Hey Astros… don’t wait too long. Retire J. R. Richard’s number!

The Houston Astros should avoid a mistake that the Detroit Tigers made in terms of honoring one of their greats.

The Tigers are retiring the number 11 in honor of Sparky Anderson. It is a wonderful tribute by the team to immortalize the Hall of Fame manager along with the other Detroit legends.

No doubt his entire family will be there, as will members of his colossal World Champion squad of 1984. And certainly there will be stirring highlights on the video board of the many wonderful moments involving Sparky in Motown.

Do you know who will be missing?
Sparky Anderson, who passed away this November.

It was hardly a sudden death. And he didn’t die as the current manager of the Tigers. Sparky retired after the 1995 season.

Opening Day 1996 could have been a nice time to honor him.

He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000 and gave a memorable speech.

Maybe that year, the Tigers could have put #11 on the wall.

In 2005, the Cincinnati Reds retired Sparky’s number to honor his days at the helm of the Big Red Machine.

Detroit? Bueller?

With a decade and a half to pull off the honor, they are doing it now? I don’t care how rocky things ended after the 1995 season. There is a lot of water under that bridge.

Posthumous honors are nice but in this case unnecessary.

Which brings us back to the Astros.

James Rodney Richard, better known as J. R. Richard, was on his way to being a Hall of Fame pitcher. I have absolutely no qualms making that claim.

He became a 20 game winner and a Cy Young contender by age 26 in 1976. From that season through 1979, he developed into a 300 strikeout artist, averaging more than 9 per 9 innings. He was an ERA leader, piled up complete games in the teens and had the most devastating fastball in the National League.

And along the way he helped forge the Astros identity as a pitching powerhouse. In 1980 he was well on his way to having his best season of his career when he suffered the stroke that ended his career at age 30.

That 1980 team, which paired Richard with another fireballer named Nolan Ryan, lost the National League pennant to the Phillies in the tightest best of 5 series of all time. The 1981 team lost the Divisional Playoff to the Dodgers by the slimmest of margins.

It is not outrageous to think that with J. R. Richard healthy, they would have advanced both seasons. (And both teams that eliminated Houston went on to win the World Series.) Perhaps he would have been around for the 1986 NLCS, another razor thin affair, this time against the eventual World Champion Mets.

Richard never returned despite a valiant attempt to come back in 1981.
He lost his money and was living under a bridge in 1994. He has recovered his life to a degree and is now a minister.

He is alive.
And he represents a devastating “What If” in baseball history. Could those Astros with Ryan, Joe Niekro, Ken Forsch, Joaquin Andujar and J. R. Richard have compiled one of the greatest pitching staffs of all time?

How many pennants would be won in bright orange?
Would the Astros have the World Series title that still eludes them?

Richard was a large man physically, but the shadow his stroke left on the team looms even larger. And he is a man who has shown an amazing ability to rebound in his life.

And his #50 isn’t retired.
The ownership has changed since 1980. Whatever bad blood had existed between Richard and the team should be tossed aside.

And for a team with a grand total of one pennant, they already have their share of retired numbers. Legends Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio are honored. So is Richard’s teammate Nolan Ryan. Fan favorites Jimmy Wynn and Jose Cruz have their numbers retired. So does Larry Dierker, who had success as a player and manager, and Mike Scott who nearly pitched the Astros to the 1986 World Series.

Also Don Wilson and Jim Umbricht have their numbers retired, both posthumously. Wilson died in a strange accident involving his car in his own garage. Umbricht died of a malignant melanoma. Both of their death’s were sudden and caught the Astros by surprise.

No doubt if Richard’s stroke caused his death, then #50 would have been retired in Houston as well. There is no need to wait for tragedy.

He is alive.
He should be celebrated.

Don’t wait too long, Houston. Don’t do what the Tigers did.

Tom Glavine... Future Hall of Famer (I don't want any questions on that)

Nobody will ever wear #47 for the Braves again... and rightfully so.

