David Price is $217 million richer, thanks to the Red Sox contract he signed Friday, but No. 14 isn’t for sale in Boston.
The Red Sox retired that jersey number, which Price has worn throughout his eight-year major league career, to honor Hall of Fame slugger Jim Rice. So Boston’s new left-handed ace opted for No. 24, with the approval of a Red Sox legend who once wore it.
“You don’t wear single-digit numbers as a pitcher, and No. 24 was open,” Price told NESN’s Elle Duncan after his introductory press conference at Fenway Park, “so what Dwight Evans did for this franchise, and for him to really give me the OK to wear this number was very special.”
Evans, who played 19 seasons in Boston, had only one demand.
“He told me just to go win a World Series,” Price said. “That’s what I want to do.”
Of course, another Red Sox slugger, Manny Ramirez, wore No. 24, from 2001 to 2008. The last Boston player to don the number was reliever Takashi Saito, in 2009.
Other notable Red Sox Nos. 24 include Mike Stanley (1998-2000), Kevin Mitchell (1996), Gene Mauch (1956-1957) and Jim Piersall (1950).
Watch the video above to hear more of Price’s interview with Duncan.
Thumbnail photo via via Twitter/@RedSox
