play know this in no uncertain terms.
The Captain..and last Triple Crown Winner...is going to be just fine. No doubt in my mind.
Get well soon, Yaz!
Yaz, I began watching you as an eight year old in 1961 and followed you throughout your career until your retirement. I was thirty years old by then. Growing up, we could all relate to you because of your strong work ethic, tremendous intensity and unwavering team loyalty. The baseball statistics were obviously great but the values you instilled in a young, impressionable fan have served me well for a lifetime.
Wishing you a full and complete recovery and lots more fishing!
GOOD HEALTH TO YOU YAZ, YOU ARE THE BEST!!!
The man they call Yaz! New England is the Red Sox and the Red Sox are New England. The reason, Carl Yastrzemski. It too bad some of the current players, don't understand tradition, sportsmanship, hustle, dedication & determination. Can you imagine Manny with these traits? Get well soon, New England is praying for you.
I was 7 in '67 and can remember how Yaz and the Red Sox gripped the city. What a summer that was. Every kid wanted to be like Yaz....even bat like him...although I must say it was tough being a righty. Here's to a speedy recovery to a true Red Sox legend. Get well!! Go Sox!!!
The man they call Yaz! New England is the Red Sox and the Red Sox are New England. The reason, Carl Yastrzemski. It too bad some of the current players, don't understand tradition, sportsmanship, hustle, dedication & determination. Can you imagine Manny with these traits? Get well soon, New England is praying for you.
Yaz!
Moya Crogayachekoham!
My thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Speedy Recovery. Please get well soon, stay off the Keilbasa!
The Red-Sox Nation that you helped build stands with you and your Family!
sincerely,
G.I. Joe
U.S. Army (retired)
25th ID, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
As a 54 year old transplanted Bostonian, I couldn't begin to recall all the memories
#8 afforded me growing up. From the time my Pop took me to my first game in
the early 60's , till Yaz called it a career, to me, he was the Boston Red Sox. Great man, Great player. Get well soon,Yaz!
Prayers to you Yaz.....we watched every game you were ever in.....get well soon......
Get well soon, Yaz.
Yaz ,
My favorite RED SOX player ever who made 1967 a magical year !
I was 12 but i know exactly where I was when MY RED SOX beat the Twins
Yaz is a regular Bostonian who never let fame go to his head,
Years ago i was on a street in Boston and he walked towards me and i said
There's YAZ he smile and said WHERE?
we both laughed and he just said Thanks I couldn't speak i was so shocked to see him on a street so today I finish my Sentence THANK YOU CAPTAIN CARL!
GET WELL SOON!!!!!
i was 10 im 67....you never forget your first big league hero. my oldest son still remembers going to fenway to see yaz in 83.....go get em capt...we're all praying real hard
God Bless you, YAZ!!!!
You're gonna pull through with flying colors! (Red, White, Blue and away Gray)
We're *ALL praying for ya, Captain Carl!
*The McCarthy's.................... = SINCE 1901THE-ORIGINAL-RED-SOX-NATION
*From Medford, Mass. to Portland, Oregon (and all points in-between)
Ya Yaz, please get better so we can see you again at fenway! As a kid in 67 we all wanted to be NUMBER 8 YAZ. some of my computer passwords are still Yaz#08 to this day! DAN from San Diego
Yastrzemski makes a "Tremendous" catch (Rohr's near no hitter 04-14-67 vs the Yankess)
The man we all called Yaz was my boyhood hero and will always be.
Get well soon Captain
All my greatest baseball memories as a kid revolved around the Red Sox and the man called Yaz, number 8 was the greatest, Get well soon! Lets see more of you in the future.
I was priveliged to be at Fenway when Yaz hit one of the longest home runs of his career, a tremendous blast off Dick Tidrow in an 11-1 rout of the Yankees on 6-19-77. To this day it's the only ball to hit the facade of the right field roof.
Get well soon, number 8.
@Bat Insider
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