BOSTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski says he's "deeply honored" by a statue of him installed outside Fenway Park.
The statue, near the ballpark's right field entrance, shows Yastrzemski tipping his hat after his final at bat for the team in 1983, The Boston Globe reported Sunday.
"I'm deeply honored to stand before you today, seeing this statue in front of the place that I called home for 23 years," said the man known to his fans simply as Yaz. "This statue means as much to me as being inducted into the Hall of Fame and having my number retired."
Yastrzemski's statue was created by Toby Mendez, who also sculpted "The Teammates," one of two other statues outside Fenway Park.
Yastrzemski compared this year's playoff-bound team to his early years on the Red Sox, saying "my first six years with the Red Sox, they were tough years, 25-30 games out by All-Star break."
Former teammates Dwight Evans and Luis Tiant were among a group of people present at the 30-minute ceremony Sunday. Afterward, Yastrzemski said both Evans and Tiant should also be in the Hall of Fame.
Yastrzemski had a career .285 batting average with 452 home runs and 1,855 RBIs when he retired. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.
