Red Sox Retired Numbers?

[CurseReversed04]

As much as i hate to admit it, I agree with you Chris.... I think team contribution should come into play.

[ChrisLDuncan]

In defense of what my Yankees do, even though I do not think Mattingly nor Munson will make the hall their contributions to the team are significant, so their numbers deserve to be retired just like Jim Rice's and David Ortiz's when he retires (that's me saying I don't think Ortiz will make the hall (not that he doesn't desereve it)...too tough for a DH)

[JamesWest]

Interesting...I wasn't aware of that. Do you know of anyone off-hand who did it? I know there used to be a lot of "player/coach" types back in the old days.

Looking at the 1970 Sporting News guide, there are two players listed as having done this: Taylor Phillips and Ken MacKenzie. Neither was listed as a player-coach.

[SoxSon]

What about Fisk, I thought he retired a White Sox?

Fisk was retired both by Boston and Chicago, with the numbers 27 and 72, respectively. Of course, he played longer in Chicago, and he was retired there first.

[Mike D.]

This practice was fairly common back in the days when a player needed to have five seasons in to be eligible for a pension. Players who who were short would be signed as a coach and then activated to the roster to get the days they needed or they would be signed to a short term deal, get their time in and be released (or retire)..

Interesting...I wasn't aware of that. Do you know of anyone off-hand who did it? I know there used to be a lot of "player/coach" types back in the old days.

[Mike D.]

You might get a kick out of this, Mike:

http://sports.espn.go.com/minorlbb/n...ory?id=2523029

Remember seeing that when it happened...good stuff. BTW, if anyone is ever in KC, hit the Negro League Museum...it's well worth it!

[EvanAparra]

What about Fisk, I thought he retired a White Sox?

I like that we dont just retire every Tom, Dick, and John that comes through here like our brothers in New York. They're going to flip their odometer soon.

[Johnny Evers]

I agree that #3 is very limiting...but then again, not many numbers should be retired. Retiring a player's number means that that guy was the Red Sox for a number of years. Personally, as fantastic a pitcher and as great a Boston icon as Clemens was for those years with the Sox, I don't feel that he's as elite a Red Sox hero as Williams, Yaz, Fisk, etc.

[JamesWest]

You don't see this in baseball much (or to my knowledge, ever). Not sure if it's against the rules, or if just nobody ever does it. Or, am I wrong, and it has been done? Anyone know?

This practice was fairly common back in the days when a player needed to have five seasons in to be eligible for a pension. Players who who were short would be signed as a coach and then activated to the roster to get the days they needed or they would be signed to a short term deal, get their time in and be released (or retire)..

[SoxSon]

You don't see this in baseball much (or to my knowledge, ever). Not sure if it's against the rules, or if just nobody ever does it. Or, am I wrong, and it has been done? Anyone know?

You might get a kick out of this, Mike:

http://sports.espn.go.com/minorlbb/news/story?id=2523029

[Mike D.]

I think Clemens will end is career in a Boston uniform..in some way, shape or capacity. I just hope they have a little more integrity and can sign him to a 1 day contract or something, not create a phony job for him so he can retire like that. Go out in style, sign a 1 day contract before you hang 'em up. Do what Jerry Rice did..go sign back with the team that made you who you were and retire..it's the right thing to do and I hope Roger realizes that.

You don't see this in baseball much (or to my knowledge, ever). Not sure if it's against the rules, or if just nobody ever does it. Or, am I wrong, and it has been done? Anyone know?

[rwolfe09]

I think Clemens will end is career in a Boston uniform..in some way, shape or capacity. I just hope they have a little more integrity and can sign him to a 1 day contract or something, not create a phony job for him so he can retire like that. Go out in style, sign a 1 day contract before you hang 'em up. Do what Jerry Rice did..go sign back with the team that made you who you were and retire..it's the right thing to do and I hope Roger realizes that.

[SoxSon]

I meant to agree in my last response that #3 on your list doesn't make a lot of sense. If a ballclub is manufacturing ways to make a fit, then there's a problem somewhere.

[CurseReversed04]

And by the way...I think that Evans should be in the HOF!

[CurseReversed04]

Here is my problem. It is one thing to be selective when retiring numbers, it is another thing to make it next to impossible. Let me give you an example of why this bothers me so much. When Carlton Fisk was elected to the HOF, the Sox front office decided to cash in by retiring his number. One problem however...he did not finish his career with the Red Sox. Any Sox fan will remember the contract debacle that eventually sent him to the White Sox. How did the Sox get around this? They created a front office job for him so that he could "finish his baseball career" with the Red Sox. Now I am not saying that we should run out and put Calvin Shiraldi's number up with Williams and Yaz, but can we at least come up with something that is a little more attainable, and something that makes a little more sense.