Boston’s greatest players to don each uniform number: 101 unforgettable digits

It’s always fun when sportswriters create lists, such as, oh, I don’t know, determining the best Red Sox player in history by uniform number.

And the best Bruins player in history by uniform number.

And the best Celtics player in history by uniform number.

And the best Patriots player in history by uniform number. 

But we decided to go boldly where no sportswriter has gone before, and, no, we’re not talking about a decent clothing store. What we’re going to do is examine the uniform numbers from all four teams, and then assemble a Best of the Best from 0 to 99. Or, to put it another way: Who wore it best?

But wait, what about the Boston Braves? We’re only talking about a period of 20 years, from when the Braves started wearing numbers in 1932 until they relocated to Milwaukee after the 1952 season, but, yes, in a few cases we included them. Fair is fair. 

We did not, however, include such back-in-the-day pro football clubs as the Boston Yanks and the Boston Redskins, mostly because of faulty record keeping, and we’re passing on the Boston Breakers of the USFL as well. Our apologies to fans of veteran quarterback Johnnie Walton, who threw 20 touchdown passes for the Breakers in 1983, their lone season in Boston. But in case you’re wondering, he wore No. 10.

Before we begin, you’re probably wondering if there are rules to this. Why, yes, thanks for asking, there are. Rule No. 1: Stay at home as much as possible. Rule No. 2: Wash your hands frequently. Rule No. 3: If you have to go out …  

Wait! Wrong rules! Sorry, Marty Walsh is on TV in the background. Thanks though, mayor. 

OK, here are the for-real rules: Since baseball is the only sport in which managers and coaches wear uniforms, we are not including them unless otherwise noted. Keeping in mind that players sometimes wear multiple numbers, we have tried to use only the number with which they are most associated — except for one notable case that will be explained below. And while we were asked to limit “Honorable Mentions” to two per number, there are a few cases in which we invoked the rarely-used to-heck-with-that clause and used more. And once we got to the higher numbers, we had fewer than two Honorable Mentions. 

To our awesome readers: We may have missed someone. Let us know. If we agree, we can always go back into this.

00: Robert Parish, Celtics

For 14 seasons the Chief was a dominant presence in the paint for the Celtics, helping the team to three NBA championships. He was the last of the Big Three (with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale) to play for the Celtics. (Hall of Fame, number retired.)

0: Jayson Tatum, Celtics

Tatum wouldn’t be on this list, not yet anyway, were it not for his exotic number —  only four other players in Boston sports history have been complete 0s.  But Tatum is already ascendant as an elite NBA player and we project many great seasons ahead.

Fun Fact: Receiver Zuriel Smith was assigned 0 by the Patriots in 2006 but was injured and never appeared in a game. He was waived at the end of the season.

1: Bobby Doerr, Red Sox

The unofficial captain of the 1946 AL pennant winners, Doerr was a slugging second baseman and fine defensive player. He was first-base coach for the 1967 “Impossible Dream” Red Sox and later on, as a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays, Doerr signed future Celtic Danny Ainge to a professional baseball contract. He was the Jays’ hitting coach when Ainge made it to the big leagues. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Rabbit Maranville, Braves (Hall of Fame). Frank Brimsek, Bruins (Hall of Fame). Tiny Thompson, Bruins (Hall of Fame).

Fun Fact: The Celtics retired No. 1 in memory of the founder of the franchise, Walter Brown. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1965.

2: Eddie Shore, Bruins

The greatest defenseman in Bruins history until Bobby Orr hopped aboard a Boston-bound bus in Parry Sound, Ont., the combative, tough-as-nails Shore played on two Cup winners during his 14 seasons with the Black ’n Gold. Maintained his combative, tough-as-nails nature during the many years he owned the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Jerry Remy, Red Sox. Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox.

3: Dennis Johnson, Celtics

Johnson represents one of the great heists in Celtics history, as Red Auerbach obtained him from the Phoenix Suns for backup center Rick Robey and a pair of second-round picks. Never ballet-like with his moves, D.J. was bullish going to the basket and supremely gifted on defense. Played on three championship teams, one with Seattle, two with the Celtics. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention:  Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots. Lionel Hitchman, Bruins. (Number retired). Bob Elliott, Braves. Jimmie Foxx, Red Sox (Hall of Fame).

Fun Facts: Babe Ruth returned to Boston in 1935 and closed out his epic career by playing in 28 games with the Braves. He wore No. 3, which had been his number since the Yankees began the practice in 1929. You’ll sometimes hear that Ruth wore No. 3 for the Red Sox. He did not. The Red Sox didn’t begin wearing uniform numbers until 1931. Also, Foxx played seven seasons for the Red Sox but his greatest fame came with the Philadelphia Athletics, for whom he played 11 seasons, including three pennant winners. That the present-day Oakland A’s continue to circulate his number is a dishonor to Foxx.

Bobby Orr. Focus on Sport via Getty Images

4: Bobby Orr, Bruins

Forget the stats and the awards. We’ll tell you a couple of stories instead. The late Russ Conway, the longtime Eagle-Tribune sportswriter and an inductee in the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame, was known to respond with well-practiced pageantry whenever anyone asked him to name the greatest player he ever saw. Rather than speaking the name, he’d bow his head and place four fingers on his chest. And then there’s comedian Lenny Clarke, who, while doing a comedy gig in Toronto, went to an Argonauts football game with, of all people, the actor Mr. T. They then ran into comedian John Candy, who was with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, whereupon Clarke threw out his hand and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet the second-greatest player in hockey history.” To which Gretzky replied, “Oh, you must be from Boston.” (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Joe Cronin, Red Sox (Hall of Fame, number retired). Adam Vinatieri, Patriots. Isaiah Thomas, Celtics.

5: Kevin Garnett, Celtics

Though Garnett wore their colors for just six seasons, the Celtics became instant contenders when he arrived in 2007 and teamed up with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to form a 21st century Big Three. Together they led the ’07-08 Celtics to the franchise’s first championship in 22 years. Garnett’s number will be retired next season.

Honorable Mention: Dit Clapper, Bruins (Hall of Fame, number retired); Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox.

Fun fact: John Thompson, who landed in the Basketball Hall of Fame on the strength of his coaching career at Georgetown, wore No. 5 when he played for the Celtics in 1965-66.

6: Bill Russell, Celtics

A member of the Mount Rushmore of Boston Sports with Ted Williams, Orr and Tom Brady, Russell played on 11 championship teams in his 13 seasons with the Celtics. He was player-coach for his last three seasons, two of which resulted in championships. Prior to his final game as a player — Game 7 of the ’68-69 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers — he took note of the celebratory balloons held by netting below the roof of the Fabulous Forum in anticipation of an L.A. victory and told the Lakers’ Jerry West, “Those fucking balloons are staying up there.” They did. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Johnny Pesky, Red Sox (Number retired). Rico Petrocelli, Red Sox.

