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The Bronx Block
Hawkins Changes Number
After having Paul O’Neill’s name chanted at him while pitching at Yankee Stadium, Latroy Hawkins has decided to give up the number 21. Apparently, he consulted with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, among others, and they decided that despite the fact that he wanted to honor Roberto Clemente, it just wasn’t worth it.
I don’t want to get into the argument of whether or not the number 21 should be retired, because the point is; it’s not. Hawkins’ first choice was taken, so he chose this number. If the Yankees organization had a problem with it, they wouldn’t have given it to him. Yankees fans shouldn’t have taken it out on him.
Hawkins will wear the number 22 starting Wednesday night.
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on Tuesday, April 15th, 2008 at 11:04 pm and is filed under Off the Facade.
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32 Responses to “Hawkins Changes Number”
April 16th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Hey…who had April 15th in the pool?
I know I said he wouldn’t be wearing it by the end of April, so I feel pretty good about that prediction.
I just want the dude to pitch well.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:43 am
I said it in the game log post, but the fact that the guy felt pressured to change his number by the fans! is embarrassing. This ranks up there with the “fans” booing arod.
Hopefully now people can move on, support Hawkins, and he can pitch well.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:45 am
How dare he take Clemens old number!
April 16th, 2008 at 7:51 am
So what you’re saying is in order of importance:
Yankees Brass>Random middling free agent>>feelings of hardcore fans?
Let me guess, your opinion is the exception to that rule and should actually come before the Brass?
The best part about the whole thing is that Paulie isn’t a hall of famer. If he were then retiring the number would be a no brainer. He’s just a hero to the fans. They’re the ones protecting his number because they, and frankly this team, miss him and his fire.
So what if the Yankees will eventually run out of numbers? We’ll blow up that bridge when we get to it. They can start putting triple digits on the spring scrubs… Ultimately who cares? As far as I’m concerned running out would be a sign of the history and quality of the franchise.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Really - 22 is Roger’s !! Big shoes to fill there. Lets see, 23 obviously no, 24 Tino’s, 25 Giambino; 26 ?
April 16th, 2008 at 8:30 am
The thing is Ensberg was desperate to get rid of it because of the whole Paulie thing- at what point did Hawkins think, “Oh, considering Ensberg has had some difficulty with it in GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE baseball, I should take the number, and try and rock it at the STADIUM!” Are you kidding me? That train of thought honestly scares me because it lacks basic common sense.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:56 am
I am ashamed of my fellow Yankee fans. They place their allegiance to Paul O’Neil above Hawkins desire to honor one of the game’s true heroes, Roberto Clemente. Ensberg had no such desire … and in the end did Paulie mean more to the Yankees than what Clemente meant to baseball and did for other. Here we have a player seeking to honestly pay homage to one of the game’s greats (and not in a one-day symbolic way). And the specter of O’Neil’s greatness(?) as a Yankee is raised, Come on, Paulie was no Reggie. He was a good, respectable Yankee, Not all-time great. He’s not Thurman, Yogi, Whitey, Ruth, etc. (Was he even a Bernie?) If the organization is willing to give it out and a player wants to use it to honor a historical figure, can’t we respect that? Shameful.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I was at Yankee stadium when the Rays played the Yanks earlier this month and the crowd was just brutal with the Paul O’Neill chants, granted the Rays rocked Hawkins that night, but it started even before he through a pitch.
I grew up in the city during the Paul O’Neill era and while Paul and Bernie were great in their day I don’t think they are in the class with the other numbers that have been retired or considered sacred in Yankee history.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Adrian, I disagree with your appraisal of Paul O’Neill’s “greatness”. O’Neill symbolized the 90’s Yankee and I feel he earned the right to have his number retired. For the record I have said before that the Yankees should take the lead and retire 21 twice, once for O’Neill and once for Clemente. I also think Bernie has earned the same right. I could care less if the Yankees have to issue numbers in the 70’s in future years.
April 16th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Shameful. Utterly and truly shameful.
He got booed on Opening Day because of the number he wore on his back. The guy looks like nothing but a good teammate and clubhouse leader and he gets welcomed like that.
Honestly, I’m embarassed to be a Yankee fan today.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Hide your laptops…here comes buchholz
April 16th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Who cares about Hawkins and his number, I want Farnsworth gone. I’ve created an official petition to get him traded, come and join the group on facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14403842050
April 16th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I think Paulie’s number should absolutely be retired. It’s Monument Park- NOT the Hall of Fame. What’s important is what he accomplished for the team in his tenure in pinstripes. So some kid someday has to rock a number in the 70’s because the Yanks retire 21- well isn’t that better than having every player who touches the number have to endure the fury of fans? Paulie was a consumate Yankee, and he deserves to be honored as such.
