The Indians’ Trot Nixon slaps the ball for a single off Curt Schilling in the second inning last night in Nixon’s first at-bat back in Fenway Park.

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

BOSTON — Dirt dogs.

Several years ago, the Boston Red Sox were given that nickname because of the hard-nosed, get-the-uniforms-dirty style of play that characterized their approach to each and every game.

And the ultimate Dirt Dog was Trot Nixon, the Red Sox right fielder who was drafted by Boston in the first round of the 1993 draft (seventh selection overall) and made it to the big leagues to stay in 1999.

Nixon’s uniform always seemed to be dirty, his cap was filthy and disgusting, but a thing of beauty compared to his helmet, which was caked with pine tar and grime. Defensively, he threw his body around at any and every fly ball hit his way, ignoring walls.

That was the only way Nixon knew how to play, and his aggressive approach, his obvious passion for the game and his team-first attitude to do whatever he could to help the Red Sox win made him a fan favorite.

But all good things tend to come to an end in professional sports, and so it did for Nixon, whose numbers and games-played totals declined his last three seasons in Boston because of various injuries.

The Red Sox did not re-sign Nixon, opting instead to lavish $70 million on J.D. Drew, so last night, Nixon made his first visit to Fenway Park this season, wearing the uniform of the Cleveland Indians, with whom he signed in the offseason.

“It’s going to be exciting, but I have to try and keep it in perspective. The biggest thing is I’m here to help the Indians win,” said Nixon yesterday.

The fans, meanwhile, remembered Nixon kindly, unlike the reception they gave former Red Sox Johnny Damon in his first game back as an opposing player, with the Yankees last year.

Before the game, when the Red Sox gave Nixon and his wife, Kathryn, the 2007 Jimmy Fund Award for their many years of service to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, complete with a video tribute on the scoreboard, the crowd roared appreciatively.

He was given a standing ovation in some quarters when he ran out to his position in right field for the bottom of the first. And when Nixon came to the plate in the second, the fans gave him a more prolonged standing ovation, which Nixon, who batted .278 with 133 homers and 524 RBI in his time with the Sox, acknowledged by stepping out of the box, taking off his helmet and waving it to the fans around the park.

Nixon then singled to right, and the reaction was a tad more muted, naturally.

Earlier, there had not been a drop of bitterness in Nixon’s words as he shared light moments and memories with clubhouse managers Joe Cochran and Tommy McLaughlin in the Indians’ clubhouse about an hour before he met the media in a press conference in Cleveland’s dugout.

“That’s the game of baseball, what happens on the business side of the game,” said Nixon of having to leave Boston.

“I know I didn’t leave here on bad terms. I would have liked to come back, but I’m with the Indians now and I’m extremely happy. We have a competitive team and hopefully I can help us win some games,” said Nixon, now 33, the number he wears on his back.

Nixon has played in 39 of the Indians’ 49 games, helping Cleveland to a 31-17 record prior to last night, the top record in the American League Central and the second-best record (to the Sox’ 34-15) in the A.L. Nixon was batting .281 with two homers and 20 RBI.

Drew, his expensive replacement in right for the Sox, is struggling along at .234 with two homers and 15 RBI. Nixon is not gloating, however.

“Hey, that’s fine. I know (general manager) Theo (Epstein) is a big fan of J.D. He’s a tremendous player,” said Nixon of the Sox’ decision not to sign him and to get Drew to take his place.

There’s still a part of Nixon that remains with the Red Sox.

“I have a lot of friends over there,” said Nixon, trying to acclimate himself in the tiny visitors’ clubhouse after so many seasons in the home clubhouse at Fenway.

While working out in the offseason, preparing for his first visit to the free-agent market, Nixon suffered back issues. He had surgery to repair a couple of bulging disks and the Indians took a chance and signed him, an opportunity for which Nixon is extremely grateful.

Of course, as Nixon allowed later, he would have preferred to spend his entire career in Boston. He has many great Red Sox memories, from hitting homers at Yankee Stadium against the arch-rival Yankees (he seemed to own Roger Clemens), to a walkoff extra-inning playoff homer against Oakland, to his fondest memory, helping the Sox win the World Series in 2004, their first title since 1918, by smacking three doubles in the Game Four victory that polished off a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I always admired and respected guys like Robin Yount and Cal Ripken and Kirby Puckett, guys who spent their entire careers in one city. I wanted the opportunity to do that but with all the ups and downs I went through, I was fortunate to be able to play here for as long as I did,” said Nixon.

skrasner@projo.com