Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Favorite Sox By Uniform Number, Part 5: 51-Infinity
51: Julian Tavarez was the most colorful 51. And, it appears, he was my fave.
52: Boddicker or Snyder, Boddicker or Snyder.... I dunno.
53: We're up in that territory where Aardsma wins awards. In this case, he wins the Jere's Favorite 53 award.
54: Morgan Burkhart. But also Breslow.
55: Lenny DiNardo. Though I liked Randy Kutcher, and he didn't get a mention n the 5 category, so....
56: You may be surprised this is a landslide, but it is, for Darren Bragg.
57: Juan Pena. I thought he and Brian Rose were gonna take us to the P.L.
58: PAPELBON.
59: Abe Alvarez.
60: David Pauley beats out four other dudes. I would totally take LeVangie if coaches were allowed.
61: Bronson Arroyo. Sorry, Clay--but you've got time to overtake.
62: Jon Lester, even though....you know.
63: Justin Masterson.
64: Pedroia and Bowden have been the only two to wear it. I'll go Dustin, even though Bowden was probably hoping I gave him the nod since Dustin got a mention in the 15 category.
65: Carlos Valdez wins! (since no other player wore 65)
66: Joe Cascarella with the victory! (wore it in 1935 and no one else ever has)
67: Anastacio Martinez (see previous two numbers)
68: Hansack! And not by default either!
69-76: No Red Sox have ever worn these numbers. (In case you haven't figured it out, this is a regular season only list.)
77: Josh Bard (default)
81: Lou Lucier (default)
82: Johnny Lazor (default, BUT, up until a few years ago, he was the guy with the highest number in team history. And I was fascinated with this, because why would he and Lucier have worn 82 and 83, both in 1943, a good 40 years before the team started regularly giving out numbers higher than 50? I even found and bought an old newspaper with an article about Lazor when I was on vacation in Seattle in July 2004. The point is, this guy would be my favorite 82 even he had competition.
83: It's very important that you know it's by default that Eric Gagne is my favorite Red Sox to ever wear the number 83.
84: JT Snow (default)
85 and above: No Red Sox have ever worn these numbers.
The End. Again, thanks to Kristen aka Red Sox Diehard who keeps up the all-time Sox uni list.
52: Boddicker or Snyder, Boddicker or Snyder.... I dunno.
53: We're up in that territory where Aardsma wins awards. In this case, he wins the Jere's Favorite 53 award.
54: Morgan Burkhart. But also Breslow.
55: Lenny DiNardo. Though I liked Randy Kutcher, and he didn't get a mention n the 5 category, so....
56: You may be surprised this is a landslide, but it is, for Darren Bragg.
57: Juan Pena. I thought he and Brian Rose were gonna take us to the P.L.
58: PAPELBON.
59: Abe Alvarez.
60: David Pauley beats out four other dudes. I would totally take LeVangie if coaches were allowed.
61: Bronson Arroyo. Sorry, Clay--but you've got time to overtake.
62: Jon Lester, even though....you know.
63: Justin Masterson.
64: Pedroia and Bowden have been the only two to wear it. I'll go Dustin, even though Bowden was probably hoping I gave him the nod since Dustin got a mention in the 15 category.
65: Carlos Valdez wins! (since no other player wore 65)
66: Joe Cascarella with the victory! (wore it in 1935 and no one else ever has)
67: Anastacio Martinez (see previous two numbers)
68: Hansack! And not by default either!
69-76: No Red Sox have ever worn these numbers. (In case you haven't figured it out, this is a regular season only list.)
77: Josh Bard (default)
81: Lou Lucier (default)
82: Johnny Lazor (default, BUT, up until a few years ago, he was the guy with the highest number in team history. And I was fascinated with this, because why would he and Lucier have worn 82 and 83, both in 1943, a good 40 years before the team started regularly giving out numbers higher than 50? I even found and bought an old newspaper with an article about Lazor when I was on vacation in Seattle in July 2004. The point is, this guy would be my favorite 82 even he had competition.
