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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Red Sox to retire Johnny Pesky’s number

OH, NO!...This paveskovichs the way for the Red Sox to be more like the Yankees!

The Red Sox are about to break with their longstanding policy regarding the retirement of uniform numbers. And longtime club fixture Johnny Pesky will be the first beneficiary.

According to a team source, meetings were held last night and again this morning to address how and when a player’s number should be retired. The team plans to hold a press conference today or tomorrow to announce the change in policy, with all signs pointing to the dramatic news that Pesky’s uniform No. 6 will be retired before the end of the regular season.

The timing is perfect: Given that Pesky’s 89th birthday is Saturday, it’s likely the ceremony will take place before the Sox’ nationally televised game against the New York Yankees.

Repoz Posted: September 23, 2008 at 08:17 PM | 20 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, History, Boston

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1. PJ Martinez Posted: September 23, 2008 at 08:44 PM (#2951661)

Happy to hear it. He seems like a great guy.

I do like that the Sox retire very few numbers, but they already sort of bent the rules for Fisk.

2. mopar Posted: September 23, 2008 at 08:50 PM (#2951667)

This is awkward, they actually meant Rico Petrocelli

3. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 23, 2008 at 08:50 PM (#2951668)

I do like that the Sox retire very few numbers, but they already sort of bent the rules for Fisk.

And if there's one other guy they'd bend it for over the past 80 years, it'd be Pesky.

4. Gamingboy Posted: September 23, 2008 at 08:58 PM (#2951684)

It wasn't retired already? Wow, uhh... all I can say is

ABOUT TIME!

Few deserve it more then he, probably the biggest Sox fan in the world.

5. vortex of dissipation Posted: September 23, 2008 at 09:02 PM (#2951689)

Are we sure retiring #6 isn't for Bill Buckner?

6. Fly, the most judgment-free human being on Earth Posted: September 23, 2008 at 09:38 PM (#2951730)

I'm thrilled that they're retiring Pesky. I just wish they could go back and un-do the Fisk retirement.

7. aleskel

Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:06 PM (#2951765)

EDIT: eh, wasn't funny

8. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:20 PM (#2951787)

Anyone think any of the recent era of Red Sox will be retired?

Pedro had the moments, but not a chance after the way he left.
Schilling, no way, not enough time by far
Nomar would have had a punchers chance as of 6-7 years ago.

Going back a few more years, you have Rice, then Clemens. Rice seems highly unlikely, but maybe in 20 years if he hangs around the team. Clemens could be revisited in some years from now, maybe, but probably he has no chance for a long time, if ever.

Which leaves basically leaves Ortiz - who I'd call unlikely, but with a nice bounceback and a few more good seasons, plus all the postseason and clutch goodies, I could start to see a case, maybe. Or maybe Wakefield, if he pulls a Pesky.

9. cal Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:32 PM (#2951814)

Boggs?

10. vortex of dissipation Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:33 PM (#2951815)

If Jim Rice makes the Hall of Fame, he's very likely to get his number retired, since he played all 16 of his seasons with the Red Sox. He would qualify under the older, much more strict rules.

11. PJ Martinez Posted: September 23, 2008 at 10:36 PM (#2951827)

Depending on how much they're really changing things, I certainly wouldn't rule out Manny. Two titles, World Series MVP, fan favorite, and really unforgettable.

12. Foster Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:02 PM (#2951862)

One of the nicest men in baseball. I really thought it'd been retired already.

(Johnny Pesky, not Manny.)

13. villageidiom Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:06 PM (#2951865)

Ditto to #11; if Rice is in the HoF his number will almost certainly be retired. Boggs? They've let eleven players wear his number since he left, none since Ramiro Mendoza. They haven't retired any number for Babe Ruth, Cy Young, nor Lefty Grove, although players didn't wear numbers back then.

I think Tony Conigliaro might be the next non-HoF one. In another 20 years they might retire Remy's #2 if he's still broadcasting.

It has long been speculated that Pesky might have been a Hall of Famer had he not lost three full seasons because of World War II.

Anyone care to take this on?

14. Maury Brown Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:18 PM (#2951900)

Happy to hear it. He seems like a great guy.

As a Portland native, this is great news. Interviewed him a couple times. First time, we had 25 minutes scheduled. He talked for almost 2 hours. Nice as could be. A gentleman in the highest order.

15. Crispix Attacks Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:26 PM (#2951923)

If Johnny Pesky had hit .450 with 80 home runs in each of the three seasons he lost to World War II, he might be a Hall of Famer. Alternately, maybe in the war he contracted some sort of injury that made him no longer the superstar he should have been, aw, who knows, just let the guy in.

If he'd played in 1943, 44, and 45, my painstaking projection system gives him 23 career home runs, 570 RBIs and 2055 career hits. How does that stack up against comparable Hall of Famers?

16. Boots Day Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:35 PM (#2951961)

It's a little farfetched, but it's not that hard to see. If Pesky had been able to have the same seasons in 1943, 1944 and 1945 that he had in the two surrounding years, that's five straight years in the Top Five of the MVP voting, hitting over .330 every year with 200 hits, as a shortstop. He flamed out pretty early as things turned out, but that's a Hall of Fame peak.

If he'd played in 1943, 44, and 45, my painstaking projection system gives him 23 career home runs, 570 RBIs and 2055 career hits. How does that stack up against comparable Hall of Famers?

George Kell had 2054 career hits.

17. villageidiom Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:35 PM (#2951962)

First time, we had 25 minutes scheduled. He talked for almost 2 hours. Nice as could be. A gentleman in the highest order.

The orphans he blew off to spend an extra hour with you would probably disagree.

18. OCF Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:38 PM (#2951966)

Check post 177 (the very last post) here.

In our most recent Hall of Merit election, Pesky wasn't particularly close to election (46th place, with 7 out of 50 voters placing him on a 15-man ballot) but he does get about twice as much support as Jim Rice (74th place, appearing on 3 ballots). His election to the Hall of Fame would be better justified than Rice's election, and there are several worse shortstops in the Hall.

19. Mister High Standards Posted: September 24, 2008 at 01:05 AM (#2952310)

I couldn't be happier, about baseball. The Boston Redsox have won the right to defend their world championship, and John Michael Pavekovich has been awarded the highest honor he will ever be granted, and well earned.

God Bless Johnny Pesky.

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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Red Sox to retire Johnny Pesky’s number

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