Big Papi meets Big Pappy
Arthur Giddon turns 100 Sunday. (Globe Staff Photo/Barry Chin)
Arthur Giddon sat in Terry Francona's seat in the dugout, bat boy morphed into dignitary. While batting practice went on around him, the former Boston Braves bat boy received most of the Sox at his temporary post, including Francona himself, while wearing a jersey with the No. 100 and the name "Big Pappy."
David Ortiz gave Giddon a hug, and said, "You got some hits for me?
While Ortiz might need more than that to get out of his slump, Giddon did pat himself on the back for spurring the Sox on to their first World Series title in 86 years back in 2004.
"In '04, I went crazy," Giddon said before the game. "My wife thinks I'm gonna go insane. I'm no kid. I'm sitting there by the huge TV, I'm screaming and yelling, telling them, 'You listen. You've got two outs. One more out to go.' A lot of times it works. I give myself credit that they won."
Giddon, who turns 100 tomorrow, was a bat boy for the Braves of the 1920s, meeting such luminaries as Babe Ruth and Kenesaw Mountain Landis. He called yesterday, "The greatest day since I was married." Giddon was married on July 17, 1948. And his wish for the Red Sox? "Good luck, good health, and I hope you live to 100 and more."
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Arthur, Happy Birthday! I share your birthday on Sunday, as well as a passion for a Boston team--in my case the Celtics! Hope you continue to have good health and another chance to see the Sox win it all!
God bless him
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What an unbelievable story!!
Happy 100th Big Pappy! Here's to many more, not only with family and friends, but with many Red Sox victories to make the years all that sweeter!
i bet he likes a good fart, smells it up that old schonze of his, but i love him none the less...go sox...all the way in '09
this guy was a bat boy for the Red Sox in 1922. He got to be a honarary bat boy
on Saturday for his 100th birthday. Looks pretty good for 100!
Happy 100th, Mr. Giddon. I hope the Red Sox take it all again this year for you. And for me too. :)
HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY TO BIG PAPPY, GOD BLESS YOU.
100's got nothin' on papi!
Happy 100th, Mr. Giddon. Here's to more birthdays ahead.
These stories are what makes us all PROUD to be part of RED SOX NATION!
Congrats and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ARTHUR, whose passion for the team has never waned. And THANK YOU, to the RED SOX, for giving this, YOUNG MAN, another thrill....BAT BOY for this game against the Yankees, which was a super slug fest.
Happy Birthday Mr. Giddon!! You're looking great and so are your Red Sox. I hope that we'll all celebrate with another World Series championship this year. Cheers!
More life in his bat that Papi has.
better to be a fart smeller than a smart feller
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