7: Phil Esposito, Bruins

A treasured bit of bumper-sticker humor from the glory days of the Big, Bad Bruins goes as follows: “Jesus Saves. Esposito Scores on the Rebound.” Few players have benefited from a trade as much as Espo did. Acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in 1967, Esposito eventually centered a line with Wayne Cashman and Ken Hodge, and instant magic happened. With the two bruising wings digging the puck out of the corners and Bobby Orr making things happen everywhere, Esposito’s skills in the slot were on display for the world. He led the NHL in goals in six straight seasons during his Bruins years, was the first player to amass 100 points in a season and played on two Cup winners. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Cooney Weiland, Bruins (Hall of Fame). Reggie Smith, Red Sox.

8: Carl Yastrzemski, Red Sox

Yastrzemski’s No. 8 is so revered a baseball digit that even his own family members don’t feel worthy of wearing it. This is not hyperbole. Yaz’s grandson, Mike Yastrzemski, had a chance to wear the number when he made it to the big leagues last year with the San Francisco Giants, but out of respect to the man he calls “Poppy Yaz” he instead climbed into a No. 5 shirt. That’s because Mike knows his family history — knows that Captain Carl is the best all-around player in Red Sox history and that his Triple Crown season during the ’67 “Impossible Dream” created the Boston Baseball Experience. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Cam Neely, Bruins (Hall of Fame, number retired). Antoine Walker, Celtics.

Ted Williams. Diamond Images/Getty Images

9: Ted Williams

We’ll leave it at this: The Kid once said he wanted to be able to walk down the street and have people say, “There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived,” and, oh, they did, They did. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Johnny Bucyk, Bruins (Hall of Fame, number retired). Rajon Rondo, Celtics.

Fun fact: With Williams away fighting in World War II, catcher Johnny Peacock wore No. 9 for four games in 1944.

10: Jo Jo White, Celtics

As smooth and regal a player who ever wore a Celtics uniform, White was grace under pressure for 12 NBA seasons, mostly with the Celtics. He joined the Celtics for the 1969-70 season, after Bill Russell and Sam Jones had retired, and a rebuilding effort was underway. Thanks to White and Dave Cowens, what came out of that effort was two more championships. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Jean Ratelle, Bruins (Hall of Fame). Phil Masi (Braves). Lefty Grove, Red Sox (Hall of Fame).

Fun fact: Grove was a star with the Philadelphia Athletics who was later sold to the Red Sox. He had some fine seasons in Boston wearing No. 10, but he wore it toward the end of his tenure with the Athletics when the practice was becoming popular. Though Grove won more games for the Athletics (195) than he did with the Sox (105), he did capture four ERA titles during his Boston years. In other words, while it’s still on the Oakland A’s to honor Grove, a case could be made for the Red Sox to do so.

11: Julian Edelman, Patriots

Tough call here between Edelman and Drew Bledsoe, but what settles the issue is that Edelman has played on three Super Bowl-winning teams. Bledsoe plays a key role in Patriots history, as he and coach Bill Parcells elevated the team to must-watch status, but he lost the only Super Bowl he started. Yes, he stepped in as a mid-game replacement for an injured Brady in the AFC title game against Pittsburgh after the 2001 season, but it was Brady who won the Super Bowl. More than being on a lot of championship teams, Edelman has made clutch catches you’ll talk about for years.

Honorable Mention: Drew Bledsoe, Patriots. Rafael Devers, Red Sox. (Like Jayson Tatum, a buy-low, sell-high pick.)

Fun Fact: Chuck Connors, who would gain lasting fame as the star of TV’s “The Rifleman,” wore No. 11 when he played for the Celtics during the ’46-47 and ’47-48 seasons. He also played big-league baseball for the Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers. The logos of all three teams are on his grave marker.

Tom Brady. Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

12: Tom Brady, Patriots

Brady could have retired after the 2004 season and would still be the all-time, hands-down, no-more-calls-we-have-a-winner greatest No. 12 in Boston sports history. He had, after all, already quarterbacked the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships. That he hung around another decade-and-a-half to bring in three more Lombardi trophies, this while establishing a Library of Congress-sized collection of NFL records, solidified his status as the game’s great all-time QB. While it’d be fun to see young Patrick Mahomes give it a go with the Kansas City Chiefs, we aren’t going to see another quarterback win six Super Bowls. We just aren’t.

Honorable Mention: Wayne Cashman, Bruins.

13: John Valentin, Red Sox

Superstition is not uncommon in professional sports, which is why so few athletes wear No. 13. But infielder John Valentin wore it with distinction from 1992 to 2001, including a career year in 1995 when he hit 27 home runs and drove in 102 runs. He was also a solid playoff performer, hitting .347 with five home runs and 19 RBI in four postseason series, though he never made it to the Fall Classic.

Honorable Mention: Ken Linseman, Bruins.

Fun fact: Sibby Sisti, who wore No. 13 for the 1952 Boston Braves, their last season in town before relocating to Milwaukee, served as a technical advisor for the film “The Natural.” He had a cameo as the opposing manager in the climactic final scene, coming to the mound to change pitchers as a set-up to the game-winning home run by Robert Redford’s Roy Hobbs character.

14: Bob Cousy, Celtics

Another tough call between Cousy and Jim Rice, the slugging Hall of Fame outfielder for the Red Sox. But the Cooz was a transcendent player in the formative years of the NBA who had moves before it was a thing to have moves, hence his alternate nickname “Houdini of the Hardwood.” He led the NBA in assists in eight of his 13 seasons with the Celtics and played on six championship squads. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Jim Rice, Red Sox (Hall of Fame, number retired). Steve Grogan, Patriots.

15: Tommy Heinsohn

Tough call between Heinsohn and the Bruins’ Milt Schmidt, two men who will always be respected for devoting a lifetime of service to their teams in a variety of roles. Heinsohn is our choice because he played on eight championship teams with the Celtics and coached them to two others. He has gone on to a long career as a color analyst, first at the network level and for many years back in Boston with the Celtics. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable mention: Milt Schmidt, Bruins (Hall of Fame, number retired). Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox.

16: Tom ‘Satch’ Sanders, Celtics

One of the great defensive forwards of his era, Sanders played in the NBA Finals eight times — and the Celtics won all eight of them. He later coached at Harvard as well as having a stint as head coach of the Celtics, and then worked for the NBA as vice president and director of player programs. Enshrined in the Hall of Fame as a contributor, number retired.

Honorable Mention: Rick Middleton, Bruins (Number retired). Derek Sanderson, Bruins. Jim Plunkett, Patriots.

