BOSTON — As the 1975 American League champion Red Sox members started to appear from the left field entrance during Friday’s Opening Day festivities, dedicated Boston supporters squinted to catch sight. Would Carl Yastrzemski, the legendary Hall of Fame left fielder, make an appearance?

At 85, Yaz has generally stayed out of the limelight in his retirement, so his attendance was uncertain. The center field scoreboard introduced each returning player individually. When it finally displayed No. 8 as the climax, the audience erupted with applause. Visibly touched by the enthusiastic reception, Yastrzemski beamed with a smile, lifted his right hand in a wave, and then both hands to acknowledge the Fenway faithful’s admiration.

A Red Sox staff member then handed him a ball, and Alex Cora jogged out to act as the honorary catcher for the ceremonial first pitch while the rest of the 1975 team formed a semicircle around them. Cora remained nearby.

Though Yastrzemski no longer possesses the arm strength that once led the American League in outfield assists ten times, the ball landed sharply in Cora’s glove, prompting another cheer from the crowd. Yaz then joined Dwight Evans and linked arms with Fred Lynn as the team paid tribute to the late Luis Tiant. Lynn was thrilled to reunite with Yaz. “It was a joy. I don’t see Carl as often as I’d like,” he remarked.

“When we meet, it feels like stepping into a time capsule. We revisit conversations from 50 years ago. Yaz remembers more than any of us. It’s wonderful to see him.” Evans concurred. “We shared 12 years on the field. He was like an elder brother, guiding me,” he noted. “Carl taught us the game, how to play through pain, not just show up but perform even when injured. He was an exceptional mentor.”