Sox to retire Pesky's number Friday

This is long overdue, and it's about time the Sox did the right thing here. I can't think of anyone in the team's history who has been more loyal to the Red Sox and the fans than Mr. Pesky.

WADE BOGGS. He could hit with the best of em' and take down a rack on a cross country flight, doesn't get much more AMERICAN than that

It's a about time...

Pedro Martinez (45)
Manny Ramirez (24)
Great players who had the best years of their careers with the Sox deserve to be honored

Where does it end? I saw Tony C, Wakefield, Nomar etc.. Who's next Bob Stanley?? Moe Vaughn?? Who really belongs up there? We have the red sox hall of fame and I think that's a 'local honor' that shows appreciation on the emotional level. No one would argue any of those names mentioned above. New England fell in love with Dwight Evans and he is no doubt the best to partol that cavernous right field and was a beacon of consistency but he isn't a hall of famer. Rice, same thing, he has superlatives in Red Sox history but not HOF. Yaz, Ted, Doerr, Cronin, and Fisk have a rock solid requisite that no one can argue or deny. There is no blurr on 'should they be up there or not. Clemens, Ramirez, Shilling, Pedro, Boggs are arguable enough as it is. Keep the requisite.

I think it's great that the current Red Sox administration is revising its policy for retiring players' numbers, and Johnny Pesky's is long overdue.

As for other players whose numbers should be retired, I DEFINITELY believe that Jim Rice's, Luis Tiant's and Dwight Evans' shold hang in right field along with Yaz, Ted Wiliams, Bobby Doerr and Carlton Fisk. However, I'm still not sure about Tony C, and given all that has come out from the Mitchell Report, I honestly believe that it would not be in the Red Sox best interest to retire Roger Clemens number, although the verdict is still very much out in that department. In any event, I'm gald to see that one of the most beloved players in Red Sox history is finally going to have a day in his honor. Happy Birthday, Johnny!

It's about bleeping time! Can't think of anyone more deserving. Hope it's true!

The pesky pole is the right field pole - not the left field pole...

Definitely Rice if he is elected to the Hall.
Never for Clemens. The team should give 21 to anyone who wants it.
At some point in the future we will see 24 but when it is there, it'll be Manny's.

Clemens will never get his number retired by the Sox. Rice probably will once he gets into the Hall of Fame.

24 should definittly be done for Dwight Evans - the consumate team player - unlike the other guy who wore #24

If you are going to add Clemens to the mix than I think Boggs and Pedro Martinez would have to go up there as well. However, I think the only people who really should be up there who aren't are Jim Rice and Dwight Evans. Pesky is a classy and well deserved move.

I love Johnny dearly, but I think it's a bad idea to loosen the standards for number retirement, as it creates too much debate and contention. Besides, he already has the Pole!

"The left field foul pole " is Pesky's Pole?????? Somebody please edit this story.

Im indifferent either way, but I find interesting that no one has taken #5 since NG was traded. Could it be that the sox arent even allowing it to be available?

Dewey deserves it. I was pissed when they gave Manny his number 8 years ago.
He is #4 on the all time Red Sox RBI and HR lists, #3 on doubles and extra base hits and he won 8 gold gloves. He's the man.

Pesky Pole in Left Field ????

Evans and Rice should be considered as played their hearts out for the SOX...Clemens only played and went for the $$

What about Wade Boggs (No. 26), and someday Tim Wakefield (No. 49).

Jim Rice should be next. The fact that he's not in the HOF is an insult and the Sox should honor the man who was a dominating offensive player for a decade.

NO QUESTION,JIM RICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHAME ON THE HALL OF FAME FOR NOT HAVING INDUCTED THIS GREAT PLAYER.

Dwight Evans, #24

rice, evans, and tony c. for sure.

Jim Rice and Dwight Evans, definitely. Roger Clemens - NEVER

I think I'm going to be sick. This is a sick joke, right? I would be all for Rice and Evans being retired, but Pesky? The man played a total of eight seasons here. Just because he hung around because he had no other place to go doesn't merit his number being retired.

Rice and Conigliaro definitely

Tiant and Evans yes

Clemens no way

Who deserves it more than Johnny Pesky? No one, my friend. I'm looking forward to seeing the 6 in right field the next time I'm at the park.

Tony C.

I always envisioned 24 and 45 making their way up in right field, but I never figured they would bend their stiff retirement rules for ole #6. Congrats to Old Man Red Sox, our own Johnny Pesky!

Maybe this opens the way down the line for Wakefield's 49 to take its proper place up in right field? And maybe someday we'll see a join retirement for 24 (Evans and Ramirez) like the Yanks did for Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra.

I would have Tiant next and then eventually Rice. No one would show up for Clemens, not sure if Tony C's situation qualifies. Dewey could go either way.

Wade Boggs for sure! It's not his fault that management ran him out of town so Scott Cooper could get a shot. Also #24 should be retired.....for Manny and Evans. Combined they meet the criteria.

Papi. He removed the curse.

As long as this ownership is in place, I doubt Manny's number will be retired. He quit on the team in 2006, sandbagged many "tender hamstrings", and virtually withheld services this year. He is a great hitter, but let Cleveland retire his number.

Dom DiMaggio - a great player and better person. Had great numbers and missed three years of his prime to serve in the Coast Guard. Played his entire career with the Sox. Like Pesky, meets all of the guidelines except being in the Hall of Fame.

No one has changed the face of this team more than Pedro...He deserves his number up there more than anyone else listed. I would give you Boggs and Evans. Beyond that I am at a loss for Mo Vaughn, NOMAR, Tony C. Great for Pesky! I am glad the Sox are doing this. Pedro should be next! Roger NEVER!!!!!

Well, let's see who should be up there:

Wade Boggs (No. 26) comes to mind. Granted he went to the Yankees after Boston and he did not leave on good teams, but his Hall of Fame career was made in Boston. He was just better than average after he left.

Fred Lynn (No. 19 I believe) is another. If he never left Boston, he was headed to the Hall. His numbers are staggering with the Red Sox.

Terry Francona ( No. 47) as a manager. He ended the curse.

David Ortiz (No. 34) has to be up there if Rice is up there. Rice DHed a lot during his career too.

Odd ball one:

Jerry Remy (No. 2) for what he has done in the booth. Uecker is in the Hall as a broadcaster and Jerry Remy has become Mr. Red Sox since he joined the broadcasting team.

Pesky deserves it hands down. But we can't put anyone up there that was "good." Those guys that are up there now are all hall of famers that had LONG careers with the redsox.....let's leave it at that.

Its great that he's being honored (again) by the Sox and its ownership. Pesky is one of the most enduring and beloved of the former Red Sox players.

BTW - Pesky's Pole is in Right Field. Fisk's Pole is in Left.

It's about time.

Rice,and Tiant should be up there. #24 should be up there for Dewey not Manny. Manny didn't give 2 sh*ts about this franchise. He quite on the team, yes he had some incredible years here but why reward someone with something like that when they quit on the team.

Never #21 for Clemens

Jim Ed, Dewey and Luis. AND ... Dominic DiMaggio.
I just cannot support Clemens. He certainly is worthy for his pitching while with the Red Sox, but his childish conduct off the field, the fact that he has been very vindictive toward the Red Sox since his dearture and his connection to PEDs ... Not someone I care to hold up as a shining example of this franchise. I'd sooner retire Rico Petrocelli's No. 6 or George Scott's No. 5 than Roger's No. 21.
In fact, No. 21 should go back into circulation.
I'm not going to post the argument for DiMaggio, Rice, Evans and Tiant. Each holds a unique place in Red Sox lore. Our beloved franchise is lesser without their character and skills.
Dom and Johnny should be alive to see their numbers retired and up there next to Ted's and Bobby's. They should all be together again.

Tom's post on 9/23 at 1:41 pm says it best for me. Bad idea.

I was in Ft. Myers a few years ago for spring training, and was fortunate enough to watch one of the autograph sessions. Johnny was the first out and the last to leave, even at his advanced age in the Florida sun. Pesky certainly deserves it. Congratulations to a true class act.

Rice and Evans should join him. Boggs and Clemens can shove it. Some of the others interest me... Pedro needs to be there in my opinion. He was simply outstanding. Was Schilling here long enough? When he was here, he was great, but is five years under contract (four actually performing) enough? Tough questions. Tony C, Wakefield, El Tiante... who knows?

Clemens, Vaughn, and Boggs will never get their numbers retired. It's the way they left.

The only way Ramirez makes it, is if Henry, Lucchino, Werner, and Epstein are looong gone.