The Braves aren't lenient in terms of retiring numbers (I'm looking at YOU, White Sox).

Most are Hall of Famers. Warren Spahn, Eddie Mathews, Phil Niekro and some guy named Henry Aaron all have their numbers retired.

Dale Murphy wasn't a Hall of Famer but he was such an important part of the Braves franchise for so long, was their lone superstar when they emerged in 1982 and throughout the 80s and had the horrible luck of leaving RIGHT BEFORE the great run of the 1990s.

And of course Greg Maddux isn't in the Hall of Fame yet, but it is only a matter of time for him.

As it will be for Tom Glavine.

As I wrote back in February, there should be no question about it.

And as I also wrote, I have no stomach for any of the stupid arguments against his admission to the Hall.

The Braves know it... his teammates know it... the batters he faced know it...

He's a Hall of Famer.

Just ask the equipment manager in Atlanta the next time someone requests #47.

Tom Glavine... Future Hall of Famer (I don't want any questions on that)

Nobody will ever wear #47 for the Braves again... and rightfully so.

The Braves aren't lenient in terms of retiring numbers (I'm looking at YOU, White Sox).

Most are Hall of Famers. Warren Spahn, Eddie Mathews, Phil Niekro and some guy named Henry Aaron all have their numbers retired.

Dale Murphy wasn't a Hall of Famer but he was such an important part of the Braves franchise for so long, was their lone superstar when they emerged in 1982 and throughout the 80s and had the horrible luck of leaving RIGHT BEFORE the great run of the 1990s.

And of course Greg Maddux isn't in the Hall of Fame yet, but it is only a matter of time for him.

As it will be for Tom Glavine.

As I wrote back in February, there should be no question about it.

And as I also wrote, I have no stomach for any of the stupid arguments against his admission to the Hall.

The Braves know it... his teammates know it... the batters he faced know it...

He's a Hall of Famer.

Just ask the equipment manager in Atlanta the next time someone requests #47.

Should the Giants get ready to retire #28 as well?

If Buster Posey keeps hitting like this, Posey will be joining Monte Irvin in a number retirement ceremony for the Giants before long.

Now I know that I am not alone in screaming for the Giants to recall this guy!
How many minor league call ups get a standing ovation in their first at bat of the season?

Then he proceeds to drive in 3 runs... or two more than the Giants had against the A's a few weekends ago.

We can't go crazy, because it was against the D'Backs, not exactly a powerhouse. But it COULD mean he is a spark the Giants are looking for without trading away anyone.

Now my dad, as big a Giants fan as you will ever meet, thinks it is a mistake to not play him at catcher. "He's the future and if they move him around, it might screw him up. Either call him up and stick him behind the plate or let him work it out in Fresno."

Well Bochy didn't listen to my dad's advice... but if a 3-4 performance with 3 RBI hits is a screwed up hitter, then Giants fans better hope he never gets help.

Reserve room on the wall for 28!

Monte Irvin and #20

Yesterday the Giants announced that they were retiring Monte Irvin's #20. And thankfully, Monte is still alive and will be at the ceremony.

Chances are Monte Irvin’s number retirement in San Francisco will get some nice applause at AT&T Park and some heartfelt commentary from baseball experts and most baseball fans will have no clue who he is.

He never played a day as a member of the San Francisco Giants, so you can forgive their fans if they don't get worked up when #20 gets retired.

But if things had played out a little differently, #20 would already have been retired all over baseball.

No less of an authority than Cool Papa Bell thought that Monte Irvin was going to be the player to break the color barrier.

He certainly was a more established professional baseball player than Jackie Robinson was. As an outfielder for the Newark Eagles in the Negro Leagues, he was a five time All Star and batted over .400 in 1940. He also was the MVP of the Mexican League in 1942.

