Originally Posted by
chuckwillard
Wow, leave it to metsguy to sidetrack a good thread.
First, as a Red Sox fan, I thoroughly support Pesky's number being retired. I wonder if anyone knows, realizes, or finds it ironic that Pesky's number (6) is the same number worn on that infamous October, 1986 night by one Bill Buckner?
The Red Sox are well known for having the most restrictive number retirement policy in professional sports. In 107 years of history, with all the greats that have come through there, Pesky's will be only the 6th number retired by the franchise. Bobby Doerr (1), Joe Cronin (4), Carl Yastrzemski (8), Ted Williams (9), and Carlton Fisk (27) are the only currently retired numbers.
No one has worn Rice's 14 since he retired, and that will be the next to be retired, as soon has he is, deservedly, elected to the Hall of Fame.
No one has worn Boggs' 26 since he was elected to the Hall of Fame, and that number should have already been retired. Personal conflicts probably have held it up, but it should be done.
5, 21, and 45 have not been reissued since Nomar, Clemens, and Pedro left, respectively. I would be shocked if, in the present climate, Clemens' 21 is retired, but it may eventually be when the steroid furor cools. Neither Nomar or Pedro has met the 10 year service rule, and I would be shocked if either of them ever get a sign on the wall in Fenway, given the numbers who haven't.
Manny falls into the same category as above. He didn't spend 10 years in Boston, and while he may have made great contributions over a shorter period, so did many, many people who haven't had their numbers retired.
Ortiz could get there eventually. However, out of the present crop of Red Sox, I'd say the most likely to fulfil the 10-year rule would be Youkilis and Pedroia, who seem to be the building blocks of the Red Sox next generation. No, I'm not saying they'll be Hall of Famers, or that 20 and 15 will be on the right field wall, just that Youkilis and Pedroia will spend 10 years in a Red Sox uniform.
Terry Francona has been a great manager for a team that has not had an iconic manager in their history. There hasn't been a Tommy Lasorda, a Casey Stengel, a Sparky Anderson, a Bobby Cox, or an Earl Weaver in Boston. But I'd want to see at least another 10 years in the dugout and another couple titles before retiring his number (or his turtleneck, since I've never seen Tito with a jersey number visible). I think you have to be on the level of one of those icons to get your number retired as a manager.
And don't get me started on retiring numbers for executives and owners who never set foot on the field except to collect trophies and toss first pitches.
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