The only one mentioned so far that could make it, in my mind, is Dwight Evans.

This is most certainly long overdue. Talk about someone who has been loyal to the organization for many decades, a true gentleman and a professional. He has given his whole life to the Red Sox, and he deserves this.
I don't think anyone else, except Rice deserves to have their number retired. Definitely not Manny, because he was such a jerk and pain in the a**, not Boggs, because he's a traitor and embraced being a yankee, riding that bleeping horse around the dump that ruth built, and most certainly not Clemens, well for obvious reasons.
We will see about the current crop of Red Sox, and who deserves to get in years down the line. Maybe Ortiz, and some others, but they still have a lot of work to do.

If 24 is ever retired there is only one player that will come to mind and with no disrespect, it will not be Dwight Evans!!!!

Semantics, I know, but really, it's called, "The Pesky Pole." Think about why.

I do believe that it should be for HOFers.

I agree with Tom. Johnny has Pesky's Pole. As beloved as he is, I don't think the honor of having his number retired is merited. Once the rules are relaxed for adding favorites, the honor of having a number retired is lessened. Johnny will always be a fan and player favorite and I'll bet he would be the first to admit he doesn't deserve to have his number retired. Let's not make it a popularity contest. Although I must say I do disagree with the requirement that a player end his career with the Sox to deserve to have his number retired. That's silly. Imagine if the Bruins had that rule - just ask Ray Bourque or Bobby Orr. Again, it should NOT be a popularity contest.

It will be a sad day when we won't see him at spring training. He is beloved by the Boston fans like Orr, Cousy, and Bird. More than Ted Williams perhaps. He definitely deserves thsi trubute. God love him

I think that the Sox have been overly restrictive in limiting the retired numbers. Pesky's (and it was Rico Petrocelli's number, as well) number is long overdue given what he has done for the club. As far as the others go, it is unrealistic to limit the numbers to HOF members (too hard to get in) or even those who stayed with the club for their entire careers. It doesn't happen anymore with free agency. I'd like to see all of the numbers mentioned up there, including Boggs's.

Tony Conigliaro's number 25 should be retired. He was the youngest to hit 100 home runs in a injury shorten career. I saw Tony hit his 1st home run in Fenway Park on opening day 1963. Yes I was a Red Sox Fan before it was cool to be one. I can tell you that over the years it was difficult to see anybody wearing that number including Mike Lowell. Please retire #25 and pay an honor to Tony C. Thank you

They should place the retired #6 in a special place, on top of pole bearing namesake.

What about El Guapo?

Rice. Hands down. Should be a hall a famer & was the heart & sole of that team from 78 through 86.

This is great...I was hoping they would do this for a long time, especially so he will be around to see this! What a great honor for one of the nicest men around. He is such a treasure for Sox fans...always a smile and an autograph for anyone.

As for other retired numbers....Rice if he gets into the HOF, Boggs-maybe, Evans-nope, no to Tony C as well. Pedro will definitely have his number retired when the time comes and on this current team, you can foresee Papi's number being honored far down the line

What great news. A well deserved honor for Mr. Pesky that is long overdue. I am sure that if Mr. Pesky was not in Navy during WWII -during his prime playing years- he would have compiled numbers/statistics that would have made him a Hall of Famer easily. Congratulations Johnny!!!

None of those guys qualify for retired numbers in my opinion. All were great in their own ways, but I'd like retired numbers to be reserved for the best of the best -- an even greater honor than being in the Hall of Fame. Don't turn this into the Celtics approach of honoring just about everyone. They'll need to add a 3rd digit to the jerseys in a few more years.

Rice, Dewey, and Tony C

If the powers that be, decide to retire Clemens' number, the game before that event will be the last one I will ever listen to, attend at, or watch on television.

As a 10 year-old kid in '86, who idolized the great things he did (i.e. the 20 Strike Out Game, AL Run in '86, etc.) and was throughout High School, still a fan of his after the unceremonious way Duquette ran him North of the Border (and we all know what happened after that)...

I hope that Messieurs Luccino, Henry and Epstein (if he has any say)
"mis-remember" Number 21 when it comes to considering his worth on that wall.

Finding your mojo again AFTER you leave the Red Sox, negates any accomplishment prior to that.

(Are you reading this Manny?)

No question about Dewey.

Tiant and Conigliaro are possibilities.
Rice, maybe not, just like Boggs.

But it would be cool to see a Dave Roberts 90ft honor line somewhere in the park one day. Hopefully to the Guinness line.

Clemens, and Boggs should never get their numbers retired in Boston. They Jumped ship to New York!

Tony C, Dewy and Jim Ed yes!

Bill Lee

A great move, and overdue.

Next: Dwight Evans. They never should have given away his number to begin with.

What a Joke he wasn't even the best player to wear # 6 that distinction would go to Rico Petrocelli, what do you say to someone like RICO. That is a slap in the face.

Why don't we just retire everyones numbers.

Johnny Pesky is a great guy and was an average player. This is great Marketing ploy by great Marketeers. I can see it now in the front office "Lets have a day" who can we honor?

I vote against retiring number 21 for Clemens... he won how many Cy Young awards while with Toronto and New York? Not to mention the steroid scandal. He won't meet any of the standards in due time, the HOF is a huge question now, plus as I stated above, it could be argued he had some of his best years with other teams.

The day Clemens is up there with Pesky is the day I burn my Red Sox hat. Ortiz is the only one that really comes to mind...eventually.

Boggs? Are you kidding? Maybe he'll wear a Yankee hat at his induction ceremony. Or would it be a Rays hat if he was paid enough.

45? Maybe. His exit wasn't so acrimonious as others.

SELL OUT!

Evans & Rice

The kind fo teamwork & loyalty they showed to the Sox is a lost art. Manny? He put the "I" in team. Pedro? long shot. Clemens? Dogged it his last year year and fired back at the city and fans while he resurrected himself in Toronto. Boggs? marginal, too marginal.

The retired numbers should read 1 4 6 8 9 14 24* 27

*Evans

Great for Pesky! His number should be retired simply for the dedication he has always had to this team, never mind his other accomplishments. Which is a quality Clemens and Boggs don't have. Never in their lives will they come back to Fenway and sit on the bench with the rest of the team and cheer them on. Nor go to Sox spring training and offer their wisdom to our young rookies. Don't retire their numbers, Red Sox. Yes, they had good stats, but in Boston, attitude and heart means more here than any other city.

As a Red Sox fan since 1932 I am thrilled that Jonny Pesky is being honored! Really a deserved award I used to see him in Denver when he was a coach for the Yankee farm team there .At that time he said Yawkee would nevver givehim amy consideration. The next time I saw him he was manager!! Looking back I feel consideration should be given.Hall of Fame be damned. Jim Rice-Yes. Clemens-NO, Tony Conigliaro-Yes. Jimmy Foxx -Yes. Lefty Grove-Yes.

Dom DiMaggio's number has to go up. He played for longer with the Red Sox (1940-1953) than Pesky in the same era. I believe he was an All-Star 7 times and was widely considered on of the two best defensive center fielder in the game, along with his brother Joe, for more than a decade. It is widely considered a slight that he has not been selected to the Hall of Fame.

The team should keep the requirements as they are and just make the point that Pesky is an exception to the rule due to exceptional circumstances. If another former player devotes 50 years of his baseball career to the Red Sox as Pesky has, then they'll get considered too in due time.

I don't know about retiring numbers, but Julio Lugo and JD should just retire.

I wouldn't want to see Boggs up there...if he didn't want a B on his HOF plaque, then he doesn't deserve to have his number retired.

Clemens should never ever be up there for the way he left and general stupidity in life after he left.

Tony C.? Maybe a sign with his name on it a la Jim Loscutuff, but however the fates may have conspired against him, he simply didn't do enough to warrant retiring his number.

Looie? I could maybe see it simply for being able to be the first minority athlete to be adored in this town, and he had a great run here, but it wasn't a long enough run to retire the number.

Rice and Dewey probably deserve it on some level, but as an earlier poster mentioned, where do we draw the line on retiring numbers? It really probably should've stopped at Williams and Yaz. And besides they already gave Dewey's number to another HOF-caliber player along the way.

A Red Sox Hall of Fame at "Red Sox Place?" Sure, bring all these guys in, but number retirement should be kept to the barest minimum.

The only numbers that should be retired are those of LEGENDS. I support making the HOF exception for Pesky, but don't open the floodgates here. Keep this honor as it should be, next to impossible to achieve but for a select few.