17: John Havlicek

One of the greatest players in NBA history, Hondo played his entire 16-season career with the Celtics and was a member of eight championship teams. He also transcended eras, playing on title teams with the Russell-Cousy-Jones-Jones crowd in the early days of his career and then, in the 1970s, teaming up with Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White to lead the Celtics to two more titles. His 26,395 points are the most in team history. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Mel Parnell, Red Sox. Milan Lucic, Bruins.

Fun Fact: When Red Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace stepped down after 2006, right-hander Manny Delcarmen swooped in and asked for his No. 17. Delcarmen, who had been wearing No. 57, wore No. 17 during his says at West Roxbury High School.

18: Dave Cowens

The 1969-70 campaign was an era unto itself for the Celtics — it was the season after Russell and the season before Cowens. The big redhead from Kentucky by way of Florida State restored presence to the paint and helped lead the 1970s Celtics to two championships. He was later player-coach of the Celtics, as well as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets and Golden State Warriors. He even served a hitch as head coach of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Randy Vataha, Patriots. Johnny Damon, Red Sox.

Fun Fact: Willie O’Ree, who became the first black man to play in the NHL when he debuted with the Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958, is most often associated with No. 22. You can buy No. 22 O’Ree sweaters online, and O’Ree has worn it at many an old-timers event. But Bruins historian Heidi Holland sifted through copies of league-issued box scores from the ’57-58 season for the project and confirmed that O’Ree was wearing No. 18 in his Bruins debut. Plus, a documentary on O’Ree’s life — “Willie,” produced by Bryant McBride — contains footage of the former Bruin in No. 18. “When he returned to the Bruins a few years later, he wore No. 22 except for a few games when he wore No. 25,” McBride told us. “But he was definitely wearing No. 18 for those two games he played in 1958.”

19: Fred Lynn, Red Sox

No disrespect to Don Nelson and his contributions to five Celtics championships, but he was never among the elite players of his era. Fred Lynn was not only Rookie of the Year and MVP in 1975, but during his Red Sox years he was a five-tool player who, had he remained in Boston, would likely be in the Hall of Fame. A .283 career hitter, his batting average at Fenway was .347 and he had a .601 slugging percentage. His four Gold Gloves were earned while playing for the Red Sox.

Honorable Mention: Don Nelson, Celtics (Number retired). Johnny “Pie” McKenzie, Bruins.

Fun Fact: Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on why he switched from No. 25 to No. 19: “April 19 is my birthday, my mom was in labor for 19 hours when she had me, Jackie Robinson was born in 1919 and because I wore it in college. Also, Fred Lynn wore that number and he was a very good player.”

20: Gino Cappelletti, Patriots

Easily the greatest player of the pre-NFL Patriots, Cappelletti played in every Pats game during the American Football League era. A kicker and receiver, his 1,130 points are the most in AFL history. He closed out his career in 1970, the Pats’ first NFL season. Cappelletti belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Enjoyed a long career as a color analyst on Pats radio broadcasts (Number retired).

Honorable Mention: Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox. Ray Allen, Celtics.

Roger Clemens. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

21: Roger Clemens, Red Sox

It’s possible that how you write your signature may guide you as to which way to go in the matter of No. 21. If you’re left-handed, you may want to go with Boston Brave Warren Spahn, one of the great southpaws in history. If you’re right-handed, there’s always that Clemens guy. We’re going with Clemens because he was in the employ of the Red Sox for 13 seasons and his 192 victories with the Sox (he won 354 in all) ties him with Cy Young for the most in franchise history. And let’s not forget his two 20-strikeout games. Oh, and if he’s going to get croaked for the steroids stuff, and you have the right to do that, we should point that he’s an all-time all-timer in terms of his support for the Jimmy Fund. But know this about Spahn: Of the 363 games he won, 122 of them were with the Boston Braves. He was a three-time 20-game winner in Boston. Spahn’s No. 21 is kept retired by the Atlanta Braves, even though he never pitched for them.

Honorable Mention: Warren Spahn, Braves (Hall of Fame, number retired). Bill Sharman, Celtics (Hall of Fame, number retired). Don Marcotte, Bruins.

22: Ron Burton, Patriots

The first draft choice in the history of Boston’s fledgling AFL franchise, the stellar Northwestern running back was also selected by the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles but chose the Patriots. Burton played five seasons with the Pats, serving as a kick return specialist as well. He established the Ron Burton Training Village, a summer camp for underprivileged and at-risk youth. The Ron Burton Community Service Award, presented by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, was established in his memory.

Honorable Mention: Easy Ed Macauley, Celtics (Hall of Fame, number retired). Brad Park, Bruins (Hall of Fame).

23: Luis Tiant

More apologies are in order: Frank Ramsey played on seven Celtics title teams during the Russell Era and is known as basketball’s first “Sixth Man,” but it’s impossible to look at that number — 23 — and not think about Tiant. A broken-down reclamation project when the Red Sox signed him in 1971, he emerged as their dominant pitcher of the ’70s with three 20-win seasons. To this day aging Sox fans can imitate El Tiante’s twisting, arms-a-flappin’ pitching motion. He should be in the Hall of Fame. His number should be retired. So there.

Honorable Mention: Frank Ramsey, Celtics (Hall of Fame, number retired). Patrick Chung, Patriots. Oil Can Boyd, Red Sox.

24: Sam Jones, Celtics

This one is guaranteed to spark some serious debate. The arguing generally focuses on two Red Sox players, Dwight Evans and Manny Ramirez, but when the discussion is expanded to include all four Boston teams we have two Hall of Famers in Sam Jones of the Celtics and Ty Law of the Patriots. And let’s not forget the Bruins’ Terry O’Reilly, whose number is retired. Yikes. Let’s go with Sam Jones, given that he played on 10 championship teams with the Celtics, second only to Bill Russell’s 11. Looking at the No. 24 debate strictly in baseball terms, it boils down to this:

Manny Ramirez was the best Red Sox right-handed hitter since Jimmie Foxx and played on two World Series winners. He also knocked down the traveling secretary and flat-out quit on the team. Evans is easily the best defensive right fielder in Red Sox history, if not in all baseball history, and his power stroke produced 385 home runs. Evans, given his strong showing in last winter’s Hall of Fame voting by the Modern Baseball Era Committee, may be elected next time around. Ramirez has not received much support in the four times his name has appeared on the BBWAA ballot. To sum it all up, Boston’s top No. 24 is Sam Jones and we have permission from the home office to expand the list of Honorable Mentions.

Honorable Mention: Dwight Evans, Red Sox. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox. Ty Law, Patriots (Hall of Fame). Terry O’Reilly, Bruins (Number retired).

25: Tony Conigliaro, Red Sox

Yes, yes, yes, props to K.C. Jones, who played on eight championship teams with the Celtics and coached them to two other titles. But the case for Conig comes down to this: He was a local kid who was on his way to becoming one of the great home run hitters ever until his career was cruelly derailed by that Jack Hamilton fastball one August night at Fenway Park. How great might he have been? Try this: The DH era was only a few years away, and it would have played a role if an aging Conig was in pursuit of the future Henry Aaron home run record. We’ll never know. What we do know is that Tony C. is the No. 1 No. 25 in Boston sports history.

