My Best and Worst Boston Sports Jerseys

When Dave Dameshek initially announced his list of the best and worst Boston sports jerseys, I was so excited that I spent an hour or so constructing a list to email him my suggestions (as he had requested people do). Well, the email got bounced back to me because his email box was full. So here is my list, along with some commentary.

It was hard to choose the best numbers, since I have a lot of fond memories of Boston sports teams. So I decided to limit myself to two players per team. It made me wonder who were the best players for each team, not just as players, but who were the best for the team. You'll notice some obvious omissions from my honorable mention list, such as Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, and Curt Schilling. I'm on the fence about them. I think that Pierce and Allen are great, but I'm not sure how I feel about them in the pantheon of Celtics players, and since my opinion is that Garnett brought the championship, his number is the most important to honor from the three. Schilling is a legend in Boston after the bloody sock game, but his off-field ramblings are kind of annoying. Pedro always had a kind of weird relationship with Boston, and Clemens, while a great player (and clean) in Boston, has turned into the poster child for what is wrong with baseball, so I wouldn't ever buy his shirt, but I don't think he fits in the "worst" category, so I left him off completely.

Best Jerseys

1. Larry Bird #33--I was torn about whether to put Bird or Russell first. I flipped a coin. The Celtics are definitely the best sports franchise in Boston (and the NBA), so they go first on my list.
2. Bill Russell #6--Greatest winner in NBA history (Jordan was the greatest player, Russell was the greatest winner). He and Bird, along with Red Auerbach, absolutely define Celtics basketball.
3. Carl Yastrzemski #8--I think Yaz is great. In a few years this list might look different when some of the World Series players retire, but for now it's Yaz.
4. Ted Williams #9--Last MLB player to hit over .400. There's no more to say.
5. Bobby Orr #4--The key to the Bruins' Stanley Cup victories in the early '70s.
6. Ray Bourque #77--#7 would be all right, but he switched numbers out of respect for Phil Esposito in 1995. He should have won the Stanley Cup in Boston, and no one blames him for finally leaving the city after bad management screwed up his chances of ever winning the cup there.
7. Tom Brady #12--This is the only active player on this list. The reason? He (and Bill Belichick) won the Super Bowl three times. I think that ought to count for something.
8. John Hannah #73--This was tough, but I picked Hannah over Andre Tippett. I have more memories of Tippett, but Hannah is a near-legend in New England.
9. Doug Flutie #22--His Hail Mary pass to win at Miami in the Orange Bowl has assured his Boston sports glory forever.
10. Mike Eruzione Team USA #21--How could I neglect the BU hockey player whose goal lifted the US national hockey team over Russia in the 1980 Olympics?

Honorable Mention

You'll notice a lot of Celtics players here. Well, if you're the best, you likely have a lot of good players. I've made comments about a few of them.

Kevin McHale #32
Robert Parish #00
Kevin Garnett #5 (Yes, he's an active player, but he was the reason, more than anyone else, that the Celtics won the title last year.)
John Havlicek #17
Bob Cousy #14
Tommy Heinsohn #15 (although his recent announcing history might disqualify him)
Dave Cowens #18
Reggie Lewis #35 (RIP)
Gerry Cheevers #30 (Best Goalie Mask Ever!!!)
Phil Esposito #7
Eddie Shore #2
Tedy Bruschi #54
Andre Tippett #56
Jim Rice #14 (Finally made the Hall!!!)
Carlton Fisk #27

Worst Jerseys

For my worst numbers to have, I decided to focus on notorious players, like Bill Buckner, and players that I feel "stabbed Boston in the back" by leaving for money elsewhere. Some, notably Celtics players from the 1990s, just suck or pissed me off somehow (Antoine Walker). I didn't bother to look up a lot of the numbers, and frankly couldn't be bothered to. These guys are losers.

1. Bill Buckner (for obvious reasons)
2. Tony Eason (also should be obvious)
3. Johnny Damon (sleazeball traitor)
4. Manny Ramirez (I thought long and hard about this one. He was a key on the championship teams, but his departure was so despicable, I've got him here for now. He might get rehabilitated some day)
5. Antoine Walker (The next four names are guys the Celtics drafted during their "dark ages.")
6. Acie Earl
7. Eric Montross
8. Michael Smith
9. Drew Bledsoe (best remembered as the guy benched in favor of Tom Brady)
10. Adam Vinatieri (stabbed the city in the back after it had been good to him)