24 - for Evans and manny - a nice symmetry. Class and skills, and skills.
Definitely Rice. He WILL be in the hall; the cat was a terror to pitchers and reporters alike; hence, the current stonewall. I can't vouch for Tiant: 8 years with the Sox, no hall of fame, didn't finish his career here, went to the Yankees!! What about Wake instead? Before you scoff - consider that he's second all-time in wins. I wouldn't put Clemens, would consider Cy Young (no number, eight years). If you can't have Wake, you shouldn't have Luis. E/M and Rice, definitely.

Is not the traditional requirement for jersey retirement a policy left over from the previous ownership? So much has changed, for the better, in how this franchise is run under the new ownership that I do not understand why this old policy is still adhered to. If a player is enshrined in the Hall of Fame wearing a Boston Red Sox cap, like Wade Boggs, then the club should also retire the jersey number of the player. By doing so, the club would be recognizing what the Hall of Fame enshrinement committee had already determined, that the player's most formidable years were with the Red Sox.

//At some point in the future we will see 24 but when it is there, it'll be Manny's//

Chris,

I don't think so on the Manny front. If you want to root for him, go root for #99 in LA. He dogged it all year for his own selfish reasons. he has alot of nerve holding the Red Sox hostage for more money. Too bad they couldn't have just fired him and ripped up that ridiculous contract. No one deserves that kind of money. Not even ARod.

Dwight Evans will be the only player I ever think of when I see #24!!!!

End of story!

Pesky deserves the honor...but please don't cheapen it by starting to throw in a bunch of others. Making the HOF should not be sufficient to have your number retired...but if you don't make the HOF...the only exceptions should be someone like Pesky who has spent more than half a century with the team.

Let the Yankees retire Boggs' and Clemens' numbers.........

Tony C deserves it. He ended up giving his life to the Sox. I also like Dwight Evans and Luis Tiant. The Yankees can retire Boggs and Clemens.

#14 should have been retired a long time ago. also, 24 should be retired for dwight evans, as it never should have been worn by manny

i love how no one mentioned Curt Schilling (38). Curt I truly appreiciate everything you did for the sox and for the city. But please don't come back next year, and stop blogging...no one cares what you think or have to say about anything. And stop calling into WEEI and polluting the airwaves with your nonsense

It's about time that Johnny Pesky is honored with his #6 being retired. I do agree with retiring #14(Jim Rice), #24(Manny), and #45(Pedro). However, my memory of Wade Boggs riding around in Yankee Stadium on a horse is still too vivid to think about his number #26 being retired at Fenway. I do not agree with retiring #24 for Dwight Evans(good/loyal player) but Manny will be in HOF. I just hope the Red Sox won't follow in the footsteps of the Celtics and retire everyone who brought home a championship. If that happens then might as well retire Dave Roberts' #31 as well.

Jim Rice will likely be a Hall of Famer before much longer and should be up there. It can also be argued that Tony C. would have been that caliber player as well, had his career not been so tragically cut short- I'm not sure that the floodgates should just be opened and numbers start being retired because of a player's "potential", but that would be an interesting debate.

Dwight Evans was one of the original "dirt dogs" and has been a great ambassador for the game, and has continued to work with the team, first coaching, and later as a consultant. He deserves a look.

Just throwing it out there- Dennis Eckersley defined the role of the closer as we now know it (granted, not during his first stint here), and did finish his career here, now working for the TV station owned by the team as a studio analyst. Worth at least the debate? I think so...

Pesky is definitely deserving to have his number retired. His circumstances are very unique to Red Sox lore. There should be some restriction to retiring player's numbers, but perhaps not ending a career with the Red Sox. But, the HoF requirement remains a good threshold for other than Pesky and perhaps Jim Rice if he does not make the HoF. If a player enters the Hall as a Red Sox player, he should be a candidate for having his number retired regardless of whether he ends his career with the Sox. In this case: Pedro and Manny for sure. Clemens is now a whole different story...

Boggs was a bum! Sure he had 200 hits a year...how many were clutch?

Johnny put up Hall of Fame considerable numbers during his RedSox tenure. His career in Boston may have been even better had he not lost years of his peak to the Military. All that said, I hate to have the Sox keep "amending" their requirements as it will cause a stir if they don't add many more players. This should be VERY special and I'm not even sure they should have opened a loop hole for the beloved Fisk. More appropriate, IMHO, would be a sign with names such as "Pudge", "Pesky", "Tony C".... Etc.. Lets not diminish Johnny's contributions but lets not diminish those of the 4 current retirees' either.

I think that space should be reserved for someone who's number who not only produced incredibly ON the field, but someone who has (and continues to) produced for the entire Boston/New England community. It's still a work in progress, but save room up there for #34 Big Papi!!!!!!!!!!!

Tony C, Rice. Definitely. Papi & Tito eventually. Who cares if they made the HOF or didn't play 10 years? How arbitrary is that? Tony C especially in light of the Pesky thing.

I love Tiant and Boggs, but probably not. No to Evans.

Clemens, never ever. His number should have been given out already, as should have Nomar's.

Tony Conigliaro. While his career was short, he was the youngest player to ever reach 100 HRs and well could have been a Hall of Famer were it not for that errant pitch by Jack Hamilton in August, 1967.

Bad idea. They named a spring-training park in name of Pesky b/c he did not comply with team standards for number retirement. That should suffice. This really opens a can of worms.

What's next, are they going to start selling sushi at the work....wait, they are already doing that.

Hurry up and retire El Tiante's #23 before Lugo comes back swinging for the fences! CONGRATS JOHNNY!!!

I would like to see some numbers, like Wakefield, Rice, Evans, etc, to not be retired, but just honored in some way...the numbers could hang in some other part of the Park, and be in another color other than red, and those numbers would be reserved for really players that prove themselves in a some way, either by being batting champ, ERA leader, or by playing for the team for more than 5 years and doing pretty well for themselves.

Phil Plantier for sure. Oil Can Boyd. Carlos Quintana and of course Tom Brunansky.

Brian Daubach!, Just kiddin

I think they should generally keep the standards , but Pesky should absolutely be an exception to the rule....

Kudos to the Sox ownership! I appreciate the debate above and below - there are certainly some exceptional players who should be considered, but Mr. Pesky is THE clear exception to the team's longstanding criteria for retirement. This is a lifetime achievement award and Mr. Pesky's culmulative contributions exceed that of any Red Sock. As a player, coach, and manager, Mr. Pesky IS Red Sox Nation. He endured most of the 86 years of heartbreak and experienced the thrill of liberating victory (twice). Have there been better individual performers? Certainly. But has anyone earned the esteem of management, players, and fans alike by remaining committed - as one of us - like Mr. Pesky has over the decades? Absolutely not. Thank you, Mr. Pesky - enjoy your day. May there be many more championships ahead, because you, sir, bleed Red Sox red.

If we are adding pitchers, and finishing your career with the Sox is not a prerequisite, then BABE RUTH obviously has to be there.World Series championships, arguably the best pitcher in baseball, especially in the big spot. I am not sure if they had numbers when he was on the Sox and he did finish his l;ast few meager years elsewhere, but he is the best and lets claim him as our own.

Never Roger Clemens. He hated his time in Boston. He mailed in his last three seasons here. If Roger's number is there I will never attend a game a Fenway or watch the Sox on tv again. Clemens did nothing for Boston.

its about friggin time what were -the red sox - waiting for final approval from bill buckner? go johnny go!!!!!!!!!

Saw Boggs at third base at the finale at Yankee Stadium Sunday night in all his glory. Deal breaker. Not a chance at Fenway - and hope he chokes on a chicken bone!

The Sox have already tipped their hat to Pesky, Pudge and Tony C.

Pesky - they named a spring training park after Pesky. And we all know about the pole, but the Sox did not name that after him.

Pudge - they officially dedicated the left field pole to Pudge last year.

Tony C. - they named those new awful right field roof bleachers after Tony C.

Johnny Pesky is an exception to the rule, and it is because of his long service to the team in a number of different roles.

Numbers aren't retired for being a great player, but a transcendent player. I don't want to see so many retired numbers that new Sox players end up with number 102. Tony C, I remember you, but you don't get it on the promise you had. Jim Ed, oh so close... , but that career ended so quickly. Pedro and Roger? Nope, for sad departures . Dewey is my choice because I don't think great defenders get their due, and that last year in Baltimore didn't really count. I just think the modern fan might think it is for Ramirez, so, I guess not. Jason Varitek may be due it for what he has done for Boston pitching over the years, including being a factor in Curt coming to Boston.