Honorable Mention: K.C. Jones, Celtics. (Hall of Fame, number retired). Mike Lowell, Red Sox.

26: Wade Boggs, Red Sox

Perhaps the most underrated great player in Red Sox history, if that makes any sense. The problem with Boggs is 1) his talent for getting on base wasn’t as appreciated back then, 2) he was long gone before all the winning happened, and 3) he had a quirky personality that didn’t always click with fans. But make no mistake: With his five batting titles and .428 on-base percentage (during his Boston years), Boggs is a Red Sox legend. (Hall of Fame, number — finally — retired).

Honorable Mention: Mike Milbury, Bruins. Raymond Clayborn, Patriots.

27: Carlton Fisk, Red Sox

Lordy, for the home run alone to win Game 6 of the 1975 World Series we’re going to just close the windows and give No. 27 to Fisk. But even without his iconic home run Fisk was a tough-as-nails catcher with punch in his bat, and the ceaseless comparisons with the Yankees’ Thurman Munson made for terrific theater. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Bill Monbouquette, Red Sox.

28: Sparky Lyle, Red Sox

Lyle was just 22 when he made his major-league debut on July 4, 1967, and he was a key contributor down the stretch for the pennant-bound Sox. Lyle gave the Sox five solid seasons out of the bullpen until, preposterously, he was traded during spring training in 1972 to the Yankees for first baseman Danny Cater. Lyle promptly led the AL in saves in ’72 and took home the Cy Young Award in ’77.

Honorable Mention: James White, Patriots. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox.

29: LeGarrette Blount, Patriots

This is a sort of journeyman’s number for the Sox, Pats and Bruins. And it’s been hardly used by the Celtics, as only four players have worn it. We’ll go with Blount, since he played on two Super Bowl winners.

Honorable Mention: Keith Foulke, Red Sox.

30: Gerry Cheevers, Bruins

We’ve got dueling goaltenders here, as Gerry Cheevers and Tim Thomas were both wearing No. 30 when their puck-stopping carried the Bruins to Stanley Cup victories. Cheevers gets the nod because he was on two Stanley Cup-winning teams for the Bruins, to one for Thomas, plus Cheevers is in the Hall of Fame. Oh, and there’s that mask.

Honorable Mention: Tim Thomas, Bruins. Mosi Tatupu, Patriots.

31. Cedric Maxwell, Celtics.

Torn between Maxwell and Red Sox lefty Jon Lester for top honors at No. 31, it came down to this: Did Max really say to his teammates, “Climb on my back, boys,” prior to Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals against the Lakers before going out and scoring 24 points and leading the Celtics to victory? He’s always said, “That’s not what I said,” so we called him and asked: What did you say? “The truth is that I said, ‘Bitches, climb on my back,’ but they changed it,” he said. So that, and because he was also MVP of the 1981 NBA Finals, and because the Celtics eventually retired his number, make him our all-time No. 31. But no shame for Lester: He won all three of his World Series starts during his Boston years, helping the Sox to championships in 2007 and 2013.

Honorable Mention: Jon Lester, Red Sox. Fred Marion, Patriots.

32. Kevin McHale, Celtics

Among the many masterstrokes of Red Auerbach’s long stewardship of the Celtics was his selection of McHale with the third pick of the 1980 draft. Nothing against No. 1 pick Joe Barry Carroll (Golden State) and No. 2 Darrell Griffith (Utah), two players who had fine careers, but, geez, Kevin McHale. He played his entire 13-season career with the Celtics, during which he was on three title teams, and he’s in the Hall of Fame alongside his Big Three cohorts, Bird and Parish. Years later, in his role as head of basketball ops for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he helped set up another Celtics championship when he traded Kevin Garnett to Boston.

Honorable Mention: Devin McCourty, Patriots. Don Sweeney, Bruins. Derek Lowe, Red Sox.

Larry Bird. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

33. Larry Bird, Celtics.

It was a ritual for Bird at the old Boston Garden to look up to the rafters during the playing of the national anthem and gaze upon Orr’s retired No. 4. Speaking at an event for the Sports Museum of New England, Bird revealed why: “I’ve never seen Bobby Orr play hockey,” he said, “but just being around him gives me a tingling feeling for some reason and that sort of gets me fired up.” Orr was deeply moved by this. The anecdote confirms that uniform numbers do mean something — not just to fans, media, and front-office suits, but to the players themselves. How appropriate that one of the greatest players in basketball history summoned the candor to teach us this lesson. Zdeno Chara, the Bruins’ Hall of Fame-bound defenseman, would be a lock for No. 33 honors, but, well, Larry Bird.

Honorable Mention: Zdeno Chara, Bruins. Johnny Sain, Braves. Jason Varitek, Red Sox.

34: David Ortiz, Red Sox

Sometimes a newly-minted Boston athlete pulls into town amid a flurry of trumpet blasts and mayoral proclamations, such is the anticipated greatness. As noted before, we’re talking about the likes of Ted Williams, and Bobby Orr, and Larry Bird. But Ortiz lands in the Tom Brady camp in that his arrival practically went unnoticed. And now, nearly 20 years later, he is the most important player in Red Sox history. Didn’t say best. That’s Teddy Ballgame. But the Red Sox used to be the team that a) hadn’t won a World Series since 1918, and b) was known as the last team to integrate. And then Ortiz, proud son of the Dominican Republic, came to Boston and led the Sox to three championships. It seems almost absurd that Celtics great Paul Pierce can’t own a seat on this stage, but such was Big Papi’s career with the Red Sox.

Honorable Mention: Paul Pierce, Celtics (Number retired).

35: Jim Nance, Patriots

At a time when the old AFL Patriots were still finding their place in the Boston sports market — and for that matter often finding a place to play — Nance was as big-league as anyone in town. The former Syracuse football/wrestling sensation turned down the NFL Bears to sign with the Pats. He twice led the league in rushing and was the league’s MVP in 1966.

Honorable Mention: Reggie Lewis, Celtics (Number retired). Andy Moog, Bruins.

36: Marcus Smart, Celtics

The Celtics selected Smart in the first round of the 2014 draft (sixth overall) and his play has steadily improved during his six seasons in Boston. He was averaging 13.5 points per game when the NBA put this season on hold.

Honorable Mention: Lawyer Milloy, Patriots.

Patrice Bergeron. David Berding / USA Today

37: Patrice Bergeron, Bruins

One of the scariest moments in 21st century Boston sports history took place on Oct. 27, 2007, when Bergeron smashed into the dasher boards after being hit by the Flyers’ Randy Jones. Bergeron lay on the ice for a good long while, and then was wheeled off on a stretcher. In the absence of any information, it was not unreasonable to worry he may have suffered a severe spinal cord injury. The good news: Bergeron only missed the rest of the season. The great news: He has played 16 seasons with the Bruins and is a four-time Selke winner. And he’s only 34.