Yes, what happened with Hawkins was sad, but he wasn’t clueless as to what would happen going in to it- and he did it anyway. I understand he had good intentions- but Hawkins is the new guy in town, and Paulie is a Yankee icon.
Here is my point:
Hawkins wasn’t booed because Yankee fans don’t like him- and he should be smart enough to know that. Hawkins was booed because as Yankee fans we don’t want to see a revered number on anything else but a plaque in Monument Park. The booing was never towards him, it was to make a point against the system.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
And on that note, I am not saying this whole thing was right or wrong, but just acknowledging the truth…and in fact, what makes me more angry than anything, was doesn’t anyone think Paulie should have come out, and said something along the lines of “Hey, I appreciate your constant support of me, and it means alot, but please don’t boo Hawkins to support me…”
Why didn’t he say anything?
April 16th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Kristy I respect your opinion but I strongly disagree. As you said its monument park, therefore give the guy a plaque. Retiring a players number should be a really high honor. I love Paul O’Neill, but really what was he when we look at him? He was a very good player on a very good team.
O’Neill has been honored by the fans and he will always be remembered, but he wasn’t a legend. The Yankees IMO go overboard with retiring numbers, when I think a plaque or a special day would do just fine. No matter who wears #21 I’ll always think of Paulie. Its just a shame that Hawkins was booed for trying to honor Clemente in his own way.
Also I think Paulie pretty much said in his own way he was glad the fans remember him so fondly, and that he was glad no one wore his number. He came off a tad bit selfish in all of this if you ask me.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
And if I may let me throw this comparison out there for you: Paul O’Neill was the 90’s version of Graig Nettles. Both were hard nosed players who the fans really connected wtih. Both important parts to their teams winning championships. But neither will have their numbers retired.
Also as I mentioned about the Yankee going overboard with the numbers, regarding Torre, just give the man a plaque, no need to retire 6. He was a manager and you rarely ever saw the number on his back. Same reason I think Billy Martin should just have a plaque, although it does help he worse #1 as a player in the ’50s.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Joe G - It’s really a tough thing, huh? I agree-Paulie not saying anything really comes off color, and I’m confused about it.
I really think your comparison is fair, and I didn’t really look at it that way. I guess because the Yanks are my first love, and when I was old enough to really grasp baseball he was there, and my hero, and I failed to look at the situation without bias.
I wish Hawkins could have done something else in tribute to Clemente. I mean Cano rocks 24 for the person he was named after 42, and I believe Giambi wears 25, for his hero 7. (don’t quote me on the Giambi thing, but I feel like I read that somewhere…) Anyway, I guess he couldn’t take 12 since A-gon has it, and he is definitely not touching 3….so, basically I just rambled all that, and came up with nothing…sorry if you lost IQ points. :-)
April 16th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
World Series With Pauly 4, Since his departure, 0
the guy was the heart and soul of those championship runs, if reggie jackson who played 5 years with the yanks gets his number retired, pauly better get his
April 16th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I def. agree with Joe G. I think it is absolultely ridiculous that this man was booed and given heat for wearing a number which meant something to him. O’neill was a great player and one of my favorites but there comes a point where a number is a number. I think a day devoted to paulie and a plaque out in monument park would be well enough. The yankees were the ones who put the jersey back out on the field by giving it to ensberg and Hawkins when givin the opportunity took the number to honor his own hero. he certainly should not be faulted or booed for this. On a day when the players honor jackie robinson for the strife he went through being the first black player, yankee fans show that in many ways we are no different. Just because a man wears a simple number he recieves insults and gets booed. blame the yankees for putting the number out there certainly not the player
April 16th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
and i believe paulie did show some reaction on the air when hawkins first pitched saying somehting like it looks weird on someone else and pretty much leaving it at that. His hesitance to come out and say anything really on the number to me at least indicates he would of liked it retired
April 16th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
My point is that Paulie should have thrown his support behind Hawkins- it would have been the classy thing to do.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Retire that number ! His influence was huge on the field and off. His passion to win and anger when he failed was great to see -it was Mark Messier like.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
This story would have been dead if Hawkins pitched well. Unfortunately, though, he blew up in front of the Yankee crowd who were chanting O’Neill’s name. If he came in and mowed down the side, those chants would have gone away quick. Loyalty goes as far as how sucky the next player is. Mattingly love was back-burnered relatively quickly after Tino started hitting in ‘96 and all but forgotten in ‘97 when Tino hit 44 HRs . Soriano (who?) has barely a mention since Cano has more than adequately filled his shoes.