I may be a minority in this, and while I know it pretty much breaks all of the rules for why a number should be retired, but if Curt Schilling never pitches again, I think his #38 should be up there. I'm not the biggest fan of his and certainly never apologized for him or his mouth, and I disagree with most of his personal political views, but all of that aside I think he earned it. I think sometimes, a person can have the kind of achievement where the normal rules fail to acknowledge it. The Red Sox went 86 years without a championship. Curt Schilling came over, had a great first season with the Sox, and then did what he did in that '04 postseason. No team had ever forced a Game 7 in a playoff series after being down 0-3, and Schilling did just that. He left it all on the field that year, and basically ended up losing his '05 season recovering from it. It was an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime thing to see... and as long as Schilling doesn't come back next year and pitch for another team, I think he should be considered for having his number retired. I don't think it should happen immediately; let it be after all of the players on the '04 team have officially retired. All of these other players who have had their numbers retired, they were all great players and great Red Sox, and there is no argument to made against the honor they received; they deserved to have their numbers retired as much as anyone. But consider that none of them won a World Series, and Curt Schilling did, and I think the context of his achievement along with the personal hardships he endured to succeed in the clutch have more than proved his worthiness for that sort of honor. The Red Sox don't win in '04 without Schilling, and that's when everything changed.

David Ortiz should probably get his number retired for similar reasons, although like Schilling I believe it should be a long time after he finishes playing. DHs seem to get shafted when it comes to big awards, and it's often cited that they don't have to play defense so they're not playing by the same set of rules as the other players and shouldn't be honored as such. I don't know that I've ever agreed with that but I think it's a valid point to bring up. However, David Ortiz isn't just any DH, he's been a very special player for us. Even if the HOF or anyone else doesn't want to acknowledge his achievements because he's a DH, David Ortiz didn't invent the role of the DH, he just played under the system that he was signed under. Even if sportswriters and the HOF keep overlooking what he's done, that's no reason for the organization to do the same.

But perhaps more than the other two guys, I think Tim Wakefield deserves to have his number retired. He's probably not going to the HOF anytime soon, but I can't think of any other player who's put the team's interests ahead of his own more often than Wake. He's the ultimate team player, and that combined with his tenure on the Sox and his achievements in that time should make him at least worthy of consideration. Again, that's not to take away from the people who did meet those requirements and did have their numbers retired...but how many championships did they win? Schilling and Ortiz rightly get a lot of credit for the team's success in 2004, but when I think back to that crucial ALCS, it's Tim Wakefield that I think about. On the verge of being down 0-3, most starting pitchers would walk in with the attitude of "Tomorrow I'll win the game for the team and save the day, I can do it." Wake walked up to Francona and said, "This [game 3] is lost anyway, let me go out and pitch so you can save the bullpen and give us a chance to win tomorrow." And then he pitched some crucial extra-innings in games 4 and 5. He benched himself for the World Series last year, not because he didn't think he could pitch one game, but because he was concerned that he wouldn't be able to pitch two games if it came down to that. There's a selflessness there, a lack of ego, that you just don't see very often. So whether it's huge contributions in the postseason like that, or more simple things, like the fact that this summer he was on a terrific run for the Sox where he gave them a chance to win each time he went out but ended up with a slew of non-decisions instead of wins because of no run support, that give him that extra intangible that I think make him worthy of having his number retired.

What about players that did not where numbers and won Red Sox championships?

Carl Mays 1915 - 1919 3 WS
Babe Ruth 1914 - 1919 3 WS
Harry Hooper 1909 - 1920 4 WS
Cy Young 1901- 1908 1 WS

Certainly Pesky deserves to be honored for devoting most of his life to the Sox, bu t instead of changing the criteria for having one's number retired, the Sox should have something similar to a Ring of Fame that several NFL teams have. They could put players names (and numbers if they desired) around the facade of the upper deck or even along the top of the wall in left. That way, they could honor those players that made a contribution but don't meet the requirements for having their number retired.

Rice and Evans should definitely join the club. They made great contributions to the Sox and to Baseball, and deserve it just as much as anyone. I also have to support Pedro, he was the most dominant pitcher in the history of the team in his prime-- and turned in two of the greatest seasons in the history of baseball in 1999 and 2000.
I also really like the idea of Dom DiMaggio-- reuniting "the teammates" up there in right field.
Tony C is tough, his was so great, but his tenure so short (albeit no fault of his own)

I'm sorry but I am just not in favor of this. I always loved that the Red Sox wouldn't retire your number unless you are a Hall of Famer and retire with the Red Sox (except for the special circumstance for Fisk, acknowledging the mistake made letting him go), which makes sense and differentiates us from the Yankees, who retire the number of guys like Don Mattingly who isn't in the Hall. If they aren't retiring Boggs #26 then why Pesky? It makes no sense and opens the door for guys like Varitek and Schilling, great players but not Hall of Famers, to have their numbers retired and it cheapens it. The Pesky Pole ought to be enough.

If you have to finish your career with the sox and be a hall of famer, then my vote goes to Schilling and Ortiz (if he stays). The curse breakers

Rice's number above all should be retired. He has been unreasonably snubbed by HOF voters. No one and I mean no one who left the Red Sox and played for the Yankees should have their number retired. Cases in point, Boggs and Clemens, not only eventually played for the Yankees but both epitomized the self-centered
ego-mania that in part kept the BoSox from winning a championship in the 80's.

Tony C., a Favorite Son..., with both a tragic end to his career and life, does not warrant having his number retired.

Put Number 14 on the right field facade where it belongs!!

Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I expect many people to not like this idea, but hey, the guy brought 2 WS home and is probably, next to Jeter and R. Jackson, one of the most clutch performers in the history of the game. Remember, he loved the fans here, just not the mgt. I say, do it for Manny!!!!

Pesky deserves it. But I have a question: under the old rules, was retirement mandatory? In that scenario, if Schilling is done and makes the Hall of Fame -- a 50-50 proposition -- he'd be up there.

Good decison. HE deserves it!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking at retiring #6 simply for contributions on the field seems short-sighted. Pesky spans generations of Red Sox players and fans from Ted Williams to Dustin Pedroia, from your grandfather to your kids.

Just as the HOF keeps people out for what happened off the field (Joe Jackson, Pete Rose), retiring Pesky's number also considers what he's done for the organization on and off the field for decades.

In my mind......... Tony C.
As a kid I loved watching him. I was 14 when he got beaned and that ended my baseball playing days also.
Tony C was the First Generation of Red Sox Nation and still to this day, when I see #25 I think of Tony C.

This only waters down a great tradition. How does Pesky, (much as we love him), belong up there with Williams and Yaz?

The only others I can imagine breaking the rules for would be:

#7 -- Domenic DiMaggio
#? -- Smoky Joe Wood

Otherwise, keep the rules in place. Jim ED will get int the HOF -- actually, why aren't we lobbying for Johnny and Dom to the Veterans' Committee -- Johnny has better numbers than either PeeWee Reese or Rizzuto and they're both in there.

We have now descended into second rate team territory. This is like the Padres retiring the number of legendary Randy Jones.

Tony C! The only Red Sox player who gave his life for the team. Tony C may have been the greatest Red Sox Player of all time except for the fast ball to the head. We will never know. He sure did hit 100 home runs FAST! That BUM that hit him in the head should have been castrated.

How any of you can claim to want Clemens or Boggs on the wall is way beyond me. They are in their minds New York Yankees. Let New York have them and Keep them. Clemens and Boggs are just Dirty MONEY GRUBBING TRAITORS. Clemens is also a Damn Liar (" I want to play ball closer to my family", so he moves to Toronto). Tony C gave his life for the Boston Red Sox. Enuf Said!

Tony C gave his life for the Boston Rede Sox

I Pray for Tony C.

Tony C! The only Red Sox player who gave his life for the team. Tony C may have been the greatest Red Sox Player of all time except for the fast ball to the head. We will never know. He sure did hit 100 home runs FAST! That BUM that hit him in the head should have been castrated.

How any of you can claim to want Clemens or Boggs on the wall is way beyond me. They are in their minds New York Yankees. Let New York have them and Keep them. Clemens and Boggs are just Dirty MONEY GRUBBING TRAITORS. Clemens is also a Damn Liar (" I want to play ball closer to my family", so he moves to Toronto). Tony C gave his life for the Boston Red Sox. Enuf Said!

