 Red Sox Retired Numbers
A thought hit me the other day as I looked over the numbers that have been retired by the Boston Red Sox's over the years, and I'd like to share that thought with Red Sox's fans everywhere. My thought is a rather simple one, and one that I think has its share of poetic beauty, and that is, "Boston should retire Bill Buckner's number and put it right out there with the retired numbers of William's famed #9, Fisk's #27, Yaz's #8, Cronin's #4, and Doerr's #1."
It’s a most modest proposal I believe, and one, which I think, has merit if you would only hear me out. Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking, "its pure madness," Or better yet, its an insult to Red Sox's fan everywhere, and a snub to the likes of Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, Freddie Lynn, or Roger Clemens all of which at first glance are more deserving the honor.
But once cooler heads prevail, you may see that there is method to my utter madness. My friends, Bill Buckner is every Red Sox fan I know. He is a classy, gritty guy with a stellar career that is remembered for falling short. He is the poster boy for "Wait til next year." He is a statue erected to the noble and good that have to weather the slings and arrows of personal adversity. In short he is every Red Sox fan I know.
Second, there is the matter of forgiveness. It’s over. The curse has been broken, it’s time for the healing to begin. It's time to extend the olive branch, and hang the jersey number on the wall. Forgiveness is divine, and you are not Philadelphia fans are you? No, you come with an air of class and personal honor. You have suffered and survived, and done it with class. It is therefore a classy move to do what's only right. Take the albatross from around his neck and bury it. Do it with a measure of honor.
But hey, least you think this is a pity offer to poor Bill, why don't we examine his numbers next to some of the players on that wall. Before we do that, we can take the immortal Ted Williams and leave him out of the equation. His achievements belong in another realm, one in which mortals are persona non grata. So granted, Buckner does not have Teddy Ballgame numbers, but then again who does?
But lets compare him to the others. Bobby Doerr, old number 1. Doerr who played 14 seasons all with the Sox collected 2042 lifetime hits, 1247 RBI’s, and a, .288 average. All comparable to Buckner, who having played 22 seasons, collected 2715 hits, 1208 RBI’s and had a .289 AVG. True Bobby played Second Base and was a 9 time All-Star, but you still can’t take away the fact that his overall stats are not that much better than Bill’s.
Then there is Joe Cronin, who played with two other teams before settling into Boston. Joe collected 2,285 hits, 1233 runs and batted .301 during his career. Again, those stats are not much better than Buckner who had 1077 runs to go along with his hits and average.
That leaves us with two of Boston’s golden sons, the duo of Yastrzemski and Fisk. May I point out that neither has a higher lifetime batting average than Buckner Fisk weights in at .269 and Carl at a nifty .285. What’s more Fisk played half of his career in Chicago.
What’s that? Fisk hit that memorable shot against the Reds in 1975, and Buckner booted the grounder? Guess what? Both series went to a game seven and both times Boston lost.
What remains then? What’s that? Bill only spent five years in Boston? Well look at your wall, it has Jackie Robinson’s famous number 42 on it. Can I ask how many of them were played in a Red Sox uniform?
So lets admit it. He is not there because of the grounder right? The one that got away right? The man had one bad night at work, and we are going to hold a grudge for twenty years, right? Ever had an off day at work? Fair to judge you for the rest of your career for it? Fair for your co-workers to deny you your 401-K plan for it? No? Really? Then give the guy a break. Yes, he booted the grounder, and the city of Boston got tons and tons of press, sympathy, and fame for it. Lets call it even. Lets give the man a place on your wall once and for all. Show the rest of America what Boston is all about. Lets retire Bill Buckner’s number.
Last edited by Gotham Dark Knight : 03-02-2006 at 09:00 AM.
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03-01-2006, 11:57 PM
Re: Retired Numbers 
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