Honorable Mention: Bill Lee, Red Sox. Rodney Harrison, Patriots.

38: Curt Schilling, Red Sox

Schilling was the rare member of the Red Sox who, rather than run away from the team’s long championship drought, embraced it. He cut a Ford F-150 commercial prior to spring training in 2004 all but promising a World Series title, and then he delivered — and delivered again in 2007. His “Bloody Sock” heroics during the 2004 postseason are the stuff of Boston sports legend.

39: Mike Greenwell, Red Sox

Feisty, hard-nosed Mike Greenwell played 12 seasons in the big leagues, hitting .303 with a .368 on-base percentage. Though not in the same class of left fielders as Williams, Yastrzemski and Rice, he capably played The Wall and was second in AL MVP voting in 1988.

Honorable Mention: Sam “Bam” Cunningham, Patriots.

Fun Fact: Boston native Eddie Pellagrini was wearing No. 39 for the Red Sox on April 22, 1946, when he hit a home run off Washington Senators pitcher Sid Hudson in his first major-league at-bat. Though the journeyman infielder hit only .226 in parts of eight seasons in the bigs, he went on to coach the Boston College baseball team for 31 years.

40: Mike Haynes, Patriots

The cornerback only played half of his career with the Patriots before moving on to the Raiders, but his contributions with New England helped forge a Hall of Fame career for the first-round pick out of Arizona State. Haynes played for the Pats before they had ever appeared in a Super Bowl, but to older fans he’s one of the great ones. (Hall of Fame, number retired by the Patriots. Continuing a tradition started by the late Raiders owner Al Davis, the team has never retired a number.)

Honorable Mention: Ken “The Hawk” Harrelson, Red Sox. Tuukka Rask, Bruins.

41: Eddie Mathews, Braves

There was no way we were going to run through this entire list without giving one of the spots to a member of the dearly-departed Boston Braves. And the player we’ve chosen only played one season in Boston. But hear us out! Edwin Lee Mathews was just 20 when he made his big-league debut with the Braves in 1952, and during that season, the Braves’ last in Boston, he hit 25 home runs. The very next year, with the Braves newly-settled in Milwaukee, he led the NL with 47 homers. Mathews went on to hit 512 home runs and he’s the only man to play for the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. His retired No. 41 is on display at Truist Park in Atlanta, but the first time Mathews wore it was on April 15, 1952, at Braves Field on Commonwealth Avenue. It was Opening Day, Brooklyn Dodgers vs. the Braves, and only 4,694 fans turned out to see a game featuring six future Hall of Famers: Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Warren Spahn … and Eddie Mathews.

Honorable Mention: Jeff Reardon, Red Sox. Chris Sale, Red Sox.

Fun Fact: Hall of Famer Tom Seaver wore his trademark No. 41 when he closed out his career with the Red Sox in 1986.

Vaughn mobbed at the plate after a walk-off grand slam in 1998. Mark Wilson/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

42: Mo Vaughn, Red Sox

Jackie Robinson erased Major League Baseball’s color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of that historic day, MLB retired Robinson’s No. 42 throughout baseball while allowing players who were already wearing it to continue to do so until the end of their careers. Vaughn was in possession of No. 42 at the time, and the first baseman wore it with honor until his career ended with the Mets in 2003. A feared Sox slugger in the pre-championship era, Vaughn was AL MVP in 1995.

Honorable Mention: Ronnie Lippett, Patriots. Al Horford, Celtics.

Fun Fact: Former Celtic Chris Ford was wearing No. 42 on Oct. 12, 1979, when he scored the first three-pointer in NBA history.

43: Dennis Eckersley, Red Sox

Though the Eck emerged as a Hall of Fame-bound closer once he had settled in with the Oakland A’s, he was a top-notch starter with the Red Sox, including a 20-8 record in 1978. He returned to the Red Sox in 1998 to close out his career. He’s now a television analyst and the biggest star on NESN’s roster. (Hall of Fame).

Honorable Mention: Kendrick Perkins, Celtics.

44: Danny Ainge, Celtics

Red Auerbach spirited Ainge away from his burgeoning baseball career with the Toronto Blue Jays to play basketball, and the former Brigham Young star helped the Celtics to two NBA championships. Ainge later stepped into Red’s shoes and built the 2007-08 NBA champion Celtics, and he continues as the team’s president of basketball operations.

45: Pedro Martinez, Red Sox

This is the man who once famously risked rankling the ghost of Babe Ruth when he said, “Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I’ll drill him in the ass.” While we can agree there was but one Ruth, we must also agree on this: Martinez was a supremely gifted ballplayer who had the Bambino’s panache, passion and outrage. Also in the spirit of Ruth, virtually every word out of Pedro’s mouth was a headline. Martinez ended his Red Sox career with a World Series victory and then moved on, but he’s back now and every young Red Sox player should listen to him. He continues to shake any room he enters. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

46: David Krejci, Bruins

Krejci was just 20 when he debuted with the Bruins on Jan. 20, 2007, and his NHL Welcome Wagon was a nasty hit from the Buffalo Sabres’ Adam Mair. But he’s now in his 14th season  — same team, same No. 46. With Brady and Stephen Gostkowski no longer with the Patriots and Dustin Pedroia unlikely to return to the Red Sox, only Chara and Bergeron have played in Boston longer than he has.

Honorable Mention: Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox

47: Bruce Hurst, Red Sox

A dependable 1980’s-era starting pitcher, the lefty went 88-73 for the Red Sox and won two games in the ’86 World Series.

Honorable Mention: Torey Krug, Bruins.

Fun Fact: Terry Francona wore No. 47 during his tenure as manager of the Red Sox, though it was rarely seen because of Tito’s penchant for wearing pullovers.

48: Lee Smith, Red Sox

The future Hall of Famer played for the Red Sox 1988 and ’89 and part of ’90, registering 29 saves for the ’88 AL East champs (Hall of Fame).

Honorable Mention: Tim Fox, Patriots.

49. Tim Wakefield, Red Sox

Picked up for nothing in April 1995 after he’d been released by the Pirates, Wakefield fashioned a 16-8 record to lead the Sox to a surprise AL East title. He went on to win 186 games in his 17 seasons with the Red Sox, second only to Cy Young and Clemens (192) for the most in franchise history. Counting his 14 victories with the Buccos, Wakefield won 200 in his career.

