Diamondbacks honor late journalist Pedro Gomez with seat in press box

The sports media world, baseball and Arizona lost ESPN reporter Pedro Gomez unexpectedly in February, but the Arizona Diamondbacks are making sure his memory lives on.

While every other media member in the press box at Chase Field for the D-backs’ home opener sat at an assigned seat number, one seat was set aside for a person in name. Gomez’s seat includes a plaque with his name on it, and at his seat Friday were flowers and a lineup card.

“Pedro touched the lives of so many in the D-backs’ organization, first as a columnist and national baseball writer at The Arizona Republic and later during his years with ESPN,” the plaque reads. “Throughout his award-winning career, he covered 25 World Series and 22 All-Star Games.”

Positioned at a main entryway in the press box, it also will put Gomez’s lasting legacy — his love of journalism — in front of many media members’ eyes — perhaps urging them to contribute to a fund in the late journalist’s name that was set up by his family.

“His legacy will be carried on by the Pedro Gomez Foundation Fund, which will support scholarships to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications,” the plaque says, with a link to the Pedro Gomez Foundation website.

The D-backs, with a relatively late home opener, are not the first team this season to honor Gomez, who died on Feb. 7 at the age of 58 years old.

Our home opener is always special, but also a time to remember those whom we have lost. The Target Field Press Box remembers Mel Antonen, Pedro Gomez, Tom Hanneman & Sid Hartman. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/ZPjZnKxvVM

— Dustin Morse (@morsecode) April 8, 2021

Nice gesture by the Indians to honor our late friend, Pedro Gomez. pic.twitter.com/VktR3Dr9Dr

— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) April 5, 2021

Love for Pedro. pic.twitter.com/pCRKEKewVR

— Janie McCauley (@JanieMcCAP) April 9, 2021

For Pedro … ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Jr5ViUJatp

— Janie McCauley (@JanieMcCAP) April 2, 2021

Nice tribute to sportswriting legend around here, Mike Shalin, who passed from cancer four months ago. A New York guy who loved Boston. Encyclopedic knowledge of Sox and Yankees. Was official scorer at Fenway for two decades. RIP Mike. Miss you. pic.twitter.com/ijfdBwET3F

— Bill Burt (@BurtTalksSports) April 2, 2021

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