83: It's very important that you know it's by default that Eric Gagne is my favorite Red Sox to ever wear the number 83.
84: JT Snow (default)
85 and above: No Red Sox have ever worn these numbers.
The End. Again, thanks to Kristen aka Red Sox Diehard who keeps up the all-time Sox uni list.
Labels: favorite sox by uniform number
Monday, February 15, 2010
Favorite Sox By Uniform Number, Part 4: 41-50
41: Wow, I guess I've never liked any 41s more than I did Dick Drago, and that just from seeing his card and liking his name when I was really young.
42: Mo Vaughn is the son of my dad's colleague, and we were aware of him coming up in high school and then college, and it was pretty freakin' sweet when he was drafted by the Red Sox, let alone when he became an actual superstar/MVP-type. So he was a fave since way before he was even in the majors.
43: We called my sister "The Eck" in the early 80s, since her long black hair under a Red Sox hat made her look like Dennis Eckersley. Who'd have thought Eck would still be entertaining us all these years later?
44: I guess I go with O-Cab here even though he's also in the 36 category. Or do I go with Gabe even though he's in the 19 category? I don't know.
45: I'll give you one guess.
46: Steamer is the all-time standby as 46. But I'll go Ellsbury.
47: Bruce Hurst.
48: Lee Smith.
49: Wakefield easy.
50: Really don't know where to go here, and I don't even have the mental strength to transcribe what the voices in my head are saying right now.
42: Mo Vaughn is the son of my dad's colleague, and we were aware of him coming up in high school and then college, and it was pretty freakin' sweet when he was drafted by the Red Sox, let alone when he became an actual superstar/MVP-type. So he was a fave since way before he was even in the majors.
43: We called my sister "The Eck" in the early 80s, since her long black hair under a Red Sox hat made her look like Dennis Eckersley. Who'd have thought Eck would still be entertaining us all these years later?
44: I guess I go with O-Cab here even though he's also in the 36 category. Or do I go with Gabe even though he's in the 19 category? I don't know.
45: I'll give you one guess.
46: Steamer is the all-time standby as 46. But I'll go Ellsbury.
47: Bruce Hurst.
48: Lee Smith.
49: Wakefield easy.
50: Really don't know where to go here, and I don't even have the mental strength to transcribe what the voices in my head are saying right now.
Labels: favorite sox by uniform number
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Favorite Sox By Uniform Number, Part 3: 31-40
31: Dave Roberts had some weak competition here, right up until Jon Lester solidified 31. So I'll go Roberts, but we'll see how Lester's career shakes out. I'm definitely a huge fan of his already.
32: Now we get into the numbers that were reserved for coaches and managers when I was growing up, and they don't count. I'm going with Derek Lowe here--again, weak competition.
33: Jason Varitek.
34: I really liked Scott Cooper, and who didn't love El Guapo? But I'll take Papi.
35: Matt Stairs! I still think he's somehow going to be the Red Sox' all-time home run king....
36: Orlando Cabrera. Even though he's better known as 44. DOes this break one of my rules? I don't even remember anymore....
37: The man who wanted to wear 337 (LEE upside down) but settled for 37. Bill Lee. Gotta give a nod to Jimmy Piersall here, too, as I did a book report on him in high school, and he was from CT, and, you know, he was Jimmy Piersall.
38: I liked Schilling and all...but not as much as I liked young sensation Todd Benzinger.
39: My all-time fave, who doesn't get mentioned enough on this blog because of all the Ged-mania, Mike Greenwell. Hon. men.: the U. of Nebraska's Adam Stern.
40: For some reason, my thoughts have always immediately gone to John Dopson when I hear the number 40. But that doesn't mean I was a huge fan. Gotta go Hendu, but I also was a big fan of Erik Hanson that one year.
32: Now we get into the numbers that were reserved for coaches and managers when I was growing up, and they don't count. I'm going with Derek Lowe here--again, weak competition.
33: Jason Varitek.
34: I really liked Scott Cooper, and who didn't love El Guapo? But I'll take Papi.
