No. 26

Why haven't the Red Sox retired No. 26 for Wade Boggs yet?

According to the criteria on the team's Web site to have one's number retired -- induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and at least 10 years with the club -- Boggs should have his number hanging from the rafters along with Williams, Doerr, Cronin, Yaz, Pudge and Jackie Robinson. Boggs was inducted in 2005 into Cooperstown, into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004 and played ball for the Olde Towne Team from 1982 to 1992 -- 11 seasons in all. There has not been a rumor or a whisper of the club hanging the number 26 from the rafters in the last two years, since the BBWAA voted Boggs into the Hall. What's up with that?

Now I understand it's only been two and half years since he officially got voted into the Hall of Fame and it took 18 years for the team to retire No. 9 for Ted Williams -- from his 1966 induction into the HOF to the day in 1984 when they so honored The Kid. But the Red Sox wasted no time in retiring Fisk's No. 27 -- doing so the same year as his induction into the Hall -- in 2000.

Consider the numbers for Boggs (with the Sox alone) and it's a no-brainer: five batting titles, eight times an All-Star, six times leading the AL in OBP, six Silver Slugger awards, twice he lead the league in doubles and seven consecutive seasons of 200 hits. Remarkable. Plus he made appearances on Cheers and The Simpsons.



For a while, some Boston media members have been pressing a case for retiring Tony Conigliaro's No. 25 (currently worn by Mike Lowell). I do agree that consideration should be given to retiring Tony C's number and, furthermore, the Red Sox policy on retiring numbers is a bit too restrictive. If it's not amended, Johnny Pesky and Pedro Martinez will never have their numbers retired. That would be a shame. Anyway, while I consider retiring Tony C's number admirable and appropriate, the rules would dictate that Boggs's 26 takes precedent.

Finally, while I do believe Jim Rice will (finally) be elected into the Hall of Fame this winter (and embarrassingly overdue), his number 14 has to, has to be retired regardless of whether he is inducted into the HOF. No player has worn the number since his retirement from the Sox and no one else ever should.

But until the rules change, some deserving Sox players will not have their numbers retired. Until then let's take care of the players who fit the stipulations. Like Boggs.