It’s the same with these stupid numbers. Does O’Neill deserve one? I think so. He won a batting title, 4 WS rings, and was a passionate leader on the team. Who could forgot the WS in ‘01 when fans were chanting his last appearance? Additionally, Bernie, Torre, Jeter, Posada, Rivera, and who knows about Pettitte (the sabbatical to Houston and the drug thing may have damaged his chances) probably deserve it too.
I really like the idea of temporarily retiring player numbers for a time equal to the player’s tenure with the team, unless you are a Hall of Famer, and then your number’s retiring becomes permanent. In that way, Reggie would still have his, and Jeter, Mariano, and Torre would probably be the only permanents from the 90s Dynasty.
Fortunately, Mattingly would be grandfathered in!
April 16th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
so if hawkins plays tonight or comes in at some point at yankee stadium with 22 do you expect him to get a great ovation for giving up the jersey?
i think it would be a good thing for the fans to recognize
April 16th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
then we can move on
April 16th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
o and kristy good point on paulie giving latroy his support. i miss understood you when i first read it. it def. would of been a classy thing to do. i agree
April 16th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Sean W. - I hope they do. That would be a nice gesture.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Oh my God! When did this become the No Fun League?? Let’s decry all the bleacher chants - they’re way too unseemly. Let’s decry the roll call - what if the other team takes offense, realizing that the fans are only rooting for the Yankees? No more Hip-Hip-Jorge when Posada gets up to pinch hit - that’s CLEARLY offensive to Jose Molina - how crushing must it be form him to realize that Jorge is the crowd’s favorite!!
I can’t believe what I’m reading! We’re comparing a POSITIVE cheer FOR Paul O’Neill to the irrationally NEGATIVE, NASTY, HATEFUL booing of A-Rod??? That’s insane. Where else in baseball do you get stuff like this. This is the magic that fans bring to stadiums and arenas all over the world. Is there anything better than going to a European soccer match and singing with the supporters? We actually have a little of that magic in the Bronx and we’re DISCOURAGING it?? Huh? This is an awesome expression of respect for a player that they feel deserves to have his number retired. You can agree or disagree, but how can you be for muzzling of the collective voice of the fan that is actually heard so little in this day and age.
Keep in mind, I DO actually decry the booing of Hawkins - not fair, but that’s a NEGATIVE expression. I believe that most fans are doing this as an honest expression of respect for O’Neill and an eloquent protest against the ignorance of the Yankee hierarchy in this matter. Are there a number of folks doing it just to be idiots and to be annoying? Of course there are. As I see it, intention is the only question, here. LaTroy Hawkins can’t possibly be upset that the fans like someone better than him, but he can certainly become agitated if the fans express hatred toward him (the way they did against A-Rod).
April 17th, 2008 at 1:09 am
^ Yossarian, this was what I wanted to try and explain, but I couldn’t put the words to it. Thank you.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Happy to be of service, Brent :)
April 17th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
If 22 were to be retired, it should’ve been retired for someone who has a plaque in Monument Park and who should be in the HOF….Allie Reynolds.
There are some numbers, such as 1 (sorry, Billy), where it is retired for the wrong person. (the greatest # 1 was Earle Combs, HOF, .325…).
# 9 is retired for Maris’ and basically his 1961 season. Long-term, Hank Bauer and Graig Nettles were just as valuable.
#15 is rightfully retired for Thurman Munson, but how many Yankee fans know that there is a plaque in Monument Park for ANOTHER #15…Red Ruffing?
…or that Tommy Henrich wore # 15?
Reggie spent only 4 2/3 seasons in NY (1/3 of the 1981 season was wiped out). 44?
Love Guidry, but 49 is retired. 11 isn’t. Gomez has a plaque. Both have similar numbers. Gomez is in the HOF.
Point is, you could argue forever, but there are players who might have been better than O’Neill (Keller for one) who don’t have their numbers retired.
Those fans chanting are and were fools. If it gets retired, fine. If not, fine.
2, 6, 13 and 42 are givens for the future. 20 and 51 have shots….now 21 and 24?
The only time I want to see 039329 on a uniform is on a TV show showing inmates in prison.
Give it a rest. Paulie was good. Not sure if worthy of a retired number. As mentioned, I think there are a few undeserving ones already, and at the expense of some players who were better.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
anyone who doesn’t understand the outrage , isn’t a true Yankee fan…we all love paulie more than jeter , bernie , even rivera…He’s our Rocky , Gehrig, Mantle…he was our heart and took our place on the field…and played every day like it was his last game…What I would give to see him Don the stripes once more and take right field
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