35: Matt Stairs! I still think he's somehow going to be the Red Sox' all-time home run king....
36: Orlando Cabrera. Even though he's better known as 44. DOes this break one of my rules? I don't even remember anymore....
37: The man who wanted to wear 337 (LEE upside down) but settled for 37. Bill Lee. Gotta give a nod to Jimmy Piersall here, too, as I did a book report on him in high school, and he was from CT, and, you know, he was Jimmy Piersall.
38: I liked Schilling and all...but not as much as I liked young sensation Todd Benzinger.
39: My all-time fave, who doesn't get mentioned enough on this blog because of all the Ged-mania, Mike Greenwell. Hon. men.: the U. of Nebraska's Adam Stern.
40: For some reason, my thoughts have always immediately gone to John Dopson when I hear the number 40. But that doesn't mean I was a huge fan. Gotta go Hendu, but I also was a big fan of Erik Hanson that one year.
Labels: favorite sox by uniform number
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Favorite Sox By Uniform Number, Part 2: 21-30
Note before we get going: I guess "my favorite" means "the guy who I like the most or liked the most at any time, without doing anything to make me not like him anymore."
21: Well you know who was my favorite from about '86-'96. But now he's my least favorite, so I'm happy to pick someone else. Besides Torrez and Rick Kreuger, none of the others played for the team in my lifetime, so I'll just pick the guy I like best from the rest of the list. Juan Marichal. (9 starts in '74)
22: Ed Jurak. I'll never forget Phil Rizzuto telling the WPIX audience that "they don't pronounce the J's up in New England." Hon. men.: Nick Green. And bonus note: I also was generally a Buckner fan, before and after the thing. So I'll throw him in as another HM in the 22 slot even though the two the numbers he wore are cooler numbers. Which brings up another point--the fact that some guys wore more than one number kind of messes things up, so don't worry about it. Also, coaches and managers don't count.
23: Oil Can Boyd because he was as awesome as his name. Gotta give the HM to Bruno. Okay, and Daubach, I guess.
24: Dwight Evans. No 24 could ever surpass him, though Manny came as close as you can.
25: You slightly older folks better say Tony C. here, but I have to go with Troy O'Leary, albeit the early years of Troy. Gotta put Mike Lowell second. I was also kind of obsessed with Larry Parrish when he came in during Morgan's Magic. I also liked a few other "new" guys, Don Baylor and Jack Clark.
26: Many of you would say the Chicken Man, but I had issues with while he was on the team, and much larger ones just after he left. Proud to pick Merloni over him. HM: Joe Rudi. At age 5, I sang his name to the tune of Roto Rooter, which I thought was "Ro Ro Rooter": "Joe Joe Rudi, that's his name, and the dirty stuff goes down the drain."
27: Carlton Fisk. Wish I'd gotten to see in red socks more often.
28: Jeff Stone. He was almost Dave Roberts.
29: Shea Hillenbrand. So he swung a lot, jeez. HM: Plantier, Kapler. See what I mean about the guys who wore multiple numbers? You start getting repeats. It gets weird, do a list like this and you'll see the plight of the Favorite Sox by Number List-Maker.
30: Leskanic in a landslide. But I also loved the young giant Sam Horn when he was coming up, and was at a game where he hit a grand slam, though we were leaving through Gate A at that moment, unfortunately. I'll also use this spot to note that I liked Psycho back then, though not so much in his Fox days. Even though I think 7 and 12 before I associate him with 30. Or 19.
I've written a lot at this point so I'll cut it off at 30 for now. Remember, the awesome all-time uni # list (if you don't have them all memorized) is here on the great Red Sox Diehard site.
