I mean, Beckett was a monstrous force in 2007, particularly the playoff run. I can’t help but think of him, despite things getting pretty weird with him.
What is the greatest/most memorable Red Sox Non-Retired Number?
- Thread starter Lose Remerswaal
- Start date
On to the next group of numbers:
#20: Worn by Tony Armas, Juan Beniquez, and Darren Lewis, among others. But the top dog here is Youk by far.
#21: Juan Marichal is in the Hall of Fame. Mike Torrez is not, but he won a World Series, albeit for the wrong team. Did anyone following the Sox 30 years ago think this number would not be retired?
#22: Felix Doubront helped us win a World Series; Willy Mo Pena did not. The book on Porcello is still a work in progress. Probably have to give the nod to Bill Campbell, who basically was the first true "closer" the Sox had, as well as being the first high-profile free agent signed by the team. But Zimmer pitched him for 140 innings in relief, a season after the Twins used him for 167 innings in 78 appearances, and he was never the same.
#23: Apologies to Erik Bedard, Julio Lugo, Mike Cameron, SoSH favorite Marlon Byrd, Brian Daubach, Casey Fossum, Tom Brunansky, Rob Deer, Ivan Calderon, and, of course, the Can. But you all take a back seat to El Tiante.
#24: Already been discussed. I would normally vote for Dewey, but it's hard to ignore the 2 rings that the other #24 brought us.
#25: This one is tough, actually. One wearer won World Series MVP in 2007. Don Baylor was the glue of the 1986 team. JBJ wore this number early in his career. Then there was Jack Clark (oops, never mind). But this one ultimately has to go to Tony C.
#28: Before Tim Wakefield, there was Wilbur Wood, who was good enough to win 24 games twice for the White Sox. He started his career with the Sox, who soon sold him to the Pirates for nothing. They may have won something in 1972 had they kept him. Then there was Sparky Lyle. A-Gon should get an honorable mention for indirectly contributing to a World Series title. But it's probably the current wearer of this number that deserves the nod here if he keeps up the pace.
#29: Most recently worn by the immortal Roenis Elias, it's probably worth noting that this number was once worn by a guy that had seemingly unlimited potential whose career was eventually derailed by and mental illness: Roger Moret. The guy was death to the Yankees primarily LHH lineup at the time. Also worn by Daniel Nava and Adrian Beltre, the title still goes to Keith Foulke for putting his career on the line in the 2004 post-season.
#30: Have to give a nod to the guy that has a forum named after him. Worn by Bob Bailey (of 1978 "fame"), John Tudor, Matt Clement, Boof Bonser, and Andrew Miller, among others. Honorable mention to Jose Offerman (some people seem to think he was useful when he was here) and Matt Young (who doesn't have that problem).
#31: I recall the day the Sox traded one of their top prospects for a pitcher from St. Louis to be their #2 starter behind Pedro. He pitches an inning, which is then followed by an extended rain delay. Grady Little reinserts him into the game when play resumes, and Dustin Hermanson promptly gets hurt and is never the same again. The obvious winner here is Jon Lester, who should still be wearing this number here.
#32: Before Matt Albers, there was Derek Lowe. Interesting that no player wore this number for 40 years until Wes Chamberlain.
#33: The other catcher to wear this number for the Sox was the national TV announcer that was beside himself for years after Varitek put a glove in A-Rod's face.
#35: Matt Stairs. Jeff Suppan. Rickey Henderson. Stephen Wright. Hmmmm....
#36: Aaron Sele seemed to have unlimited potential when he came up sporting a deathly looking curve. But injuries prevented him from meeting that potential, and was dumped for Jim Leyritz and Damon Buford, after which he pulled it together to win 110 more games. He was also a jerk to the coaching staff and teammates. My vote goes to Junichi Tazawa, with honorable mention going to Tom Gordon. Then there was David Cone....
#37: Kudos go to the Spaceman, although Hideki Okajima should not be forgotten.
#38: Rather not discuss the number once worn by Grady Sizemore....
#39: I wonder if Cafardo is still broken up over losing Wade Miley for Carson Smith. Anyway, Salty got us a ring, but the overall nod probably has to go to Mike Greenwell.
#20: Worn by Tony Armas, Juan Beniquez, and Darren Lewis, among others. But the top dog here is Youk by far.
#21: Juan Marichal is in the Hall of Fame. Mike Torrez is not, but he won a World Series, albeit for the wrong team. Did anyone following the Sox 30 years ago think this number would not be retired?
#22: Felix Doubront helped us win a World Series; Willy Mo Pena did not. The book on Porcello is still a work in progress. Probably have to give the nod to Bill Campbell, who basically was the first true "closer" the Sox had, as well as being the first high-profile free agent signed by the team. But Zimmer pitched him for 140 innings in relief, a season after the Twins used him for 167 innings in 78 appearances, and he was never the same.
#23: Apologies to Erik Bedard, Julio Lugo, Mike Cameron, SoSH favorite Marlon Byrd, Brian Daubach, Casey Fossum, Tom Brunansky, Rob Deer, Ivan Calderon, and, of course, the Can. But you all take a back seat to El Tiante.
