BOSTON (AP) - The Red Sox now have "Big Pappy" to go along with Big Papi.
Arthur Giddon, who once shagged bats and balls for the Boston Braves, was the honorary batboy for the Red Sox on Saturday - the day before his 100th birthday.Wearing a Red Sox jersey with No. 100 and "Big Pappy" written on the back, he sat with Boston slugger David Ortiz, who's known as Big Papi.
"It's neat," said Ortiz, who had his arm around Giddon and gave him an autographed bat.
Giddon spent most of batting practice on a bench where Red Sox manager Terry Francona sits at the top step of the team's dugout. When Francona walked over to say hello, Giddon wished the manager a happy birthday - he turned 50 on Wednesday.
"When I was 50 you probably weren't playing baseball," Giddon said.
"I wasn't even here," Francona said, smiling.
Giddon was introduced to the crowd along with Wally the mascot before to the ceremonial first pitch by Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt. A resident of Bloomfield, Conn., Giddon recalled how he felt when the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years back in 2004.
"I went crazy. My wife thinks I'm going to go insane," Giddon said. "We have a huge TV and I'm screaming and yelling."
Giddon also spent some time exchanging pointers with current batboy Chris Cundiff.
"You're probably the one he's most excited to meet," Giddon's daughter, Pam, said.
When asked what he wished for his team, Giddon said: "Good luck, good health and I hope you live to 100 and more."