Mookie Betts. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

50. Mookie Betts, Red Sox

One of the best five-tool players ever produced by the Red Sox, Betts was AL MVP in 2018 and received MVP votes in his four other full seasons with the club. He also won four Gold Gloves, was a solid clubhouse presence, and, because these things count, Markus Lynn Betts possesses a really cool nickname that resonates with kids. Now he’s a Los Angeles Dodger. If Betts winds up in the Hall of Fame — and he’s trending in that direction — he won’t be wearing a Sox cap on his plaque. Nor will No. 50 be retired by the Red Sox.

Honorable Mention: Mike Vrabel, Patriots. Rob Ninkovich, Patriots.

51: Jerod Mayo, Patriots

The 10th overall pick in 2008, Mayo gave the Patriots eight solid seasons, with two Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro, and came out of it with a Super Bowl ring. So well known was his commitment, work ethic and smarts — he’s now a Patriots defensive coach — that it must have been tough to be a slacker with this guy in the room.

Honorable Mention: Daniel Bard, Red Sox.

52: Mike Boddicker, Red Sox

Had his best seasons with the Baltimore Orioles but helped the Red Sox to AL East titles in 1988 and ’90.

Honorable Mention: Johnny Rembert, Patriots.

53: Larry Izzo, Patriots

A gritty special-teams player who was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, Izzo was an important member of the Patriots’ first three Super Bowl championship teams.

Honorable Mention: Tom Addison, Patriots. Chris Slade, Patriots.

Tedy Bruschi. Elsa/Getty Images

54: Tedy Bruschi, Patriots

The linebacker was the heart and soul of the Patriots defense from the Bill Parcells years on through the early years of the dynasty. In his rookie season, 1996, Bruschi played in the Pats’ 35-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI but then tasted victory in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX. In February 2005 he suffered a mild stroke but returned in October and played in nine games. He was named Associated Press Comeback Player for 2005.

Honorable Mention: Adam McQuaid, Bruins. Dont’a Hightower, Patriots.

55: Willie McGinest, Patriots

Like Bruschi, he was also a standout on defense for the Patriots who lost a Super Bowl playing for Parcells and then won three Super Bowls playing for Belichick.

Honorable Mention: Don Blackmon, Patriots. Johnny Boychuk, Bruins.

56: Andre Tippett, Patriots

Selected in the second round of the 1982 draft out of Iowa, the linebacker played his entire 11-season career with the Patriots and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection. Despite missing all of 1989 with a shoulder injury he returned and played four more seasons. He continues to work for the Patriots as executive director of community affairs (Hall of Fame).

Honorable Mention: Jon Morris, Patriots.

57: Steve Nelson, Patriots

The rugged linebacker from Anoka, Minn., by way of North Dakota State played his entire 14-year career with the Patriots and then settled down in the area. He later coached football at Curry College (Number retired).

58: Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox

Like a meteor in the night sky, Papelbon was impressive and bright and then out of sight. He’s from an era when the Red Sox farm system actually produced pitchers, bursting upon the scene in 2005 and over the next seven seasons saving a franchise-record 219 games. He struck out the Colorado Rockies’ Seth Smith for the final out of the 2007 World Series.

Honorable mention: Pete Brock, Patriots.

59: Rosevelt Colvin, Patriots

The Patriots had big plans for the big linebacker when they signed him away from the Chicago Bears. Alas, Colvin suffered a season-ending hip injury in 2003 and played in just two games. He returned and gave the Pats four solid seasons and played in their 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Honorable mention: Vincent Brown, Patriots.

Fun Fact: Pitcher Pat Mahomes, father of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wore No. 59 when he pitched for the Red Sox in 1996 and 1997.

60: Len St. Jean, Patriots

A ninth-round pick out of Northern Michigan in the 1964 AFL draft, St. Jean played in every Patriots game from ’64 through 1973. The man played in the AFL for the Pats and in the NFL for the Pats. He played at Fenway Park, Alumni Stadium, Harvard Stadium and Schaefer Stadium. He played for every Patriots coach from Mike Holovak to Chuck Fairbanks. He played offensive guard. He played defensive end. Not for nothing did St. Jean earn the nickname “The Boston Strongboy.”

Honorable mention: David Andrews, Patriots. Garin Veris, Patriots.

61: Marcus Cannon, Patriots

Tom Brady would certainly approve of this decision if we could ask him, but it appears his Brookline telephone number is not in working order. Cannon has played nine seasons on the Patriots offensive line and been a member of three Super Bowl-winning teams.

Honorable mention: Stephen Neal, Patriots.

62: Ryan Wendell, Patriots

Undrafted out of Fresno State, the center played seven seasons for New England and was on the field when the Pats completed their 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. Look closely after Brady takes a knee and you can see Rob Gronkowski and Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin getting into a shoving match … and there’s Wendell throwing a shove of his own on Irvin.

Honorable Mention: Joe Thuney

Brad Marchand. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

63: Brad Marchand, Bruins

The classic you’d-hate-him-if-he-wasn’t-on-your-team kind of player, Marchand has, for his all his bluster and shenanigans, been a prolific goalscorer for the Bruins. A holdover from the 2011 Stanley Cup champs, Marchand could have walked into the dressing room of the early-1970’s Big, Bad Bruins and been right at home.

Honorable Mention: Joe Andruzzi, Patriots. Dan Connolly, Patriots.

64: Richard Bishop, Patriots

The late Bishop, a defensive lineman, climbed the hill from Marshalltown Community College in Iowa to the University of Louisville to the CFL to the NFL. Played five seasons for the Patriots from 1976 to 1981.

Fun Fact: Red Sox infielder Dustin Pedroia wore No. 64 when he was called up to the big leagues in late 2006.

65: Houston Antwine, Patriots

A six-time Pro Bowl selection in the old AFL, Antwine was an affable neighborhood presence while living just outside Central Square in Cambridge during his early years with the Patriots. He played 11 seasons for the Pats and was named to their All-’60s Team.

Honorable Mention: Damien Woody, Patriots.

66: Lonie Paxton, Patriots

The long snapper extraordinaire played nine seasons for the Patriots and is the proud owner of three Super Bowl rings. He is perhaps best remembered for the snow angels he fashioned in the end zone at Foxboro Stadium following Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning 23-yard field goal to beat the Oakland Raiders in the Tuck Rule Game. But let’s not forget that Paxton deftly snapped the ball for that field goal on that cold, snowy evening.

Fun Fact: Former professional wrestler and commentator Steve McMichael wore No. 66 for the six games he played for the Pats in 1980 before moving on to a long career with the Bears and then to a longer career in the ’rasslin’ world.

67: Dan Koppen, Patriots

Two great centers from two different Patriots eras, Koppen and the late Bill Lenkaitis, proudly wore No. 67. Koppen gets the nod because he played on two Super Bowl-winning teams during his nine seasons.

Honorable Mention: Bill Lenkaitis, Patriots.

68: Max Lane, Patriots

An offensive tackle selected in the sixth round of the 1994 draft, Lane enjoyed a seven-year career with the Patriots and was a member of the ’96 squad that lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI.

