During a memorable weekend concluding the 1983 regular season, Carl Yastrzemski capped his Hall of Fame career before two sold-out Fenway Park crowds. On Saturday, October 1, he was honored in an emotional pregame ceremony that ended with his jog around the field as he touched hands with fans. The next day, the legendary left fielder played his final game, his 3,308th, all with the Red Sox and at the time the most ever played in American League history. He retired after 23 years with 452 home runs, 3,419 hits, 1,816 runs scored, 1,844 runs batted in, 646 doubles, a .379 career on-base percentage, seven Rawlings Gold Gloves, 18 All-Star Game selections, and a Triple Crown season that led the Impossible Dream team to the American League pennant in 1967. Beyond those numbers, he became an enduring icon, instrumental in saving the franchise in 1967 after a decade and a half of malaise, increasing apathy, and thousands of empty seats. In that Summer of Love, spirit was renewed and Red Sox Nation was born. During his final at-bat at Fenway Park, he acknowledged the crowd in a moment of mutual gratitude and affection. With loyalty, commitment, and a blue-collar style, winning was his only goal.