Since 1903, the Boston Red Sox have had a rich and storied history, filled with countless great players who have donned their iconic uniform. One of the numbers that has been associated with some remarkable talents is “11”. Over the years, a total of 36 players have worn the number 11 for the Red Sox, each leaving their own unique mark on the team.
Babe Ruth - A Brief Stint with Number 11
Babe Ruth, one of the most famous players in baseball history, is often remembered for wearing number 3. However, during his time with the Red Sox, he briefly wore number 11. Ruth started his career with the Red Sox, where he initially made a name for himself as a dominant pitcher. Later, he transformed into an offensive powerhouse. When he was traded to the Yankees, he took number 3 with him. In 1948, when the Red Sox inducted him into their Hall of Fame, they retired his number 3. As a further honor, they also retired number 11 in recognition of his brief time wearing that number during his Red Sox tenure.
Carl Yastrzemski - The Longest - Tenured Number 11
Carl Yastrzemski played his entire 23 - year career with the Red Sox from 1961 - 1983, and he is the Red Sox player who wore number 11 for the longest time. During his illustrious career, Yaz became the team’s all - time leader in hits, games played, and many other categories. He was a true icon for the Red Sox. In 1967, he had an incredible season, winning the Triple Crown by leading the American League in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Red Sox rightfully retired his number 11.
Jim Rice - A Hall of Fame Slugger in Number 11
Jim Rice is another Red Sox legend who wore number 11. He played his entire 16 - year career with the Red Sox from 1974 - 1989. Rice was an 8 - time All - Star and was the American League MVP in 1978. He was a feared slugger, known for his powerful swing. In 1978, he led the league in hits, home runs, runs batted in, and total bases. His number 11 was retired by the Red Sox in 2009 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Pedro Martinez - A Dominant Pitcher Who Switched to 11
Pedro Martinez is one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history. He wore number 45 during his first four seasons with the Red Sox from 1998 - 2001. In 2002, he switched to number 11. During his time with the Red Sox, Martinez won the Cy Young Award three times. He was a key member of the 2004 World Series - winning team, where he helped break the “Curse of the Bambino” and led the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years.
David Ortiz - A Fan Favorite Who Wore 11 Briefly
David Ortiz is one of the most popular players in Red Sox history. He wore number 34 during most of his tenure with the team from 2003 - 2016. However, in 2009, he briefly switched to number 11. Ortiz was a crucial part of the 2004 and 2007 World Series - winning teams. He was known for his clutch hitting, especially in the postseason, and was nicknamed “Big Papi”. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2017.
Other Notable Number 11 Wearers
Frank Malzone
Frank Malzone was a mainstay at third base for the Red Sox from 1956 - 1965. He was a six - time All - Star (1957 - 1960, 1963 - 1964) and a three - time Gold Glove winner (1957 - 1959). In 1957, he was second in the Rookie of the Year voting, despite having more hits, more home runs, and a better on - base plus slugging (OPS) than the winner, Tony Kubek of the Yankees. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995.
Bill Mueller
Bill Mueller played for the Red Sox from 2003 - 2005. In his first year in Boston, he had an outstanding season, batting .326 to lead the American League. He was in the top 10 in on - base percentage (OBP) and on - base plus slugging (OPS), top 5 in doubles, and won the American League Silver Slugger Award for third base. He also finished 12th in the AL MVP voting. He was a vital part of the 2004 World Series - winning team, batting an impressive .429 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Clay Buchholz
Clay Buchholz wore number 11 from 2010 - [last year he played]. He had a breakout season in 2010, going 17 - 7 with a 2.33 ERA and making his first All - Star team. He also finished sixth in the American League Cy Young voting that year. However, his career had its ups and downs, with periods of great promise and times of frustration.
In conclusion, the number 11 for the Red Sox has been worn by some of the game’s greats, each contributing to the team’s history in their own special way. Whether it was through long - term loyalty like Yastrzemski and Malzone, dominant pitching performances like Martinez and Buchholz, or clutch hitting like Ortiz and Mueller, these players have made the number 11 an important part of Red Sox lore.