Boggs so overwhelmingly deserves it. If they made a loop hole for Fisk, they should make one for Boggs as well. He played 11 years for the Sox and was ready to sign a deal for 5 more years offered by Mrs. Yawkey. But she passed away and the club rescinded the offer. Instead, they offered him a year. That's an insult, not an attempt to keep him with the club. So after having a bad year being distracted by this nonsense from the club, he leaves. Signs with the Yankees, hits .300 ball for four more seasons, wins 2 Gold Gloves, and helps teach the Yankees how to hit as he helps them win their first of 4 World Series championships. So, bang-up move by the Red Sox. They tossed Boggs aside and THEY paid for it. Its a old story with the club, but they have no reason to punish Boggs over it. They need to apologize to him and bring him back into the Red Sox family.

No one deserves it more than Johnny Pesky. Again it is long overdue.
He has been a true example.
"The Best Johnny and Many Thanks for your example"

Love Johnny and what he represents to the franchise, but a number represents more than a lifetime achievment award. The pole and the field in FL are perfect. Boggs and Pedro should be the next 2, jury is still out on Clemens until he comes clean. Of course if the Sox meet the Dodgers in the WS, I'd retire Dewey's 24 with the full celebration right before the start of game 1.

Not a fan of this. Look, Pesky is a great man, a pretty darned good player, coach, and ambassador for the team. As others have said, loosening the rules will mean that every other player in history--many whom ended their careers on poor terms with the Sox and were far better players than Pesky--now have a legitimate claim to have their number retired. What makes the retired number special is what makes money valuable: the scarcity of it.

Rice and Evans, they were Red Sox through and through. Had great years and Evans was a rock star on defense.

I'm thrilled that the red sox are going to honor Johnny Pesky. I would also like to see Dwight Evans, Tony C, Jim Rice honored in some way but that is up to the club. to find a fitting way in their time. As for Clemens, he doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath.

Thank the good Lord that the Red Sox finally came to their collective senses and honored Johnny Pesky by recognizing his commitment and loyalty to the team while he is still with us. I wish that his wife could be with him and I hope that his friend Bobby Doerr can be there. This is an overdue, but still classy, decision by the team which is appreciated by Red Sox Nation.

I agree with what Josh S. (September 23, 08 02:47 PM) said about Wake. I couldn't say it better myself.

NO to Clemens. No, no, no.

Pesky, yes. Boggs, Manny, Pedro, Roger? I don't think so. In many ways these guys were selfish, often putting themselves above the Red Sox. Refusing to pinch hit? Refusing to get in shape? Refusing a contract to troll for bigger money? I'd rather have guys who live for the team and the uniform--a Trot Nixon or Jason Veritek. Talent doesn't trump loyalty. Some of us have grown up seeing Pesky make contributions to the Sox over many years--and Boggs, Manny, Pedro, Roger?
Great players, not great team mates.

Type your comment here...
So, what about Dom DiMaggio!

JJS, formerly of Brighton & now in sunny FL

Whose number is next Marty Barrett? Retired numbers should be reserved for great players not nice guys who are friends with ownership. Where is the president of Red Sox nation when you need him. There is a pole named after the guy isn't that enough?

I disagree with the decision to retire his number. He was a great ball player and will always be a legend in Boston. But the fact is there are rules to which number can be retired. If he was off by just one requirement I would be hesitant to retire his number but the fact is he doesn't follow any of the requirements.

Evans & Rice!!! It was digusting when they allowed knuckle-heads like Manny Ramirez and Kevin Mitchell to wear # 24.

Dwight Evens of the 25 players-25 cabs era?????? Be serious.

11 - Dave Stapleton...no brainer!

I feel that as the HOF eligibility goes, once you become inelegible you should be considered. Pesky has done so much as a representive of this team that an exception deserves to be made for him.

I say an exception based on his good-will, his age and personality is good. Lets just say its an honor for Pesky and stick to the rules for the others. maybe someday someone like Johnny will come along. I doubt it.

Tony C.'s # 25 deserves special recognition, and should be retired. Like the others, there has not been, nor will there be, another who could wear #25 and do it justice.

Johnny Pesky is so deserving of this honor, I am so glad for him!

They should definitely retire Mike Easler's number 7. He was a powerhouse DH from 1984-1985. Who will ever forget his magnificent .262 batting average in 1985? Just thinking about his swing brings a tear to my eye.

How about adding Foxx, Grove and Jensen to the more-recent stars you mentioned? (I know Jensen's No. 4 was worn by Cronin).

How about Cy Young, Tris Speaker or Jimmie Foxx.
Long ago but not forgotten.

Tony C. I believe if he had not been beamed by Jack Hamilton he would have been one of the best players ever who played for the Red Sox.

No way for Wade Boggs. He's at every Yankee party he can attend. He made his choice.

I think Wily Mo Pena deserves to be retired.
Not the jersey, the player.

Sometimes you just need to honor a legend for more than just his numbers. How many generations know this fine gentleman. How many young (and old for that matter!) players benefited from having him on the bench....God Bless him, I hope he's a fixture with the Red Sox for many more seasons.

As far as who else should have their number retired, I think some of the names mentioned are worthy, even if they left on bad terms. Having said that, I really think that if they are elected to the Hall of Fame, half of them would not go in as Red Sox, thus making the point moot!! I think if I'm not mistaken that the player gets to choose the team jersey they will wear. If they don't go in as one of us, then in my mind it's not even an option to retire their number.

Great news for a wonderful man.....when we will ever see in our lifetimes such love and dedication to a team by a former player...NEVER!

Good job Red Sox management!!!

If they retire Pesky's number, they're also retiring Buckner's
There's a two for one deal.
Also Tony Pena's, Harry Agganis's, Joe Cronin's, Rico Petrocelli's and let's not forget the immortal Gary Gaetty.
All wore no. 6.
Here's the whole list, cut and pasted from Redsoxdiehard.com:

Hal Rynes 1931
Wally Dashiell 1932
Bucky Walters 1933
Dusty Cooke 1934
Carl Reynolds 1935
Joe Cronin 1936
Eric McNair 1937-38
Boze Berger 1939
Marv Owen 1940
Odell Hale 1941
Johnny Pesky 1942
Roy Partee 1943-44
Skeeter Newsome 1945
Johnny Pesky 1946-52
Johnny Lipon 1952-53
Harry Agganis 1954-55
Mickey Vernon 1956-57
Vic Wertz 1959-61
Lu Clinton 1962-64
Lee Thomas 1964-65
Rico Petrocelli 1966-76
Johnny Pesky 1981-84 (COACH)
Bill Buckner 1985-87
Rick Cerone 1988-89
Tony Pena 1990-93
Damon Berryhill 1994
Chris Donnels 1995
Gary Gaetti 2000

I'd retire #21 for Clemens and #14 for Rice. Maybe #24 for Manny and #45 for Pedro at some point, but I don't think the Sox should go crazy and retire a bunch of numbers now. You don't want to water down the honor. It's funny that this is happening this weekend for Pesky. My wife and I were just talking about it a few days ago. My question is why do it so quickly, aside from Saturday being Johnny's birthday? Does this mean his health is slipping? I'm surprised I'm the first to ask.

Since Fisk's number is retired, I believe the Sox should retire Boggs' number as well. Boggs is only in the HOF because of his stint with the Sox, not because he rode the coattails of others to win a World Series with the Yankees.

And Rice, who should already be in the HOF, and Evans should be honored with their numbers being retired as well. The steriods issue and aweful last four years in Boston leave Clemens off my list.

Just want to echo Josh S. September 23, 08 02:47 PM's comments on Wake, couldn't agree more. I firmly believe his should be retired one of these days after he is long retired, not only from playing but from whatever role within the organization that he has after that. He's just one of those guys that I can see sticking around for years to come to help the team out. He deserves it.

Never to Clemens - doesn't deserve to be honored by the Hall, by the Sox or by the Yanks. Much as I may dislike the Yankees, Clemens in no way deserves to be up on a wall with names like Martin, Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra, Dickey, Maris, Rizzuto, Munson, Ford, Mattingly, Howard, Stengel, Jackson and Guidry. I would say let Toronto retire his number, but he doesn't deserve to be their first one. I fully advocate that the Sox, Yanks, Jays and 'Stros hand out his number to as many as possible

I belive NOBODY who plays for the Yankees after leaving the Red Sox should be honored by the Red Sox.

Dom Dimaggio's number should also be retired....he was as good a hitter as Pesky and a terrific center fielder.

Pesky deserves this period. The Sox can now go ahead and retire one of the great Red SOx hitters of all time in #14. Down the road Pedro and Papi for sure....

