One more (new) reason to love and respect Pedro Martinez

Cherington gets his man. (Getty Images)

The ceremony honoring former Boston College centerfielder and "Ice Bucket Challenge" pioneer Peter Frates before Monday's home opener at Fenway Park was a wonderful touch by Red Sox management, as Frates signed a professional baseball contract with Sox GM Ben Cherington to the delight of a packed house. 

Actually, it was Pete's wife, Julie, who signed the contract. Frates can no longer write due to the ALS that has ravaged his body, but that didn't stop him from smiling while the crowd roared its approval.

There was just one problem with the event, and it came when the long line of current Red Sox players passed by Frates' wheelchair with autographed jerseys. The jerseys, each of them bearing the #3 Frates  wore at BC, had been donned by the team during a spring training game with the Eagles.

While the Sox contingent exchanged hugs, handshakes, and kind words with Julie and others in Pete's family, the man of the hour was seated a few feet back and below eye level from the players. As a result, he had no contact with most of them as they quickly walked by. Rather than hand him their #3 jerseys or drape them across or near his wheelchair, the players were instructed to place them on a table far to his right.

My wife, who has worked with paralyzed patients in wheelchairs for 25 years, noticed this right away. "Somebody should really have put him in better position, and shown those guys how to approach him," Michelle said. 

Even Ortiz looked unsure around Frates. 

She added that the players were likely nervous, unsure whether they would hurt the now-frail Frates if they were to reach out, so most played it safe by keeping their distance.  A few touched a hand to his shoulder, but the well-meaning gestures seemed tentative. 

I was beginning to wish Michelle had not pointed this all out to me when suddenly the roar of the crowd went up several notches. Emerging from the Boston dugout was one more player wishing to pay his respect to Frates -- legendary pitcher and new Hall of Fame inductee Pedro Martinez.

Waving to the crowd, his smile as broad as the guest of honor's, Martinez approached the Frates family and paused to talk with and hug each of them. He took his time, and the exchanges seemed much more poignant than the hurried embraces from the conga line of players that had come before.

First Pete's family gets a hello.

Then Pedro neared Frates' wheelchair. He leaned over, spoke a few words, and grabbed Pete in a bear hug. There was no hesitation -- just respect and love for a fellow ballplayer.

As I watched the scene unfold, I thought back a couple years to when members of the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox visited patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Although all of the players were a hit in the clinics, Martinez had a sincere warmth and playfulness about him that delighted kids and adults alike. 

Now, in front of 37,000 people, he was at it again -- showing compassion to a man facing a a frightening future.

Like Lou Gehrig, for whom ALS gained its second name, Pete Frates most certainly got a tough break. But at that moment, in the arms of a legend, he felt like the luckiest man on the face of the earth.

Nice job, Pedro.

Five creative ways Red Sox can honor Derek Jeter Sunday

Jeter and the Monster -- one more time (Daily News)

The stat came across my Facebook feed last night courtesy of my friend Kevin Vahey, a veteran cameraman at Fenway Park and countless other venues -- who, I suppose, picked it up from the pre-game press notes at Fenway or Yankee Stadium:

Most Games at Fenway Park by Yankee Players (regular season and playoffs):

Lou Gehrig: 152

Mickey Mantle: 152

Derek Jeter: 151

Since neither Gehrig or Mantle played any postseason contests in Boston -- the Sox and Yanks never met in the playoffs until 1999 -- it is safe to say that no Yankee player has ever taken part in more important games at Fenway that Derek Jeter. This includes the epic ALCS battles of '99, 2003, and 2004, contests when the the Athens-Sparta rivalry reached its all-time high. And despite the sightings of "A-Rod Sucks" and "Jeter Swallows" t-shirts side-by-side on Yawkey Way during those years, it's hard to imagine a Yankee player ever garnering more respect from Boston fans than that currently enjoyed by  #2 in this weekend's visitor's scorecard.