Fun Fact: Ryan O’Callaghan, who wore No. 68 when he played for the Patriots in 2006 and ’07, later announced himself as gay. He is the author, with Cyd Zeigler, of “My Life on the Line: How the NFL Damn Near Killed Me and Ended Up Saving My Life.”

69: Shaq Mason, Patriots

Possibly because of the junior-high caliber ribbing that comes with the honor, only six athletes in Boston’s long, glorious professional sports history have worn No. 69 — and all of them are from the Patriots. Mason, the right guard who has played six seasons with the Pats, is our choice because he owns two Super Bowl rings.

70: Logan Mankins, Patriots

A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, the left guard checked in for nine seasons with the Patriots during the Belichick/Brady Era yet never played on a Super Bowl winner.

Honorable Mention: Leon Gray, Patriots.

Fun Fact: An unknown journeyman goalie named Tim Thomas wore No. 70 when he debuted with the Bruins in 2002.

71: Ray Hamilton, Patriots

The nose tackle was a 14th-round draft pick in 1973 who played nine seasons for the Patriots. And don’t you dare, not ever, blame the Sugar Bear for that roughing-the-passing call on Ken Stabler in the Pats’ 24-21 divisional-round playoff loss to the Raiders in 1976. Blame referee Ben Dreith for that, thank you.

Honorable mention: Todd Rucci, Patriots.

72: Matt Light, Patriots

Brady’s favorite left tackle, Light edges out Larry Eisenhauer, one of the great Patriots from the AFL days. Light, a Patriot from 2001 to 2011, played on the Pats’ first three Super Bowl-winning teams. Eisenhauer, who passed away this past January, played at Boston College and was drafted in 1961 for the Pats, for whom he played nine seasons.

Honorable Mention: Larry Eisenhauer, Patriots. Tim Goad, Patriots.

John Hannah. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

73: John Hannah, Patriots

One of the slam-dunk selections on our list, Hannah was a brick wall at left guard for 13 seasons, all with the Patriots. A famous cover story by the late Paul Zimmerman in the Aug. 3, 1981 edition of Sports Illustrated proclaimed Hannah “THE BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF ALL TIME.” (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Charlie McAvoy, Bruins.

74: Jake Debrusk, Bruins

Given that this number has often been worn by a vast collection of here-today-and-gone-tomorrow Patriots, and that no Celtic has worn it, and that nobody on the Red Sox has worn it, it’s … come on down, Jake Debrusk! And he’s a fine selection, both in terms of what he’s done since debuting with the Bruins in 2017 and what he’s capable of offering in the future. A 27-goal scorer last season, he had netted 19 goals this season before the NHL schedule was put on hold.

Honorable Mention: Shelby Jordan, Patriots.

75: Vince Wilfork, Patriots

Wilfork lost both his parents at a young age, yet still kept his focus on school, football, life. A 2004 first-round draft pick, he played 11 seasons with the Pats and on bookended his time in New England on two Super Bowl winners.

Honorable Mention: Ted Karras

76: Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots

Boston having played such a prominent role in our nation’s fight for independence, you’d think more of Boston’s athletes over the years would be into the spirit of ’76. But not so much. And while this may seem un-American, we’re going with Vollmer, the tackle who played seven seasons with the Patriots and then took a Super Bowl ring back home to Germany.

Honorable Mention: Brian Holloway, Patriots. Charley Long, Patriots.

Raymond Bourque. Brian Babineau/Getty Images

77: Raymond Bourque, Bruins

As we’ve seen, it’s not uncommon for Boston athletes to have worn more than one uniform number. You’re a young player, the equipment guy basically gives you whatever’s available, and then, once you’ve been around for a few years, you cash in for new digits. It’s not news … except that it was huge news when Bourque did it. Assigned No. 7 when he joined the Bruins in 1979, this later presented something of an awkward situation when, on Dec. 3, 1987, the team held a pre-game ceremony to retire No. 7 in honor of the man who made it famous, Phil Esposito. The Bruins should have retired the number years earlier, but … whatever. So the plan was that Espo’s No. 7 would be raised to the Garden rafters that night, but that Bourque would wear it for the remainder of his Boston years. But then Bourque skated out to Esposito during the ceremony and pulled off his No. 7 and handed it to Esposito. Underneath, Bourque was wearing a sweater showing No. 77, which he would wear for the remainder of his career as he established his credentials for being one of the best defensemen in the game’s history. It was as classy a pregame gesture we’ve ever seen in Boston sports. (Hall of Fame, number retired).

Honorable Mention: Nate Solder, Patriots. Tom Neville, Patriots.

78: Bruce Armstrong, Patriots

Selected in the first round of the 1987 draft, Armstrong delivered on his promise in a big way. Used mostly at left tackle, he started all but 11 games during the 14 seasons he played for the Patriots and was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. Armstrong’s days with the Patriots came to an end with the conclusion of the 2000 season; in hindsight it’s a shame he didn’t have another year left in those knees, given all that happened in ’01 (Number retired).

Honorable mention: Tony McGee, Patriots.

79: Jim Lee Hunt, Patriots

The defensive tackle known as “Earthquake” was an original Boston Patriot who remained with the team throughout the 1960s and was in uniform when the Pats became a part of the NFL in 1970.  He was only 37 when he died of a heart attack in 1975. (Number retired).

80: Troy Brown, Patriots

Brown is the rare professional athlete whose talent, work ethic and personality combined to make him popular with teammates, coaches, fans, media and the big shots upstairs. Though not a Hall of Fame player, he did have Hall of Fame versatility. Primarily a receiver and return artist, he never turned down an opportunity to perform in New England’s defensive backfield. A Patriot for 15 seasons, Brown played on three Super Bowl winners.

Honorable Mention: Irving Fryar, Patriots. Danny Amendola, Patriots. Don Hasselbeck, Patriots.

81: Randy Moss, Patriots

Take your pick: Moss for three seasons and change … or tight end Russ Francis for seven seasons and change? We went this way: While Francis logged more time as a Patriot and is one of the game’s great tight ends, the 2007 air show that was Brady-to-Moss remains one of the most entertaining game-within-a-game spectacles in Boston sports history. Plus, Moss is in the Hall of Fame (Hall of Fame).

Honorable Mention: Russ Francis, Patriots. Jim Colclough, Patriots.

82: Jim Whalen, Patriots

The Cambridge native and former Boston College sensation played tight end for five seasons and was an All-Pro selection in ’68. Selected to the Patriots’ 1960’s All-Decade Team.

Honorable Mention: Vincent Brisby, Patriots. Daniel Graham, Patriots.

83: Deion Branch, Patriots

Branch had two stints with the Patriots. In the first he wore No. 83. In the second he wore No. 84. It’s the first stint that’s of interest here, for that’s when Branch made 11 catches for 133 yards and was MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX.