As for Tony C, Dom, and Dewey, they were very good and indearing but the criteria should be hire.
As for those who qualify for the Yankee rule....ABSOLUTLY NOT!!!!
On the bubble...TEK and Tiante

65 year rule...45 more years and Remy gets his #2

The 10 year requirement should be removed in this day and age because almost no player will stay with a team that long. Same thing with retiring with the team. With the movement of players now days, that requirement is unrealistic. With these 2 rules, the Red Sox will never retire another number again. The HOF requirement is another that should be flexible since a HOF screwup (like for Jim Rice) should not perpetuate the screw up with the Red Sox. He was the Manny of the late 70's and early 80's and was the most feared hitter in Baseball. It is a travasty he is not in there and it would be a further travasty to keep him from Red Sox glory too.

Johnny Pesky is Mr. Red Sox and with a .307 career average, definately deserves this honor. Manny's career average is only 7 points higher and after this year will almost be identical. It is not all about the stats. It should be what the player meant to the team of that era as well as his stats, behavior, and attitute. Mr Pesky is tops in all 3 areas.

Go Yankees!

Jim Rice #14
Roger Clemens #21
Luis Tiant #23
Pedro Martinez #45

Im surprised not to see many people calling for Varitek's number to be retired when the time comes. Hard to imagine where the 04 and 07 teams would have been without him calling the shots.

Wasn't Pesky's fault he was traded. Shame on people who use his being traded as a reason. Man is legendary and deserves THIS honor. If player walked away as free agent, then I agree. Pesky may not have had FA in his day, but can't hold hypothetical agaginst him either. Pesky deserves this...honor him while he is still with us. ..as far as question who else deserves number retired, only Evans and Rice are worthy. I understand all were great players, but only those 2 deserve retired # consideration because of value and circumstances. Boggs left because of cheap ownership, but he went to New York. If Clemens gets voted as greatest pitcher in the all time history of baseball, Sox should never retire his number. Man is akin to another cheater named Bonds....thank you Mr. Pesky, you deserve this honor.

I love that idea, Don! F- Manny. I was very disappointed Evans' number was put on that cry-baby's back 8 years ago.

Allowing another exception to the rule opens the door for more. Next will be Tony C (probably not too long from now) despite the fact that he meets none of the qualifications except ending his career with the Red Sox).

Before you know it, we'll be like the Yankees in this regard too.

I hope to god we don't retire Roger Clemens' number.

Although there are many good names for consideration of jersey retirement, first and foremost is Tony Conigliaro.

Clemens??????.....c'mon......are you kidding me?????

I don't mean to be facetious or disrepectful of accomplishment but Hank Aaron's number should be not be retired at Fenway . If the the purpose is to observe racial accomplishment, then Pumpsie Green's jersey number should be retired instead.

I am glad for Johnny but Dom DiMaggio deserves it just as much!!!
Check his career stats and you will agree too and he lost years during the war like Williams and Pesky did. At 91 years old , the Sox should retire both numbers together since they are also best of friends.

Based on Pesky's on field accomplishments in a Red Sox uniform, the following players have also asked to have their numbers retired:

Bill Lee
Mike Torres
Bill Buckner
Tim Wakefield
Tony Grafanino

Anybody who was just honered at yankees stadium and walked on the field in a yankees uniform should not be honored

Clemens and Boggs??

GLRRGG!

Oh, I'm fine, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

*line stolen from "Dodge Ball!"

I'd say Jim Rice is the only player not up there that should be at this point. When Pedro retires he should go up there too. Manny shouldn't. He has the numbers but since he will finish his career elsewhere (maybe in the Bronx) he will never get his number up there. Pesky is a great guy and a great Red Sox but he is boarderline at best for a retired number. The Red Sox Hall is a great place for him, not so sure about a retired number.

Without hesitation Jim Ed should have his number up with the rest!

Rice, Evans, Tiant, Ortiz, Pedro, Wakefield = YES

Clemens, Ramirez = NO

The 10 year requirement should be removed in this day and age because almost no player will stay with a team that long. Same thing with retiring with the team. With the movement of players now days, that requirement is unrealistic. With these 2 rules, the Red Sox will never retire another number again. The HOF requirement is another that should be flexible since a HOF screwup (like for Jim Rice) should not perpetuate the screw up with the Red Sox. He was the Manny of the late 70's and early 80's and was the most feared hitter in Baseball. It is a travasty he is not in there and it would be a further travasty to keep him from Red Sox glory too.

Johnny Pesky is Mr. Red Sox and with a .307 career average, definately deserves this honor. Manny's career average is only 7 points higher and after this year will almost be identical. It is not all about the stats. It should be what the player meant to the team of that era as well as his stats, behavior, and attitute. Mr Pesky is tops in all 3 areas.

w/o question, I am going to have to say that #14 (Jim Rice), #23 (EL Tiante), #24 (Dwight Evans) and #25 (Tony C) also deserve to have their numbers retired. I honestly have to admit that I have never liked the rule that a player has to be enshrined into the MLB HOF in order to have their number retired. Case in point: Jim Rice has been waiting for 14 years to be elected. This coming election will (I believe, and someone can correct me if I am wrong) be his last chance. If he doesn't get in this year, he will have to wait for a Veterans Committee vote.

I would change the rules altogether and make the honor about these three attributes 1) Loyalty to the Red Sox 2) Excelled at game 3) Honored the sport. I think Jonny Pesky exemplied these three qualities as well as anyone up there, especially the first attribute.

I say no to all retired numbers. I think teams should have there own hall of fame or say a wall of fame. Maybe the sox could have the circles like they have now but with the players name on them instead of there number. Look at the celtics and yankees those team have tons of retired numbers and I'm a huge celtic fan and a yankee hater but some of those numbers shouldn't be up there. Amongst celts lewis, nelson, sanders, maxwell, mccauley and loscy. The way they did it with loscy is how all teams should do it though loscy shouldn't be up there. Brown and auerbach don't need numbers either. Maybe the dirt bag yankees should retire a number for george steinbenner. The yankees should mattingly, maris, howard guidry and billy martin now there is a fine example have another drink and even munson is debateable didn't play long enough. Please stop with tony c, pesky lynn, petrocelli they aren't good enough. NO RETIRED NUMBERS IN ANY SPORT PERIOD.

Rice and Dewey for sure.

Wade Boggs - First ballot HOF.
Clemens - Best pitcher of his generation if not all time. He may have done HGH late but it was a time when all the hitters did too. Don't kid yourself into thinking otherwise. Ty Cobb was more disliked and he is THE FIRST player in the MLB HOF.
Pedro - s/b first ballot HOF
Manny - s/b first ballot HOF

If you look in right field a the players recognized on the facade "were special." They had outstanding accomplishments and are all a part of Red Soz lore and history. Johnny Pesky is the Boston Red Sox. The "New Ownership" understands the rich tradition.

Clemens, no way! Boggs walked, no way

Tony C., is a part of that lore and tradition. We have Conig's corner and perhaps a number 25 should not be placed on the facade but Tony C. should be. He is what could have been and what is, a rich history.

Jim "Ed" will make the Hall and 14 should then grace the facade.

Tony Conigliaro's number 25 should have been retired years ago. He would have been one of the greatest ever if not for the beaning. For those of you who are too young to remeber, he was from Revere and hit a home run in his first at bat in Fenway Park. He would go on to set the record for hitting 100 homeruns the fastest in history. On the verge of super stardom when he was hit. Boggs, I consider him a traitor. Clemens, the same thing...especially when he said he wanted to go into the hall as a Yankee. Rice, I remeber him setting the record for hitting into double plays. I loved the way Dwight Evans played the game and in my opinion he was the best right fielder of his day, but they can't retire all the numbers. Let's leave it for the extra special ones.

It's about time; he is "Mr. Red Sox". I always get a kick out of how he interacts with the play and vice versa. We truely is the spirit of the team. This is a wonderful birthday gift for Pesky; and it is definitely long overdue. Congrats to you Mr. Pesky, and thank you to the Red Sox!

I think this should really be the only exception. With Pesky, it's not really a matter of how he performed on the field, as much as it is what he has done since his retirement. Johnny has been a part of this team for decades and is beloved by Sox fans. If Rice is inducted to Cooperstown, I would also support his number being put up.

This is a great moment in Red Sox history. I have always liked the team's hard and fast criteria when it came to retiring numbers, but I believe they now need to add the "Pesky Rule"

*that he is in the Hall of Fame
*that he ended his career with the club
*that he played at least 10 seasons for the Red Sox

****OR****
Provide 55+ years of faithful service to the organization

I think pesky deserves it. Dwight Evans and Manny should share 24. Jim Rice 14 definately. If Ortiz goes 5 more quality years with sox his number 34 will be retired. Wakefield should definately be retired for all that hes one for all that time including 2 world championships. probably best knuckleballe. wake definately.

