Five Red Sox players who should have their jersey numbers retired

5 Red Sox who deserve to have their jersey number retired

On Monday, the New York Yankees announced that they will retire former right fielder Paul O’Neill’s number 21 later this season. O’Neill played nine seasons with the Yankees, batting .303 while averaging nearly 100 RBIs per season and leading the team to four World Series Championships. Could we see such a thing from the Red Sox this season to match their rival?

O’Neill will become the 23rd former Yankee to have their number retired, meaning nearly a quarter of jersey numbers are unavailable to the current roster. He was unquestionably a significant part of Yankees history, but considering he played less than a decade with the team and was never the best player on those championship teams, his jersey retirement is up to debate.

Even though the Red Sox came into existence the same year as the Yankees, their jersey retirement collection pales in comparison to their division rivals. The Sox have just 11 numbers hanging from the grandstands, and they have much stricter requirements for the honor.

To be eligible for jersey retirement, a player must play ten years in Boston, be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and retire as a member of the Red Sox. In recent years, however, those requirements have become less mandatory.

Both Pedro Martinez and Wade Boggs retired as members of other teams, while Martinez played less than ten years with the Red Sox. In addition, both Johnny Pesky and recent retiree David Ortiz had their numbers retired without being inducted to the Hall of Fame (although Ortiz would eventually be elected).

With the Red Sox being more open to retiring the numbers of their all-time greats, let’s take a look at five players who could eventually see their numbers retired.

Red Sox Legend: SS Nomar Garciaparra

The Number: 5

Nomar Garciaparra leaves behind a complicated legacy in Boston. He left town in an extremely tumultuous fashion, getting traded in July 2004 after months of failed contract negotiations and being perceived as a locker room issue and defensive liability. The Red Sox would, of course, go on to win a World Series that very same year, in large part due to the contributions of Garciaparra’s replacement, Orlando Cabrera.

Yet in the period immediately preceding the Red Sox championship runs, Garciaparra was the man in Boston. Over his nine years in Boston, Garciaparra hit an incredible .323, a total topped only by Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Wade Boggs, and Tris Speaker.

Though he ultimately failed in his quest to end the Red Sox championship drought, he piled up the individual accolades, including a Rookie of the Year award, five top-10 MVP finishes, two batting titles, and five All-Star appearances. Along the way, Garciaparra became a beloved figure due to his Bostonian first name (Nomahhhhh) and his unyielding commitment to hitting.

Garciaparra’s Red Sox legacy is similar to his hitting-machine predecessor, Boggs. Like Nomar, Boggs departed Boston on very uneasy terms, signing with the hated Yankees and eventually helping them to the World Series title he couldn’t win with the Red Sox.

Boggs was ultimately pardoned in the eyes of Red Sox Nation (four World Series titles will do that) and had his number retired in 2016. If Boggs can be forgiven enough to receive the ultimate honor, then Garciaparra, who was much more popular during his time with the Red Sox, should obtain the same recognition.

Red Sox Legend: SP Tim Wakefield

The Number: 49

Tim Wakefield was never even supposed to be in this discussion. A first baseman in college who flamed out in Double-A, Wakefield reinvented himself as a knuckleballer with the Pirates. He made the improbable climb to Pittsburgh and became a folk hero with his performance in the 1992 NLCS, going the distance in two wins, albeit in a losing effort. Despite his heroics, Wakefield was released in 1995 before being picked up with the Red Sox.

It was in Boston where Wakefield would become a hero. No, he was never considered a top starter in baseball, as he had just one All-Star team and had only two seasons with an ERA under 4.00. But much like his one-of-a-kind knuckleball, Wakefield carved out a unique role with the Red Sox. He did whatever the Red Sox asked him to do, as he topped 30 starts in seven seasons and made more than 25 relief appearances in four others.

All those innings eventually added up, and Wakefield finds himself atop many of the Red Sox all-time leaderboards. Only longtime reliever Bob Stanley appeared in more games, while only Roger Clemens and Cy Young won more games.

