NEW YORK -- The Yankee Stadium crowd reacted audibly twice as legendary PA announcer Bob Sheppard explained the reason for the moment of silence before the Red Sox-Yankees game yesterday. First, when he announced that Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock had died in an automobile accident in St. Louis just hours before. And again when he mentioned Hancock's age, 29.
Hancock had Red Sox ties. He was drafted by the Sox in the fifth round in 1998 out of Auburn University, and advanced through their system until he made his big league debut in 2002. His one start for the Sox came in Chicago Sept. 26 against the White Sox. That winter, he was part of the trade with the Phillies in which the Sox acquired Jeremy Giambi.
"I'm just buckled," said Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson, who had Hancock for two seasons in Double A Trenton, speaking by phone from his office in McCoy Stadium. "Kason Gabbard, who is pitching for us today, came into my office and said, 'You had Hancock, didn't you?' That's how I found out.
"I couldn't believe it. We're sitting here, [pitching coach] Mike Griffin and Ralph Treuel [minor league pitching coordinator], reflecting. I loved Josh. This really saddens me. He battled some adversity and was really developing when we traded him to the Phillies."
In Trenton on June 3, 2002, Hancock was hit in the face by a line drive struck by Reading's Ryan Chapman. He sustained two hairline fractures of the jaw, and a titanium plate was inserted when they reconstructed the area.
"One month later -- to the day -- this kid was back on the mound, pitching," said Johnson. "First batter he faced, a ball was hit through the box. He didn't even flinch. I turned to Griff and said, 'You gotta be kidding me.' He was one of the toughest people I've ever been around.
"I'm not sure if it's the right word, but he was charismatic -- he had a lot of character to him."
Hancock's weight became an issue when he was with Cincinnati, which released him early in spring training in 2006 when he reported 17 pounds overweight. But the Cardinals signed him three days later, and he became a useful member of their bullpen and was rewarded with a World Series ring at the end of the season.
The Red Sox released a statement expressing their sympathies to Hancock's family. The team also announced it planned to observe a moment of silence before tomorrow night's game against Oakland at Fenway Park.
"It was kind of shocking when I found out today," said first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who played with Hancock in Trenton and in the Arizona Fall League. "I'm still shocked right now. To all his family and friends out there, you just got to say a prayer for them and hope they'll be all right. The St. Louis Cardinals lost a good pitcher.
"The greatest thing is, he won a World Series before he died."
Entering the day, Ramírez had considerable company among elite hitters who have struggled this month. Among those who also have been scuffling are: Carlos Delgado, Mets (.187), Gary Sheffield, Tigers (.190), Michael Young, Rangers (.202), and Paul Konerko, White Sox (.207).
Ramírez joined some elite company with the 50th home run of his career against the Bombers. The others are Jimmie Foxx (70), Ted Williams (62), Hank Greenberg (53), and Carl Yastrzemski (52), Hall of Famers all. Half of Ramírez's homers have come in Yankee Stadium, not far from the Washington Heights neighborhood where he grew up and is still revered.
Gordon Edes can be reached at edes@globe.com. ![]()