Dustin Pedroia, beloved Boston Red Sox second baseman, receives final Fenway Park salute

(0:35)BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia returned to Fenway Park on Friday, this time to be showered with appreciation from fans and a collection of Red Sox royalty for the 17-year career that cemented his place as one of Boston's most beloved players.The Red Sox's undersized big man was honored by the team prior to its latest matchup with the rival New York Yankees, a fitting tribute to a player who at the time he announced his retirement in February was the longest-tenured player on Boston's roster and the only holdover from its 2007 championship team.With his family looking on, a pregame ceremony began with a jersey-clad Pedroia walking out of the outfield tunnel through smoke and a flash of pyrotechnics as video boards displayed "DUSTIN" and "15" in the outfield.Pedroia wiped away tears while recorded messages from several coaches and teammates were played. But Pedroia's career effectively ended with Machado's slide into second base to break up a double play.He tried to return to form in the four years that followed with the same relentlessness he used to help the Red Sox capture a pair of World Series titles in 2007 and 2013.It wound up being a merry-go-round of surgeries and setbacks that eventually wore down his body to the point he was told future attempts would adversely affect his quality of life.Though it was an abrupt end to his time on the diamond, Pedroia said this year that he had no ill will toward Machado or sour feelings about what happened afterward.Any lingering memories of the incident were overshadowed by Friday's return to Boston.Pedroia said he has no doubt that he'll don a uniform again, saying "maybe" to possibly managing someday."I think everyone knows that," Pedroia said.