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Red Sox Announce Opening Day Celebrations And Tributes

Author Jeff Gorra

At long last we are just three weeks away from the Red Sox taking the Fenway Park field for the 2024 season. Though the team opens up on the road with a 10-game run out west, their Boston home opener will be full of celebratory and emotional moments.

On Tuesday April 9, the Red Sox will take on the Baltimore Orioles. This is the team’s first game of the season at home. Believe it or not, 2024 also marks the 20th anniversary of one of the most special teams in the history of the club.

Yes, we’re talking about that 2004 team that came back from being down 0-3 and historically defeated the Yankees. Of course then they went out to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals, winning the World Series.

“The Boston Red Sox today announced that the 20th Anniversary of the 2004 Championship team will be celebrated during pregame ceremonies before Fenway Park’s home opener at 2:10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9,” the team said via a press release.

Although it has not been revealed which players will be in attendance, the Red Sox confirmed that the 2004 roster was invited.

Red Sox Opening Day Will Honor Tim Wakefield

“In addition to marking the milestone anniversary, the ceremony will include a special tribute honoring the life, legacy, and community impact of Red Sox Hall of Famer Tim Wakefield and his wife, Stacy,” the club explained.

To pay tribute to the knuckleballer, who was a fan favorite, the Red Sox will wear a #49 patch on their jersey sleeves all season long.

All fans in attendance on Fenway’s opening day will receive a commemorative Wakefield pin. This will resemble the uniform patch. The patch and pin symbol is a navy blue heart with the red #49 in the middle. The shape was designed to represent Wakefield’s role as Honorary Chairman of the Red Sox Foundation.

What are the Boston Red Sox Retired Numbers?

Boston Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo wears number 99. Closer Kenley Jansen wears number 74. At first glance, you may think these are not typical baseball uniform numbers. The organization has 11 options that are immediately unavailable. The Red Sox retired numbers include 10 players that are forever Yawkey Way legends, and one player who is forever a MLB legend.

The Red Sox first retired a uniform number in 1984. It was #4 which belonged to Joe Cronin, who spent 48 years in baseball. The nod was to honor the fact that Cronin was a player, manager, and executive with Boston. Five days later (May 29, 1984) the Red Sox retired Ted Williams’ #9. It would be four years until another number was retired with Bobby Doerr.

In April of 1997 all of Major League Baseball retired #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson.

Walking into Fenway Park you will see banners draped along the outside walls of the stadium honoring each player who has their number retired. You will also see them displayed high above right field inside the park, complimenting the Pesky pole.

So, if you are catching a game this year and wondering why a starting pitcher like Nick Pivetta is sporting #37, it’s important to know what his options were to select from. Here are the Red Sox retired numbers.

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.

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