Pesky’s Pandora Box: 6 is 1 too many

If are you like me, you are a fan of the Boston Red Sox. You are a fan of the storied history of a franchise, a fan of the last original American treasure that is Fenway Park, and you are a fan of the players, past and current, and what they’ve meant to the team. Nevertheless, sometimes you take the most pride in the Red Sox simply because they are not the Yankees.

The line that stands in between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees was always clearly defined. Over the past decade or so, that line has slowly become blurred. First the payroll of the Red Sox approached that of their Evil Empire brother. Then they began a run of dominance that may end this decade as dominant as that of the Yankees 90’s dynasty. Finally, today, that line ceases to exist anymore.

I remember touring Fenway Park, for the first time, and listen to the sneering tour guide brag about how the Boston organization had the strictest guidelines for retiring numbers in all of baseball. She took a cheap shot at “other organizations that retire any number for any reason,” a not so veiled attempt to mock the Yankees and their honoring of 16 former players, the most of any team in the league. Now, the Red Sox change their standards and allow Johnny Pesky’s number six to hang on the Fenway walls. Time to rewrite the tour script, time to reconsider tradition, time to take a long hard look inside the Pandora’s Box they’ve opened.

Who doesn’t belong?

Name	Yrs w/ Sox	BA	HR	Hits	AS App	HOF?
Player A	14	.288	223	2042	9	Yes
Player B	10	.301	170	2285	7	Yes
Player C	22	.285	452	3419	18	Yes
Player D	19	.344	521	2654	17	Yes
Player E	11	.269	376	2356	11	Yes
Player F	7	.307	17	1455	1	No
Player G	0	.292	27	1684	3	No

Which two players don’t belong? Obviously its F and G. Which is the better player? Statistically, Player G looks to have a slight edge. The names of these mystery men F and G are Johnny Pesky and Luis Castillo, respectively. As a franchise, we have broken one of the rules that are held in such high regard they are mentioned on the tour of the ballpark to fans around the world for a 1940’s Luis Castillo.

I am not attempting to disregard Pesky’s work as a manager, coach, mentor, and ambassador of the team since his playing career ended. There is also a school of thought that if he had not left to serve in the war he would have played the required 10 years for the local nine. However, this player’s career places him nowhere near Cooperstown, and for good reason. Yet his number will hang with players A, B, C, D, and E; Bobby Doerr, Joe Cronin, Carl Yastzremski, Ted Williams, and Carlton Fisk respectively.

Is Johnny Pesky worth an exception? Of anyone who ever played for the team, his statistics are clearly his least important contribution to the franchise. However, look again into the Pandora’s Box that it opens. Give me a good argument why these following players should not be retired under the “new rules”: Jim Rice, Tony Coniliaro, Fred Lynn, Wade Boggs, Pedro Martinez, Cy Young or even Nomar Garciaparra.

Where he belongs

The Boston organization has a Red Sox Hall of Fame, created in 1995, to recognize the careers of former Red Sox players who did not meet the criteria for retirement of their numbers. (See the inductees here.) Johnny Pesky deserves to be recognized in a prominent spot within these halls. He does not, however, deserve to have his number retired on the basis that changing the rules has opened the flood gates. It won’t be long until the numerals on our walls will outnumber those hanging at New Yankee Stadium, and those poor sneering tour guides will lose a great punch line.