So while I'm disappointed to hear that Jeter won't be playing shortstop for the season's final otherwise meaningless weekend -- he declared after last night's walk-off hit that he wanted his last game at short to be at Yankee Stadium -- I do hope he gets in the box score on both Friday and Saturday. This would give the Sox an opportunity to present him with a gift far more unique than a Fenway seatback or a tin number from the Green Monster (both of which they gave last fall to retiring Yankee relief ace Mariano Rivera):

1.  A plaque with a chunk of dirt taken from the shortstop area at Fenway Park and an inscription reading: 

Most games played at Fenway Park by Yankee Players (Regular Season and Playoffs):

1. Derek Jeter 

2. Lou Gehrig

3. Mickey Mantle   

Events Maestro Dr. Charles Steinberg and Co. could have the plaque inscribed and ready to give Jeter in what is being billed as a "low-key" ceremony before Sunday's game, provided he played Friday and Saturday to get up to 153 Fenway games. Then again, if he plays Friday or Saturday they could still give it to him, since 152 games would tie him with Lou and The Mick and perhaps induce him to play in the finale.

I'm sure the Yankee captain would appreciate the gesture, and besides, how many cars and golf clubs and cowboy boots with the #2 on them can one guy need? Since Fenway is the last stop on the Jeter Farewell Tour, Red Sox management has a chance to show some real creativity. The over-the-top ribbing of Rivera in his Fenway ceremony last September (when the Sandman's blown save in Game Four of the 2004 ALCS got top billing) was not appreciated by Yankee fans or media types. This would be applauded by all as a class move.

 Here are four more ideas that would please everyone and give Jeter the sendoff he deserves:

2.  Invite back the other eight Yankees in the starting lineup for Jeter's first game at Fenway on July 15, 1996, and have them suit up and take their positions before the game -- leaving a hole for Jeter at shortstop.

Bring back Bernie and Co.

Jeter led off that day for New York, going 2-for-4 with a double and run scored in an 8-6 Yankees loss. The full lineup In order: Jeter (SS), Bernie Williams (CF), Paul O'Neill (RF), Darryl Strawberry (DH), Tino Martinez (1B), Mariano Duncan (2B), Jim Leyritz (C),Gerald Williams (LF), and Andy Fox (3B). If this group were to take their spots on the Fenway diamond, Jeter would likely feel compelled to jog out and fill the gap at short -- if only for a minute.

3.  Before Jeter's first at-bat, play a recording of longtime Yankee Stadium PA announcer Dave Sheppard calling him to the plate. 

Pipe in the Voice of God. (ABC News)

Sheppard was the "Voice of God" at the Stadium for 56 years, lending his famous and dignified  tone to the proceedings from Mickey Mantle's first game there in 1951 through late in the 2007 season. Jeter had the presence of mind to ask Sheppard to record his introduction -- "Now batting for the Yankees, Number Two, Derek Jeter, Number Two..." and it has been re-played for all Jeter home at-bats since Sheppard's retirement (he died in 2010 at age 99). 

"That's the only voice I ever heard growing up," New Jersey native Jeter explained of his request to Sheppard. "That's the only voice I wanted to hear announced when I was at home." Since Jeter's last game should have been at home anyway -- what were the schedule-makers thinking? -- perhaps he wouldn't mind hearing it in his last road contest.

4.  A framed plaque with a ticket stub from the July 15, 1996 game and the Sept. 28, 2013 contest.

Yours on EBay for $14.95

Even if Jeter doesn't play Sunday, it will be his last game in uniform -- and meaningful none the less. By the way, that $9.00 bleacher seat now goes for $40.00.

5.  A gold-plated lifetime pass to Fenway Park, bearing the inscription: "This pass enables Derek Jeter free entrance to Fenway Park for all games, with the provision that he not  play in any of them if a playoff berth is on the line."

Come on back and see us -- but don't play.

This would give the Red Sox a cute way to rib Jeter about his role in so many big Yankee moments at Fenway, and the desire for Boston management to make sure he doesn't add any more to the list.

What can Jeter give to Boston during his send-off weekend? Even one inning at shortstop would be great, but short of that I am guessing Sox fans wouldn't mind a line-drive single to right or even a home run.

Providing, of course, that it came with the home team safely ahead.