Red Sox Announce Opening Day Celebrations And Tributes
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…
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.
#1 Bobby Doerr
Elsa/Getty ImagesBobby Doerr's #1 (center) was retired on May 21, 1988. He was a second baseman and nine-time all-star.
#4 Joe Cronin
Getty ImagesCronin (left) had his #4 retired on May 24, 1984. Here, he is pictured as the club's manager signing a contract with Ted Williams in 1958. Cronin was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.
#6 Johnny Pesky
Ezra Shaw /Getty ImagesPesky's #6 was retired on September 28, 2008. As a player and manager for the club, Pesky is in the Red Sox Hall of Fame, but the only member of the Boston retired number group who is not in the MLB Hall of Fame. He has a foul pole named after him down the right field line, in honor of a home run he wrapped around the pole.
#8 Carl Yastrzemski
Darren McCollester/Getty ImagesYastrzemski was an 18-time all-star. He hit 452 home runs as a lefty in addition to being a gold glove fielder. Fun fact, his grandson Mike Yastrzemski plays for the San Francisco Giants and hit a home run for the team during his first game at Fenway Park.
#9 Ted Williams
Darren McCollester/Getty Images#9 was retired on May 29, 1984 in honor of "Teddy Ballgame". He spent his entire 19-year career with the Red Sox and remains the last player to hit .400.
#14 Jim Rice
Getty ImagesStill actively involved with the organization, Rice played 16 seasons in Boston. He won the AL MVP in 1978, which was also a year he led the AL in home runs.
#26 Wade Boggs
Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesBoggs also has his number (12) retired with the Tampa Bay Rays. This smooth hitting third baseman was a twelve-time all-star, World Series champion (1996), and Hall of Famer. #26 was retired during a pre-game ceremony on May 26, 2016.
#27 Carlton Fisk
Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesThe catcher! Fisk has #27 retired with the Red Sox and #72 retired with the White Sox. He's responsible for the most famous "stay fair" home run wave in the history of the game. His 24 years as an American League catcher remains a MLB record.
#34 David Ortiz
Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesPossibly the most popular Red Sox player of all, Big Papi had his #34 retirement ceremony on June 23, 2017. It was almost immediate following his retirement after the 2016 season. This three-time World Series champion was a clutch-hitting legend.
#45 Pedro Martinez
Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesThe first person you think of when it comes to baseball and #45. Pedro had an infamous smile, personality, and fast ball during his seven seasons with the Red Sox. He won the Cy Young award as a member of the team in 1999 and 2000. He was also a crucial part of the 2004 World Series team.
#42 Jackie Robinson
Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesAll MLB players wear #42 on the annual Jackie Robinson Day of each season. Every MLB team has the number retired in Robinson's honor.
New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox
Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 26: Catcher Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox wears Adidas cleats adorned with retired player numbers during the game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts.