Pesky deserves it because he was the first person I was ever alone with without my parents being there (And my parents were no jerks, but they knew he was more than safe and allowed me to be alone with a person I didn't even know I knew [although it was likely we'd been in the same places more than once before, but do you clearly recall your first memory?]). He took my two-year old hand and walked me to a park in Brookline. We had fun together there, just the two of us.

He gave me courage and aspirations. Please do not forget that he did that for many, many other people too. If only on the basis of his humanity, he deserves an honor that is allowed and acknowledged to very few people -- in Boston or anywhere else. He is exceptional in this world. The Red Sox need to claim him.

I think it's a tough call. Everyone loves Johnny Pesky, but he didn't meet ANY of the initial criteria. He didn't play 10 years for the Sox, didn't finish his career here and isn't in the national Hall. That said, he was a Red Sox fixture for decades and for that reason alone, I support this. Who can forget Johnny hitting fungoes in the infield?

However, the Fisk "loophole" in my view means that a number of players numbers should have their numbers retired or be eligible for it. My two cents (based on a completely arbitrary set of guidelines -- whether or not I like the player!):

#14 Rice -- Obviously yes (and he should be in the Hall, too)
#26 Boggs -- Tough call, but I say no. He didn't finish his career with us and quite frankly, I'm still scarred by his riding the horse around Yankee Stadium in 1996. No.
#21 Clemens -- No thanks. Two words: Mindy McCready.
#24 Dewey -- Definitely.
#45 Pedro -- Tough call here. I say yes.
#23 Tiant -- Yes. He should also be in the Hall.
#25 -- Tony C. I'm not qualified to say. Never saw him play. I would say no at this point.

Future retirees:
#34 -- Papi
#33 -- Tek
#49 -- Wake

Pesky deserves the honor. As does Jim Rice. I don't agree with the posters who say that Rice didn't have HOF numbers. Maybe you are all pink hatters or bandwagon jumpers who never visited Fenway before 1990, but let me tell you that in his day Rice was the Manny Ramirez of his generation, only he was a hell of a lot better team player and human being. Rice was a monster when he came up to the plate and nobody in the AL wanted to pitch to that guy. I saws him play and believe me, he was the real deal. He deserves the HOF and he deserves his number to be retired.

Now as for Clemens and #21, here is the idea that I think will work best. The Red Sox hold a bonfire in the middle of Yawkey Way and we burn Clemens' 21 jersey and a life-size cutout of him at the same time. Because that is all that fat, steroid pumped, ingrate deserves. He threw Boston and its fans under the bus more than once. Let's give that dirtbag what he deserves!

I can't believe that so many Sox fans don't know which pole is the Pesky Pole.
It is the right field pole at 302 ft. It was so named because his team mates would tell him the only way he could hit a homer was to hit just left of the pole.
the shortest porch in the park

"Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I expect many people to not like this idea, but hey, the guy brought 2 WS home and is probably, next to Jeter and R. Jackson, one of the most clutch performers in the history of the game. Remember, he loved the fans here, just not the mgt. I say, do it for Manny!!!!" -- Andrew

Andrew, whatever you're smokin', you need to lay off it for awhile!

Sorry, Pesky is a great guy and was an above average player, and his contributions after his playing days are immeasurable, but by doing this, we cheapen what I think is a great tradition. I don't want to turn into the Yankees and retire every half-decent guy who wore the team's uniform at an opportune time.

If you want to have your number retired, finish with the Red Sox and make the Hall of Fame. Fisk doesn't belong up there and neither does Pesky. We have a Red Sox Hall of Fame.

The "rules" were written by the Yawkeys' team. These are not those Red Sox., and we don't need any more Yawkey-ball.

Johnny Pesky is part of the team, chosen by the team. He's more than just a player.
I hope Johnny is Okay.

Tony C - coulda been, but wasn't.
Clemens - HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND???
Jim Rice and Dewey, someday.
Nomar NOPE.
Pedro, Hmmm I dunno. He will be in the hall of fame someday. And this finishing your career here is really part of the old regime.
Wake, absolutely.

Papi and Terry Francona someday too.

#6 should be retired for Rico Petrocelli. He was a much better playere than Gramps Pesky!

There is no reason they should retire Pesky's number. There are players far more deserving than Pesky. His number shouldn't be retired just because he has hung around the club house for the last 60 years. There are a lot of nice guys that have played for the sox and are far better players who deserve to have their number retired. Just look at the names who are up there now and ask yourself does Pesky belong in the same category. No offense but NO he doesn't!

At first, I would say Johnny doesn't deserve it. But then I looked at his stats: He played seven full seasons for the Sox. He batted .331, .335, .324, .281, .306, .312 and .313. Not bad.

I commented earlier today but for some reason it's not up here... anyway, think Pesky's # being retired is a good thing. I also believe Rice should have his # retired, whether he makes it into the Hall this year or not. As for others, I'm pro Evans having his retired, though this may have to wait for Manny. Manny, however, may choose an Indians cap in the Hall, in which case his share of that # perhaps should not be retired. As for Petroceli and Pesky having the same # (like Evans and Manny), c'mon, much as I liked Rico, he's not deserving of having his # retired. Yeah, he hit 200 plus homers for the Sox and played great short and 3rd base, but Pesky is totally deserving as a lifelong Red Sox, more than Manny and his 8 tumultuous years, World Series titles or not, that's for sure. A Petroceli argument is about as strong as Bob Stanley, Mike Greenwell or Bill Lee.

As for the others, I vote for an exception to the rule with Tony C. He was on the brink of a superstar career, and left the game through no fault of his own. Much like the Yanks honored Munson by retiring his #, the Sox should do the same with Conigliaro. Clemens, on the other hand, is a tough call, because of his own doing. Based on #s, he's a no brainer, but as he's a major league jerk, well... He'll
have to go into the Hall with a Sox cap, but then again, he might not even get into the Hall afterall. His playing for the Yanks is the main thing that makes me think his # should not be retired by the Sox though. This argument goes for Boggs too, esp. as we all have that horse riding image in our minds, and, he wanted to go into the Hall as a (Devil) Ray, remember?

On to Tiant. He was great, but just didn't play long enough for the Sox, an argument for him would be one for Eck too I'd say. If we're going to consider great Sox players for a short period of time, we'd have to say Mo and Nomar are deserved as well, but can you see the team retiring their #s? The only other short-term Sox player who should def. go into the Hall with a Sox cap and then have his # retired by the team is Pedro. As for present players, too early to say, but I'm hoping Papi hangs on a while, b/c his # should get hung up there too one day, HOFer or not.

Lastly, I think Dom Dimagio does pose an interesting case, maybe even Jimmy Fox. As for those who played before the #s, like Cy Young, Tris Speaker and other Sox greats, wish there was a way to honor them too up there with the #s.

Roger Clemens might be unpopular today, and he might have done steroids. And he certainly joined the HatedYankees.

But when he was with Boston, he was the best pitcher in baseball. He won three Cy Young awards. Like it or not, he was our best player.

If he and Dan Duquette could have gotten along better, he might have finished his career with the Sox.

If he had retired in 1996, he would be a Hall of Famer, and have fulfilled all of the requirements.

That's enough for me.

And, frankly, just about all of this is true of Wade Boggs as well.

Foxx Woods Rice Dom Dewey Tiant should all be retired.

Not only should Rice have his number retired, but it's a crime that he isn't in the Hall of Fame.

Jim Rice and Dwight Evans.

Tim Naerhing!!!

Tim Naerhing!!!

Dwight Evans should be the next candidate followed by Luis Tiant and Jim Rice. Dwight was one of the greatest right fielders to play in Fenway, made many memorable catches, had a super arm and contributed dozens of cluthch hits during his career. El Tiante knew how to pitch, making sure that the hitter's timing was off and contributed a great deal to the Sox during the 70's. Jim Rice was a powerful hitter, a good fielder and cared a great deal about conditioning. He should be in the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown. The only trouble was that he did not cater to the press which generally constituted a bunch of hypocrites who knew little about the science of hitting. Ask Ted Williams about the press.

Pesky deserves this and finally the Sox make it right! The next big push is for Rice who deserves to be in the “HOF”. Rice is a class act who handled adversity, provided a strong work ethic and set great examples for the younger generation. Dedicated to the game he let his playing do his talking! Dewey sometime down the road, and yes he wore 24 proud not like the other “Cupcake”. Boggs is a trader and Clemens is a “BUM”.

