Though nobody could have known it at the time, Ben Cherington made history a couple of years ago when he handed out contracts to the likes of Jonny Gomes, Shane Victorino, David Ross, Mike Napoli and Koji Uehara.

These newcomers, combined with a cast of returnees, led the Red Sox to an improbable World Series championship.

Yesterday afternoon at impossibly sunny and warm Fenway Park, Cherington’s newest acquisition was introduced to Red Sox fans. And we’ll dispense with waiting for the season to play out, because the signing of Pete Frates to a big league contract is already in the books as one of the best in Red Sox history.

It was, we all know, an “honorary” contract for the former Boston College baseball captain who three years ago was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. But as Cherington put it so well, “It’s a symbolic thing but sometimes there are symbolic things that mean something real. And we feel that this time it did.”

Inspired by Frates, all of Boston’s pro sports teams have stepped up big in the fight to beat ALS. But what happened yesterday took it to a higher level, considering that Frates connects baseball with ALS in a way not seen since Lou Gehrig himself made his “Luckiest Man” speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939.

It’s important to know that even as Gehrig was speaking that day, many people didn’t understand the connection with ALS, or that the disease was fatal. It was only later that Gehrig became the face — indeed, the name — of the disease.

Pete Frates has brought baseball back into the discussion. And baseball is listening. This unofficial contract, then, officially connects Frates with the Red Sox. He has become a member of the team in a way that far transcends the actual playing of baseball.

“With everything he’s gone through, there’s been a pretty strong connection with the Red Sox,” said manager John Farrell. “We weren’t aware there was going to be the honorary contract signed. I thought it was a great gesture on the part of Ben and the organization.”

When the Red Sox played Boston College in their annual spring training tuneup several weeks ago in Fort Myers, players from both teams wore No. 3 Pete Frates shirts, the idea being that the uniform tops would be auctioned off to help Pete’s fight against ALS. During yesterday’s pregame ceremony, Red Sox players, one by one, came out to the field to deliver their No. 3 shirts to the man who turned the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge into an international phenomenon. It was right out of the film “Rudy.”

To illustrate what this meant to the players, consider that, as I was talking with David Ortiz about the ceremony, Victorino overheard the discussion and chimed in with this: “I was tearing up, man. I really was. I started crying a little. That kid probably wanted to play with the Red Sox his whole life, and look what they did for him.”

Said Ortiz: “They didn’t tell us about the contract. It just happened. It was cool, man.”

It was. The Red Sox literally gave Pete Frates the shirts off their backs.

After the ceremonies ended and the game began, young outfielder Mookie Betts proceeded to be a five-tool wrecking ball in the Sox’ 9-4 victory over the Washington Nationals. Upstairs, in the Fenway “Legends Suite,” there was laughter and food, conversation and beer. The Sox’ three World Series trophies were brought in and placed on a table. Bruins Brad Marchand and Gregory Campbell stopped by.

Pete Frates, his ability to speak long ago claimed by ALS, took it all in from the tricked-out wheelchair that is keeping him alive. But words were not necessary, because there was a trace of a smile. And why not: On this day, Pete Frates was representing the hometown nine.

You sign a Shane Victorino, you get defense.

You sign a Mike Napoli, you get power.

You sign a Koji Uehara, you get saves.

But when you sign a Peter Frates you get hope, because nobody delivers hope the way this guy does.

We can argue about this trade or that free agent, or whether it was wise last year to move Xander Bogaerts from short to third and back again. Should the Red Sox have kept Jon Lester? Will Hanley Ramirez work out as a left fielder?

What we can’t argue is the decision to sign Pete Frates. This one’s going to work out. For all of us.