#24: Already been discussed. I would normally vote for Dewey, but it's hard to ignore the 2 rings that the other #24 brought us.
#25: This one is tough, actually. One wearer won World Series MVP in 2007. Don Baylor was the glue of the 1986 team. JBJ wore this number early in his career. Then there was Jack Clark (oops, never mind). But this one ultimately has to go to Tony C.
#28: Before Tim Wakefield, there was Wilbur Wood, who was good enough to win 24 games twice for the White Sox. He started his career with the Sox, who soon sold him to the Pirates for nothing. They may have won something in 1972 had they kept him. Then there was Sparky Lyle. A-Gon should get an honorable mention for indirectly contributing to a World Series title. But it's probably the current wearer of this number that deserves the nod here if he keeps up the pace.
#29: Most recently worn by the immortal Roenis Elias, it's probably worth noting that this number was once worn by a guy that had seemingly unlimited potential whose career was eventually derailed by and mental illness: Roger Moret. The guy was death to the Yankees primarily LHH lineup at the time. Also worn by Daniel Nava and Adrian Beltre, the title still goes to Keith Foulke for putting his career on the line in the 2004 post-season.
#30: Have to give a nod to the guy that has a forum named after him. Worn by Bob Bailey (of 1978 "fame"), John Tudor, Matt Clement, Boof Bonser, and Andrew Miller, among others. Honorable mention to Jose Offerman (some people seem to think he was useful when he was here) and Matt Young (who doesn't have that problem).
#31: I recall the day the Sox traded one of their top prospects for a pitcher from St. Louis to be their #2 starter behind Pedro. He pitches an inning, which is then followed by an extended rain delay. Grady Little reinserts him into the game when play resumes, and Dustin Hermanson promptly gets hurt and is never the same again. The obvious winner here is Jon Lester, who should still be wearing this number here.
#32: Before Matt Albers, there was Derek Lowe. Interesting that no player wore this number for 40 years until Wes Chamberlain.
#33: The other catcher to wear this number for the Sox was the national TV announcer that was beside himself for years after Varitek put a glove in A-Rod's face.
#35: Matt Stairs. Jeff Suppan. Rickey Henderson. Stephen Wright. Hmmmm....
#36: Aaron Sele seemed to have unlimited potential when he came up sporting a deathly looking curve. But injuries prevented him from meeting that potential, and was dumped for Jim Leyritz and Damon Buford, after which he pulled it together to win 110 more games. He was also a jerk to the coaching staff and teammates. My vote goes to Junichi Tazawa, with honorable mention going to Tom Gordon. Then there was David Cone....
#37: Kudos go to the Spaceman, although Hideki Okajima should not be forgotten.
#38: Rather not discuss the number once worn by Grady Sizemore....
#39: I wonder if Cafardo is still broken up over losing Wade Miley for Carson Smith. Anyway, Salty got us a ring, but the overall nod probably has to go to Mike Greenwell.
I'd also put Dick Williams (as a mgr, when you could actually see the mgrs. jersey numbers) on the "23" list.
I can see where there would be a shortage of players that wore #s in the low 30s...seemed like for quite a while those numbers were reserved for coaches.
I can see where there would be a shortage of players that wore #s in the low 30s...seemed like for quite a while those numbers were reserved for coaches.
I think Cora should at least get us to the playoffs before I'd give him the nod over the third best shortstop in team history, second most valuable AL shortstop of the 1990s (behind only Iron Cal), and true AL MVP for 1995.
25 goes to Tony C but I’m disappointed no one has mentioned Troy OLeary. And that The Hit Cat got glossed over when you hit 18.
We should have seen Tito's greatness coming when he got #47 ...Wait....Tito had a number?
2004
2007
#3 should have been negatively retired after it was sullied by The Dumbest Manager In Baseball History™.
#15: Still reminds me of the Boomer and his taters - and his necklace of second basemen's teeth.
#10: I liked Bob Montgomery for some reason when I was a kid. He seemed to always get a couple of hits in his spot starts. (I must be remembering 1977, when he had a 124 OPS+, or he did exceptionally well on weekends when the games were broadcast.)
Feel free. I think we know how it goes.
I am surprised by the number of supporters for 5 who don't mean the Boomer.
#21 was also worn by Ray Culp, who was my favorite pitcher on the Red Sox when I first began to take notice.
I remember #10 for another terrible catcher: Bob Tillman. And speaking of an even worse catcher, #15 was Mark Sullivan.
Number 51 for the collective bullpen mess that was Byung-Hyun Kim, Julian Tavarez, and (late stage) Daniel Bard.
Also for Heathcliff Slocum who brought us DLowe and Tek.
Also for Heathcliff Slocum who brought us DLowe and Tek.
Already mentioned but the big ones for me are
5 Nomar
7 Trot
24 Manny
33 Tek
I associate a lot of numbers to the 04 team by default. 18 Damon and 11 Mueller and 15 Millar.
Has anybody mentioned 38?
Edit: I see Lex listed Sizemore
5 Nomar
7 Trot
24 Manny
33 Tek
I associate a lot of numbers to the 04 team by default. 18 Damon and 11 Mueller and 15 Millar.
Has anybody mentioned 38?
Edit: I see Lex listed Sizemore