Relocating a team to Portland makes sense

The idea of baseball in Portland, Ore., is new for a lot of people. But it has been a lifetime habit for Boston Red Sox icon Johnny Pesky, and he’s 87 years old.

Pesky was born in 1919 and grew up following his hometown Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League. He has spent most of his life on the opposite coast, but is intrigued by the movement to bring the Florida Marlins or another major league baseball franchise to Portland.

“What Portland always had was good fans,” Pesky said in a 2006 interview. “I haven’t been back in five years, and the growth has been phenomenal … Portland is bigger than more than a few other cities that host major league baseball. Why shouldn’t Portland have a club? I think they should get a shot. I think Portland will have a team in three or four years.”

 – Excerpt from ESPN.com, Phil Rogers, January 10, 2007