Wakefield was also a crucial part of nine playoff teams, a feat no other player in team history can match. Even if he didn’t put up the most eye-popping numbers, no pitcher in team history could match his resume.

Since his retirement in 2011, Wakefield’s number 49 has not been given out. Besides Jackie Robinson’s 42, It is the only number between 40 and 65 that can say that. The Red Sox are withholding the number as a way to honor Wakefield, but if they really wanted to commemorate their longtime stalwart, they would officially retire number 49 for good.

Red Sox Legend: Dwight Evans

The Number: 24

Last month, I wrote about how Dwight Evans is not just deserving of induction into the Red Sox Hall of Fame, but the MLB Hall of Fame as well. Over his 20-year career, Evans was a lethal two-way threat, blasting 385 home runs and winning eight gold gloves.

He supplemented his awesome power with a terrific eye, drawing 1,391 walks (29th all-time) and posting a career .370 on-base percentage. His hallmark was his incredible consistency. The right fielder topped 20 home runs 11 times and posted an on-base percentage above .350 13 times.

From a purely Red Sox perspective, few players had a bigger impact on the team’s history than Evans. Only Carl Yastrzemski had more at-bats for the franchise, while only Hall of Famers Jim Rice, Yastrzemski, and Ted Williams had more hits. And while he never led the team to that elusive World Series title, he played a key role in three division winners and was the only player to appear in both the 1975 and 1986 fall classics.

The only thing that might hurt Evans’ case is that number 24 was also donned by Manny Ramirez, who was arguably better on a rate basis. Yet in terms of total significance on the Red Sox franchise, even Manny pales in comparison to Evans.

With Hall of Fame no longer being a hard requirement for induction into the Red Sox Hall of Fame, there is no good reason for Evans not to have his number hanging from the grandstands.

Red Sox Legend: C Jason Varitek

The Number: 33

Much like Wakefield, the impact of Jason Varitek’s Red Sox tenure goes far beyond the numbers. From a statistical standpoint, Varitek’s resume does not indicate jersey retirement. Over 15 years with the club, he made just three all-star teams and never finished higher than 20th in the MVP voting.

His career OPS+ was an unimpressive 99, and while his defense was his calling, his large frame made him far from graceful behind the dish and limited him to only one Gold Glove award.

What the captain lacks in numbers, however, he makes up in leadership. Countless pitchers throughout his career have spoken about the unquantifiable impact he’s had on their career. In his autobiography, Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez credits much of his historic success at the turn of the century to Varitek replacing Scott Hatteberg as his primary catcher.

Ace Josh Beckett, who had one of the most dominant stretches in postseason history during the Red Sox 2007 World Series run, also spoke highly of Varitek’s ability to handle a pitching staff. “Tek is the most prepared baseball player I’ve ever been around,” he said in the 2007 documentary “Champions Again”. “He’s very outspoken about what he thinks works, and he’s very knowledgeable because he does the legwork.”

Beckett’s claims can further be backed up by the fact that Varitek holds the record for most no-hitters caught by a catcher. He was the man managing the game for Boston’s four most recent no-no’s and his work ethic is a big factor in why they occurred.

Though David Ortiz rightfully gets most of the credit in the Red Sox 2000’s championship runs, don’t overlook Varitek’s contribution. During the 2004 and 2007 postseasons, Varitek started 26 of the 28 postseason games, coming off the bench only in the two games Wakefield started (Catching a knuckleball was just about Varitek’s only flaw).

He caught every inning in both extra-innings affairs in the ’04 ALCS, and the professionalism and mental toughness he brought to the ballpark every day no doubt set a tone for his teammates in the historic comeback.

Even after his retirement, Varitek has remained closely connected to the organization. He joined the club in a special assistant role in 2012 and moved to the dugout as a catching coach and gameplan coordinator.

Besides legends Johnny Pesky and Joe Cronin, no player can top Varitek’s 25 years working with the organization. With all Varitek has meant and contributed to the Red Sox during this unparalleled run of success, the least they could do for repayment is ensure there will never be another number 33.