Carl Yastrzemski: Baseball Hall of Fame Great Hospitalized (Photos)

Posted on: August 19th, 2008 by: Meg

Carl Yastrzemski, 68, has been admitted to Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital after experiencing chest pains. According to his spokesman, Dick Gordon, “Any time you are in the hospital, it’s got to be pretty serious.”

The popular Yaz was an All-Star a total of 18 times and spent his entire career in Boston from 1961 to 1983, taking over left field for baseball great Ted Williams. Carl helped to revitalize the franchise during the ‘Impossible Dream’ season of 1967. He led the team to their first pennant since 1946 thought they lost the World Series to St. Louis in Game 7.

His trademark way of holding the bat high over his head is legend and imitated by many kids. The baseball great was elected to the Hall on the first ballot in 1989. The media shy athlete rarely makes public appearances but did throw out the first ball in the first game of the 2007 World Series, while flanked by his 1967 teammates - as seen in the photo at the top of this post.

Yaz, No. 8, is one of five former Red Sox sluggers to have his number painted on the wall at Fenway Park. Others include Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, Bobby Doerr and Joe Cronin.

Check out more pics of Yaz below - click to expand.