Petaluma Native Jonny Gomes Starting in World Series Game 1

When the Boston Red Sox take the field Wednesday night in game one of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, a Petaluma native will be in left field.

Jonny Gomes, 32, is a Casa Grande High School graduate who first played in the major leagues in 2003. He survived a heart attack in 2002 and grew up poor, but made it to the big leagues. Gomes still supports his high school team and Petaluma Little League.

"He is such a large part of the local community," Petaluma Mayor David Glass said earlier this year.  "He doesn't live here, but he hasn't forgotten where he's from."

Jonny Gomes Day was celebrated on Aug. 21 in Petaluma.

The Boston Globe on Tuesday called Gomes "his own snowflake," a unique personality among many others already on the team.

"He is clutch despite not being an everyday player, brutally honest but highly thoughtful, and spontaneous but reliable," the Boston Globe's Julian Benbow wrote.

Read more about him here:

• Petaluma Native Jonny Gomes Signed With A's
• Petaluma's Gomes Returns to 'Where I Grew Up'
• Petaluma Commemorates Jonny Gomes Day