No other dog has a better yard to play than Drago.
As countless Boston Red Sox players and fans have seen in the last decade, Drago's playground has been Fenway Park.
Drago was overjoyed to sniff along the green monsters, explore bargains, and rest on the pitcher's mound before the match. It is also valuable as a German Shepherd service dog for the headground keeper Dave Meller.
A week ago, Drago had a stroke shortly after the Red Sox walked on the grass in the outfield before hosting Auckland. Two days later he died at the age of 10. For decades I wasn't sure if that was possible, "Meller sent a text message to the Associated Press on Thursday.
"I'm completely broken heart," he said.
On Friday night, before the match against St. Louis, the Red Sox recognized Drago on the video board and read compliments on the loudspeaker system.
"Many people have walked around Fenway Park's 110-year history. It has given diamonds and us a lifetime of memories, but perhaps no one has offered as much love and comfort as our headground keeper, Dave Meller's four-legged companion. I read the salute.
"Last night we learned that this constant presence and beloved person in the ballpark has been resting for nearly a decade," he said. "We send love and support to his family, honor his service and recognize a rich life. Drago, I miss you."
Meller has been Fenway since 2001. I met Drago in 2014, taking care of my lawn.
Drago is always near Meller's side, now inside and outside the field did. Meller was hit by a car twice in his life, required dozens of surgeries, and Drago helped deal with the effects of his post-traumatic stress disorder.
A few days before the Red Sox played the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2018 World Series, Drago joined Fenway Park with one of his sons, the puppy Bronco (then owned by Boston pitcher Rick Porcello). I ran around the lawn.
Bronco was one of five puppies born that summer to Lyle, Meller's other dog. At the time, Red Sox infielder Ian Kinsler also adopted a litter.
"If you look at Dave with Drago in the field, you'll see that he's a special dog," Kinsler said the day before the series.
Many Red Sox fans who know the history of the team often wondered if Meller's dog was named after former Boston pitcher Dick Drago.
Meller would say it feels good, but it's not accurate.
"He was born in Slovakia," Meller once explained. "They said his name means" precious "in Slovak.
Meller is surrounded by dog lovers. A few years ago, his wife and his family went to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City to tour the behind-the-scenes area for an hour.
Meller said the keeper, one of Drago's sons, would become his service dog after training.
In honor of Drago, Meller gives people "special love" to dogs and in the name of his dear pet to the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston or the Home Base program at Massachusetts General Hospital. I asked you to consider donating.
"We were overwhelmed by the powerful and beautiful compliments to Drago. He touched the lives of so many people," Meller said.