Like Robinson, Irvin was talented at many sports. He was a champion javelin thrower as well as a star on the Lincoln University football team. Like Robinson, Irvin had served in the military during the Second World War and was a married family man.

When Branch Rickey was looking for the right candidate to break the color barrier, he wanted more than a good ballplayer.

He wanted an upstanding human being and one who would be willing to take the punishment and respond not with their fists but with their play.

And oh yeah, he also wanted to make A LOT of money!

Irvin fit all the qualifications... solid player, family man, college educated, military service and a person of strong character.

And supposedly Rickey approached Irvin to be part of his great experiment. Legend has it that Irvin didn't think he was ready to play at the Major League level so soon after leaving the service.

Rickey went with Robinson and Irvin would eventually join the Giants. Irvin led the National League in RBIs in 1951 when the Giants would over take the Dodgers behind Bobby Thomson's homer. He was also an All Star in 1952 and helped the Giants win the 1954 World Series, the last one the team has won to date.

He worked for the Mets and the Commissioners office after his retirement and became a member of the Hall of Fame in 1973, a year after Jackie Robinson's untimely death.

But imagine if he had said yes to Rickey.

Maybe it would have been Monte Irvin whose legacy we celebrate in breaking the color barrier.

Maybe school children would be taught to marvel at the dignity, talent and bravery of the great Monte Irvin.

And chances are Jackie Robinson, not given the directive by Branch Rickey to curb his well known hot temper, may not have lasted long. Perhaps Jackie would be known as a former UCLA football star who briefly played in the majors.

Maybe Jackie would have joined his former UCLA football teammates Woody Strode and Kenny Washington as racial pioneers in the NFL.

People might say something like "What Monte Irvin was to baseball, Jackie Robinson was to the National Football League."


And maybe in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of the color barrier being broken, Bud Selig and Bill Clinton would have retired #20 all over baseball instead of #42.

We'll never know. But what we DO know is Monte Irvin deserves to have #20 retired.
And if you are at that game... stand up and applaud.

He had All Star stuff and the heart of a pioneer.

Sully Baseball Honors JERMAINE DYE

It looks like Jermaine Dye's days with the White Sox have come to an end.

Chicago declined to pick up his option and Dye goes into the winter a free agent.

He's 35 years old, had a HORRIBLE second half and the days of sluggers miraculously getting stronger in their late 30s seems to be over for some strange reason.

The White Sox need to get younger and bringing Dye back would be purely an emotional decision.

Now I am not a White Sox fan, but I have a soft spot in my heart for them. But I hope that the White Sox blogs are firing 21 gun salutes for Jermaine Dye.

In his 5 seasons in Chicago, he delivered big. An MVP caliber season in 2006. All Star numbers in 2008... and of course the World Series heroics.

His first inning homer in Game 1 of the 2005 World Series off of Roger Clemens set the tone for the series.

His phantom hit by pitch in Game 2 set up the Paul Kornerko slam.

His RBI single in Game 3 helped the White Sox come back from behind, setting up the 14 inning marathon.

And of course he drove in the only run of Game 4, singling off of Brad Lidge and gave the White Sox the title.

Think about how a Chicago pennant, let alone a World Series title, seemed so elusive.

White Sox fans who want to feel all warm and fuzzy inside should thank Dye for delivering the title that so many generations craved.

And petty White Sox fans should salute Dye for making sure a White Sox title arrived before a Cubs title. (And with the Lou Piniella era sputtering to a close, Sox fans might have that bragging right for a while longer!)

So let's see those blogs sending out love.

Jermaine Dye... get ready. Your number will be retired in Chicago before long.
(Just don't sign with the Cubs.)

#14 is retired... finally

Well, I've been asking the Red Sox to retire Jim Rice's number since March of 2008.

But I guess it is sweeter to retire the number of Hall of Famer Jim Rice.

Either way, it's great to see the love fest for Jim Rice continuing.

Now comes the next question:

Should the Sox retire Wade Boggs' number?