21: Well you know who was my favorite from about '86-'96. But now he's my least favorite, so I'm happy to pick someone else. Besides Torrez and Rick Kreuger, none of the others played for the team in my lifetime, so I'll just pick the guy I like best from the rest of the list. Juan Marichal. (9 starts in '74)
22: Ed Jurak. I'll never forget Phil Rizzuto telling the WPIX audience that "they don't pronounce the J's up in New England." Hon. men.: Nick Green. And bonus note: I also was generally a Buckner fan, before and after the thing. So I'll throw him in as another HM in the 22 slot even though the two the numbers he wore are cooler numbers. Which brings up another point--the fact that some guys wore more than one number kind of messes things up, so don't worry about it. Also, coaches and managers don't count.
23: Oil Can Boyd because he was as awesome as his name. Gotta give the HM to Bruno. Okay, and Daubach, I guess.
24: Dwight Evans. No 24 could ever surpass him, though Manny came as close as you can.
25: You slightly older folks better say Tony C. here, but I have to go with Troy O'Leary, albeit the early years of Troy. Gotta put Mike Lowell second. I was also kind of obsessed with Larry Parrish when he came in during Morgan's Magic. I also liked a few other "new" guys, Don Baylor and Jack Clark.
26: Many of you would say the Chicken Man, but I had issues with while he was on the team, and much larger ones just after he left. Proud to pick Merloni over him. HM: Joe Rudi. At age 5, I sang his name to the tune of Roto Rooter, which I thought was "Ro Ro Rooter": "Joe Joe Rudi, that's his name, and the dirty stuff goes down the drain."
27: Carlton Fisk. Wish I'd gotten to see in red socks more often.
28: Jeff Stone. He was almost Dave Roberts.
29: Shea Hillenbrand. So he swung a lot, jeez. HM: Plantier, Kapler. See what I mean about the guys who wore multiple numbers? You start getting repeats. It gets weird, do a list like this and you'll see the plight of the Favorite Sox by Number List-Maker.
30: Leskanic in a landslide. But I also loved the young giant Sam Horn when he was coming up, and was at a game where he hit a grand slam, though we were leaving through Gate A at that moment, unfortunately. I'll also use this spot to note that I liked Psycho back then, though not so much in his Fox days. Even though I think 7 and 12 before I associate him with 30. Or 19.
I've written a lot at this point so I'll cut it off at 30 for now. Remember, the awesome all-time uni # list (if you don't have them all memorized) is here on the great Red Sox Diehard site.
Labels: favorite sox by uniform number
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Favorite Sox By Uniform Number, Part 1: 1-20
Have I done this already? If so, oh well.
1: Bernie Carbo. Even though I was only three when he went to a different team.
2: Jerry Remy. As a kid, having a player who was a "little guy," batted lefty like you, and had the same name (kind of) as you makes him your favorite. The announcing days have only made him more of a favorite. Honorable mention: I loved Carl Everett when we got him and stuck by him through all the craziness. (But if it's true he doesn't like gay people or whatever, well, I can't say I like him anymore.)
3: Pokey Reese. Come on. Honorable mention: Rick Miller was another guy I liked as a kid based on his cool name, his number, and, I don't know, something about the way he looked on his baseball card.
4: Carney Lansford. Another cool name/cool look to me as a kid type. It was a shame when he got traded--it seemed in '82 like he'd be a Red Socker for years.
5: Nomar! I still wear his player tee. Honorable mention: Spike Owen. We had a cat named Spike when Owen came over in that key mid-1986 deal with the Mariners.
6: Johnny Pesky. Hon. men.: Tony Pena. Loved him at the time, what with that "one leg out" style.
7: Trot Nixon. HM: Easler and Esasky. And Phil Plantier. The Hit Man, Vertigo, and the "No Maas" Croucher.
8: Yaz, no other options there.
9: No offense to Smead Jolley, I'm goin' with The Kid.
10: In a move more obvious than going with Yaz and Ted, it's Rich Gedman.
11: Gonna go out on a limb here and say Tim Naehring. The "problem" with these lists is that it's hard to go against guys that helped us finally win the World Series. So you have to limit your '04 guys to the ones you truly loved regardless of that whole deal. So a guy like Bill Mueller, while I totally loved him, kind of gets the shaft here.
12: Ellis Burks. I was sure he'd be an MVP for us. At least he finally got his ring, much later.