Clemens SHOULD have his number retired in boston. 1984-1996-- cy young awards, tied with CY YOUNG for most wins in a sox uniform, he struck out 20 TWICE! He did steroids after he LEFT boston and unlike Boggs he didn't go right to the yankees. All you pink hat jerks that name Nomar, vaughn and other useless players like that just keep your mouths shut. Oh! and while were at it lets retire Saberhagen's #17 while were at it, please people HAHAHAH. Foxx, Rice, Clemens, Evans, Boggs, Conigliaro, Varitek, Martinez, and Wakefield should be up next. Any real fan who watched the games back in the 80's and 90's before it was the "thing to do" would agree. No player has used #'s 14, and 21 since clemens and rice left. Think about it, why would the sox hand them out after all this time? By the way Pesky likes Clemens. There is even a picture of Pesky hugging Clemens.

Couldn't agree more with BStu. Boggs' #26 should be on the wall with the rest. Does everyone forget what Boggs meant to this team for the 11 years he played for the Sox? If you look at the criteria, he meets 2 out of the 3 (Hall of Fame & 10 years with the club) and the only reason he didn't meet the third (finish career with Sox) was because the Sox didn't want him. He has the exact same situation as Fisk only the Sox made nice with Fisk and cut some deal with him. They need to bring Boggs back and make him feel wanted. It's pathetic to see him with the Yankees when he only played 5 years with them and those years paled in comparison to the HOF years he had with us. I hope the Sox make this right.

Jim Rice's #14 needs to be the next number retired by the Red Sox. Rice was my hero since I was 10 years old in 1975. I'm really shocked his number hasn't been retired by now.

How about AL Nipper

Retiring a player's number recognizes his high acheivement in his era but also is an indication of how he transcends that era. I have no problem with the recognition of Johnny Pesky as a symbol of the franchise and its' history extending back so many years. My opinion is that the only player on the current list that deserves the recognition is Jim Rice. This guy so very much deserves HOF recognition and I wonder that if his number was retired if it would give a kick in the pants to just enough of the stubborn airheads who have not voted for him as yet.

I think of Al Zaralla and all the catches he made in right field. I hope I spelled his name right.

Not Boggs, who considers himself a Yankee; not that Texas Con Man, a fraud and a cheat. All the rest.

Based on Career stats, wasn't Jim Rice the third best hitter that EVER played for the Boston Red Sox? Seriously?!? Considering the team has been around for about a hundred years, why isn't the third best hitter and his number not retired by the team? How many Red Sox position players have been on the team over the last 100 years? Rice was the third best hitter out of that list! I think the Red Sox should retire Rice's number BEFORE his last chance to join the HOF. Maybe this will push the writers into waking up!

F Clemens. He wouldn't show up.

F. Boggs. He rode around Yankee stadium on a horse!

As far as the rest, love Dewey, love Rice, when they have 59 years in, let them in.

Johnny Pesky is very deserving of this honor. His contributions to the Red Sox over the years is incalculable. Joe Castiglione said on tonight's WRKO Sox broadcast that Pesky has hit more than 13,000 miles of fungoes. Wow.

Johnny is truly the Red Sox' ambassador to the game of baseball.

God bless you, Johnny, and may you live many more years and enjoy the honor.

Johnny Pesky is the Red Sox. I'm glad they are retiring his number while he's still alive so he can enjoy every second of it. No offense to all the others, but there's a reason they aren't up there: You have to be Red Sox for life. The next number retired should be Jason Varitek. Captained two championships (and counting) and caught four no-hitters... A step ahead of Fisk

Great for Mr. Pesky. Very much deserved. Rice and Evans should be there. Dom as well.
The two most recent players that need to be up there someday are Pedro and Wakefield.
We will never see a pitcher as dominant as Pedro was while he was with Boston. We need to realize how fortunate we were to witness that firsthand.
Wake has been the definition of team player for his entire career. What he has done in the community is deserving on its own.
We had better see 45 and 49 up there in the future.

No one has worn the #14 since Rice and no one should

Manny should have never been given the #24

Both should be retired in honor of Rice and Evans.

I think it is GREAT about Pesky, BUT...SCREW Clemens!

I like the idea of having stringent rules in place to keep the number of retired numbers down. To retire a player’s number is to immortalize both the player and, euphemistically speaking, the number too. There are many great players that have played for the Sox—Jimmie Foxx, Tris Speaker, Frank Malzone… but there are only a handful of exceptionally great players that played all or nearly all of their careers with the team. On those are the only ones that deserve this high honor.

Johnny Pesky may not have been an exceptionally great player, but his nearly-60 years of service to the club and city of Boston makes him worthy of this honor. I’d hold Jim Rice’s #14 out of circulation too, as he deserves to be in the HOF. If he doesn’t get there within a few more years… well, I’ll ponder if his number should be retired then.

As for the others mentioned? Roger “Juice” Clemens, Nomar “Bad Attitude” Garciaparra and Wade “fell out of the Jeep” Boggs left Boston like they wanted to shake the dirt from the Fenway infield from their cleats. And they were all part of the 86-year reign of the curse…

Clemens could have pitched the Sox to a championship in Game 6 of the ’86 series, but he got a blister, poor baby. His performance in the ’88 and ’90 playoffs? The only memorable thing he did was get kicked out of game four against the A’s in 90. The Sox paid $40 Mil for 40 wins over his last four years… and then he wanted a raise! He proved time and again as recently as last year, he was all about the money… and nothing else.

Nomar? I guess he contributed to the ’04 title… BY BEING TRADED FOR SOME GUYS WHO REALLY CARED ABOUT WINNING. Not exactly the stuff of legend, eh? And Wade Boggs? C’mon, this bozo wanted to score a few bucks by offering to wear a Tampa hat on his HOF plaque.

Clemens, Nomar and Boggs… Not only should their numbers not be retired, they should all be readily available to wear today. Jeff Bailey would look great in #5. Justin Masterson’s wife could start a cookie company called “21 Cookies” after her hubby’s new number. And #26? Looooooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Merloni has already worn it since Boggs slinked away to the Yankmees… who’s to say it wouldn’t look great on Michael Bowden?

If Pesky, why not Charlie Popowski, who was with the Red Sox system for 65 years, and "Broadway" Charlie Wagner, who spent 70 years with the system.

I'm all for honoring a great guy and longtime contributor like Pesky, and for honoring more recent Sox greats, but there has to be a better way to do it that to permanently ban their numbers from being worn by future players.

Already we're seeing September callups wearing numbers in the 60s. When I was a kid in the '80s the Sox never gave out such ugly numbers -- that was something the Yankees did. The Red Sox have one of the classiest, best-looking home jerseys in an sport, and to see numbers like 57 and 62 on them just doesn't look right.

The Yankees did something special for Lou Gehrig when his life was cut short. Now they've made a mockery of it, and I'd hate to see the Red Sox do the same thing.

Name the foul poles after them; name the practice facilities after them; make statues of them at the ballpark, but leave their numbers for future players.

Bill Buckner?

Seriously, Tony C's number should have been retired years ago (if you don't know why you weren't here). I'm glad the new management isn't sticking to the idoitic and arbitrary (and hypocritical, in Fisk's case) rules set up by previous administrations.

No doubt about it: #25 should be in. I'm 28, and for my father and anyone else of his age, the '67 impossible dream season revived baseball in New England. I am a red sox fan because my father is. My father is a red sox fan because of Tony C and D. Williams' boys of '67. The importance of that year an what it means cannot be overestimated.

#2 for Jerry "Remdawg" Remy
#14 for Jim Rice
#21 for the Rocket (I know I am probably going to get the runaround for this one, but IMHO, his stats during his tenure here override anything else)
#23 El Tiante (Luis Tiant)
#24 Dwight Evans (yeah, I know, Manny wore this #, but to me, was and always will be Dewey's #)
#25 Tony C (need I say more)

#14 and #26 yes. 21 nyet!!!! 26 was gunned out of town for having one lousy yr .259. Rice and Wade yes

As a member of Red Sox nation, I believe, #26, Wade Boggs's number should be retired. He is in the Hall of Fame, he is in as a Red Sox. He played 10+ years with Boston and obviously knowing his amazing hitting stats, he is in because and only because of those years in Boston--of course not forgetting his 3,000th hit etc. This is putting all personality and or clubhouse issues that had risen about or in regards to him and his personal life. the number is about his playing. We don't have a "Monument Park," or 26 World Championships, but we can boast that we have amazing history and some amazing players--who are inb the HOF. If guys go in in the HOF as a Red Sox, (check his plaque everyone), then retire the number.