He is a Hall of Famer and played 10+ seasons with the Red Sox.

Or are we all still bitter about him riding that horse at the end of the 1996 World Series for the Yankees?

HALL OF FAMER JIM RICE!!!!!

Man this made my day!

Worth the wait... worth every minute!
Jim deserves it... and you sabermetric people who always belittle Jim Ed Rice can go pound sand!

Bert Blyleven belongs in as well, but maybe his time will come in next year.

I don't really care about anyone else.

It's official... left field was a place for Hall of Famers.
Ted to Yaz to Rice.

And get ready... #14 is going to be retired at long last at Fenway!

Who will retire Clemens' number?

If he makes the Hall of Fame (who would have guessed there would be an if to that question) he'd meet the Red Sox "10 Years and a Hall of Famer" rule.
Besides, nobody has worn his #21 since he left town for Toronto.

The Blue Jays could retire it.
The Yankees I'm sure thought they were when Clemens made his triumphant return in the sky box last spring.

Wouldn't it be odd if one of the great pitchers of all time retires and doesn't have his number retired anywhere?

Don't worry... the Astros will do it.
They retired Jose Cruz's number for God's sake.

Hey Red Sox... retire Jim Rice's number!

The Boston Red Sox have a policy about retiring their players numbers.

It goes as follows:
• Election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame
• At least 10 years played with the Red Sox


Now there is something to be said about that...
It makes sure that only legitmately great players get their jersey retired.
(I guess Rich "El Guapo" Garces won't have a ceremony any time soon.)

And it also prevents players who only had a cup of coffee with the Red Sox to be honored.
(No retiring #41 for Tom Seaver I guess.)

And nobody can argue the numbers retired for Red Sox players represent some of their greatest players.

Bobby Doerr. Joe Cronin. Carl Yastrzemski. Ted Williams. Carlton Fisk.


But it is also excessive.
And if the Hall of Fame is too stupid to keep Jim Rice out, then the Sox should do the right thing and retire his number anyway.

He was the captain, a consistent MVP candidate and maintained the tradition of terrifying hitters in left field.

Put the policy to bed and hang #14 up there.
Nobody has worn #14 besides Jim Ed Rice since 1975 anyway, so why not make it official?

I suppose with one more year of eligibility they are hoping Rice gets elected and he finally gets his due at Fenway.

But I say "Why wait?"

If the Reds can retire Ted Kluszewski's number, then I think the Red Sox can honor Rice.

Have you looked at the Astros retired numbers?

(I am guessing the answer to that question will be no)

No offense but Jimmy Wynn?
Jose Cruz?
Jim Umbricht?
Mike Scott?
Don Wilson?
Larry Dierker?

Why not Bob Watson?

Retiring numbers is an emotional ceremony and it should be used to honor the players who honored their team.

No doubt the Yankees will retire Joe Torre, Derek Jeter and Marion Rivera's numbers.

I know some people think the Yankees retire too many numbers but I think it is cool...
Obviously you retire Gehrig, Ruth, DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, Ford and Stengel

But why not also honor Howard, Munson, Maris, Jackson, Rizzuto, Martin, Mattingly and Guidry?

Which one of those players didn't honor the Yankees?

The Hall of Fame rule should be reviewed.

Chances are Big Papi won't be a Hall of Famer (he won't have enough MVP caliber seasons) and probably won't play 5 more seasons and meet the 10 year minimum.

But shouldn't he have his #34 retired?

Or take a sure fire Hall of Famer, Pedro Martinez.
He only played 7 years for the Red Sox but gave the Sox one of their most dynamic aces in their history (and was a big member of the 2004 World Champs.)

How could you not retire his #45?



And besides, with the 10 year hall of fame rule, the Red Sox should have retired #26 for Wade Boggs. But they didn't

I guess because his number was retired in Tampa for his storied career as a Devil Ray.

Loosen up Red Sox...
Jim has earned it.
Retire his number