"'In 1941, who was the best shortstop in America?' Eddie Pellagrini was asking, and Eddie Pellagrini had the answer. 'I was!' he boomed. He was talking defense, mainly, and he believed it with all his heart. Eddie had range, hands, and, oh, what an arm. 'After you've played shortstop,' Pelly loved to say, 'third base is just camping out.'" - Columnist Bob Ryan in the Boston Globe (10/13/2006)

Edward Charles “Pelly” Pellagrini was born on March 13, 1918, to Anthony and Mary (Gamalda) Pellagrini, in Boston, Massachusetts. His father emigrated from Italy around 1911 and two years later married Miss Gamalda, a New York native and child of Italian immigrants. Growing up less than four miles south of Fenway Park, baseball played a significant role in Pellagrini’s youth. Eddie's brother Bob played as a linebacker for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.

After serving in the US Navy from 1941-45, Eddie debuted for his hometown Red Sox in 1946 and proceeded to homer in his first at-bat. In an 8-year career in MLB, Eddie played for the Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Phillies, Reds and Pirates. The quintessential great-field, no-hit infielder, his career BA was .226 and his OBP was .295.

After retiring, in 1955 Pellagrini entered a real estate venture called Twin Shores Realty Company alongside some prominent Red Sox alumni: Pesky, Dom DiMaggio, Walt Dropo, and Sam Mele. He was loved and respected as “Mr. Class,” and he went on to become the baseball coach at Boston College from 1958 to 1990. He guided the team to three appearances in the College World Series, in 1960, 1961 and 1967, as well as NCAA tournament appearances in 1962 and 1966.

In 1968, Pellagrini was appointed to the board of directors of "The Bosox Club", an organization of businesses and fans supporting the Red Sox, and two years later he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame. Twenty-two years later he was ushered into the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and in 1997 the college’s baseball field was rededicated as "Eddie Pellagrini Diamond" at John Shea Field. The plaque at the entrance to the baseball field reads:

"A Teacher, Coach, Folklorist and Friend
To Anyone Who Shared His Undying Love for the Sport of Baseball
Eddie Pellagrini Is A “Major Leaguer” In Every Sense of the Term."

(excerpted from SABR, BR Bullpen, Baseball Almanac and Wikipedia)