Talk of the town? Not for everyone

In the summer of 1996, the Red Sox called up a young shortstop from California who became an immediate sensation for his bat - his first hit was a home run - and his name, which was just too perfect.

Nomah Gahseeaparra, as he became known in what is a showcase for the three aspects of non-rhoticity, quickly grew to love his new name - “It’s what made me feel a part of this community,’’ Garciaparra said. He even made a cameo on one of the “Sully and Denise’’ skits, because the characters were obsessed with him and his name (Dratch’s character had him autograph her chest with a “Shahpie’’).

Then, in 2004, Nomah was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He remembers walking on the field at Wrigley for the first time to meet his new teammates, who were stretching in the outfield, and as he made his way to them, the Chicago fans were screaming his name, correctly. When he stopped to introduce himself to the guys, he opened with a joke. “At least,’’ he said, “I got my r back.’’

But like Lydon and Cushing, Garciaparra said he was sad to see the accent disappear so suddenly. Then, the following year, he got a proper goodbye in Boston.

It was a cold October night, and he was packing up the condo in the Charlestown Navy Yard that had been his home during his years with the Sox when he saw two women outside stumbling home from a bar. Suddenly, one fell off the pier into the chilly water 40 feet below.

As Garciaparra ran down, the other woman fell into the water, hitting her head on the marina below. Seeing this, an uncle who had been helping him pack jumped straight into the water from the apartment balcony, and together they were able to pull the women to safety.

As they were leading the women up a dock, the one who had a big lump on her head started to come to. That’s when she got a good look at her rescuer.

“Hey, I know who you ah,’’ she said. “Yaw Nomah Gahseeaparra.’’

Billy Baker can be reached at billybaker@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @billy_baker