13: John Valentin. Kim would kill me if I didn't go with him. Here's an interesting stat: Only ten men have worn 13 for the Red Sox in my lifetime. And only 10 have worn it in my parents' lifetimes. (And only 11 in history.)
14: Hall of Famer Jim Rice.
15: Bad number until recently. I'll take Millar over Pedroia in a squeaker.
16: Kevin Romine. I didn't love him, but I liked him. More than the other 16s anyway. I guess. (Not more than Rick Miller, but I only knew him as 3, and I want to have a different guy for each number.)
17: Marty Barrett. I also liked "Sabes" a lot when he was here.
18: Glen Hoffman. I used to want to be like him, shortstop-wise.
19: Fred Lynn, who I called Fred Lynnstone at age three. Hon. men.: Gabe! and Brian Rose, who Kim makes fun of me for having liked.
20: Youk. Hon. men.: Tony Armas, who we got for #4. And whose nickname, "Toe Knee Arm Ass," I wasn't aware of at the time--I think you had to live in the Boston area to learn it.
For the Red Sox all-time uniform number list, click here.
1: Bernie Carbo. Even though I was only three when he went to a different team.
2: Jerry Remy. As a kid, having a player who was a "little guy," batted lefty like you, and had the same name (kind of) as you makes him your favorite. The announcing days have only made him more of a favorite. Honorable mention: I loved Carl Everett when we got him and stuck by him through all the craziness. (But if it's true he doesn't like gay people or whatever, well, I can't say I like him anymore.)
3: Pokey Reese. Come on. Honorable mention: Rick Miller was another guy I liked as a kid based on his cool name, his number, and, I don't know, something about the way he looked on his baseball card.
4: Carney Lansford. Another cool name/cool look to me as a kid type. It was a shame when he got traded--it seemed in '82 like he'd be a Red Socker for years.
5: Nomar! I still wear his player tee. Honorable mention: Spike Owen. We had a cat named Spike when Owen came over in that key mid-1986 deal with the Mariners.
6: Johnny Pesky. Hon. men.: Tony Pena. Loved him at the time, what with that "one leg out" style.
7: Trot Nixon. HM: Easler and Esasky. And Phil Plantier. The Hit Man, Vertigo, and the "No Maas" Croucher.
8: Yaz, no other options there.
9: No offense to Smead Jolley, I'm goin' with The Kid.
10: In a move more obvious than going with Yaz and Ted, it's Rich Gedman.
11: Gonna go out on a limb here and say Tim Naehring. The "problem" with these lists is that it's hard to go against guys that helped us finally win the World Series. So you have to limit your '04 guys to the ones you truly loved regardless of that whole deal. So a guy like Bill Mueller, while I totally loved him, kind of gets the shaft here.
12: Ellis Burks. I was sure he'd be an MVP for us. At least he finally got his ring, much later.
13: John Valentin. Kim would kill me if I didn't go with him. Here's an interesting stat: Only ten men have worn 13 for the Red Sox in my lifetime. And only 10 have worn it in my parents' lifetimes. (And only 11 in history.)
14: Hall of Famer Jim Rice.
15: Bad number until recently. I'll take Millar over Pedroia in a squeaker.
16: Kevin Romine. I didn't love him, but I liked him. More than the other 16s anyway. I guess. (Not more than Rick Miller, but I only knew him as 3, and I want to have a different guy for each number.)
17: Marty Barrett. I also liked "Sabes" a lot when he was here.
18: Glen Hoffman. I used to want to be like him, shortstop-wise.
19: Fred Lynn, who I called Fred Lynnstone at age three. Hon. men.: Gabe! and Brian Rose, who Kim makes fun of me for having liked.
20: Youk. Hon. men.: Tony Armas, who we got for #4. And whose nickname, "Toe Knee Arm Ass," I wasn't aware of at the time--I think you had to live in the Boston area to learn it.
For the Red Sox all-time uniform number list, click here.
Labels: favorite sox by uniform number