Honorable Mention: Wes Welker, Patriots. Cedric Jones, Patriots.

Fun Fact: Rod Rutledge was wearing No. 83 on Nov. 23, 2000, when he was the recipient of Brady’s first completed pass. It happened late in the fourth quarter of the Pats’ 34-9 loss to the Detroit Lions at the Pontiac Silverdome.

84: Darryl Stingley, Patriots

He played only five seasons in the NFL, but Stingley was emerging as a top NFL receiver when he was left paralyzed at age 26 following a vicious hit by the Oakland Raiders’ Jack Tatum during a preseason game at the Oakland Coliseum on Aug. 12, 1978. He later wrote a book, titled, “Happy to Be Alive.” Tatum later wrote a book, titled, “They Call Me Assassin.” Stingley died in 2007 at age 55. Tatum died in 2010 at age 61.

Honorable Mention: Ben Watson, Patriots.

Fun Fact: During veteran first baseman J.T. Snow’s one season with the Red Sox, in 2006, he wore No. 84 in memory of his father, Los Angeles Rams great Jack Snow, who had died earlier that year.

85: Julius Adams, Patriots

Tough call to leave out Cathedral High of Springfield legend Nick Buoniconti, but he only played half of his 14 seasons with the Pats before being traded to the Dolphins. It was while with the Dolphins that Buoniconti played on two Super Bowl-winning teams and built a resume that landed him in the Hall of Fame. But big Julius Adams was a pillar of the Pats’ defensive line for all 16 of his seasons in the NFL. He retired following the Pats’ Super Bowl XX loss to the Chicago Bears but after being out of the game for a year he returned for one more season in 1987, albeit in a limited role.

Honorable Mention: Nick Buoniconti, Patriots (Hall of Fame).

86: Stanley Morgan, Patriots

A standout receiver who played 13 seasons with the Patriots, Morgan had 12 receiving touchdowns in 1979 to lead the NFL. He led the league in yards per reception three times.

Honorable Mention: David Patten, Patriots.

Rob Gronkowski. Mark Rebilas / USA Today

87: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

The Greatest Tight End in History Debate has turned into a Steel Cage Match, and Gronkowski is swinging folding chairs and doing flying dropkicks with the likes of Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Shannon Sharpe, etc. But don’t get involved. Choose instead to embrace and remember the QB-to-tight end tandem that was Brady and Gronk. It’s easy to forget that Gronkowski was every bit the artist that Brady is, this because he often chose to present himself as a sort of Jethro Bodine of the gridiron, but he absolutely was. An artist, that is. If all you concentrated on was the hitting and the spiking, you were missing out.

Honorable Mention: Ben Coates, Patriots.

88: David Pastrnak, Bruins

The best thing about including Pastrnak on this list is being able to consider the possibility he might read the whole bloody story. For as much as any pro athlete in Boston can be a certified fanboy, Pastrnak is exactly that. He’s just a big kid who didn’t get a chance to attend too many Red Sox games growing up in the Czech Republic, so he’s been making up for lost time ever since. You’ll also see him at Celtics games and Patriots games. If you happen to see him at a Bruins game there’s a pretty good chance you’ll see him put the puck in the net: He’s 23 and already he has 180 goals, and he was two red lights away from 50 Goal Street until this season was placed on hold.

Honorable Mention: Christian Fauria, Patriots. Terry Glenn, Patriots.

89. Bob Dee, Patriots

Dee was a local guy from Braintree High and Holy Cross who played a couple of seasons with the Washington Redskins and then came home in 1960 to become an original Boston Patriot. A defensive end, Dee played eight seasons with the Pats. He was only 49 when he died of a heart attack in 1979 (Number retired).

90: Malcom Brown, Patriots

Selected in the first round in 2015, Brown, a defensive tackle, played on two Super Bowl-winning teams in four seasons.

91: Marc Savard, Bruins

His Bruins career effectively ended on March 7, 2010, in Pittsburgh when he suffered a concussion after being on the receiving end of a vicious blindside shoulder-to-head hit from Matt Cooke. He returned in May to play in the Bruins’ Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Flyers and in 25 games the following season, after which he stepped off the ice for good to deal with post-concussion syndrome. He is now an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues.

Honorable Mention: Jamie Collins, Patriots.

92: Ray Agnew, Patriots

Selected in the first round of the 1990 draft, 10th overall, the defensive end played five seasons with the Pats.

93: Richard Seymour, Patriots

A Hall of Fame finalist in February, Seymour played eight seasons with the Patriots but in 2009 was traded to the Raiders for their 2011 first-round pick, which the Pats used to draft Nate Solder. Seymour was a key member of the Pats’ Super Bowl-winning teams in 2001, ’03 and ’04, and, well, how else to say it: He’s one of those guys you kind of wish had played his entire career in New England. But the Patriots are famously wedded to the old Branch Rickey axiom of trading a player a year too soon rather than a year too late, and there you go. Seymour played four seasons with the Raiders.

94:  Ty Warren, Patriots

95: Roman Phifer, Patriots

The “Timing is Everything” Award for this list goes to Phifer. The linebacker played for the Los Angeles Rams, St. Louis Rams and Jets before joining the Pats and playing on three Super Bowl-winning teams in his four seasons in New England. And then he moved back to the Meadowlands in 2005 and closed out his career with a cameo with the Giants.

Honorable Mention: Chandler Jones, Patriots. Ed Reynolds, Patriots.

96: Brent Williams, Patriots

We were going to give No. 96 to Adalius Thomas based on pure talent, but when we scheduled a meeting to talk about it he showed up late. So we went with defensive end Brent Williams, who played for the Patriots from 1986 to 1993.

97. Jarvis Green, Patriots

The defensive end played eight seasons with the Pats and was a member of their Super Bowl-winning teams in 2003 and ’04.

Honorable Mention: Alan Branch, Patriots.

98: Trey Flowers, Patriots

The defensive end played four seasons with the Patriots and came to be a dominant force by the end of his tenure. In two of those seasons — 2016 and 2018 — he got a ride on the duck boats.

Fun Fact: Jason Collins, who in 2014 while playing for the Brooklyn Nets became the first openly gay athlete to play in the NBA, NHL, NFL or MLB, wore No. 98 when he was with the Celtics in 2013.

99. Steve DeOssie, Patriots.

And so we come to the end of the road, and we do so by directing some home-cookin’ at Boston native DeOssie. The veteran linebacker/longsnapper had played five seasons each with the Cowboys and Giants followed by one forgettable season with the Jets when he joined the Pats in 1994. Alas, his favorite number, 99, was already being worn by linebacker Jason Carthen. But Carthen moved on, DeOssie grabbed 99 then owned it through the end of the 1995 season, after which he kicked off a career in radio and television. “I had worn 99 at Boston College and I wanted it to be my number in the NFL,” DeOssie told us. “But the Cowboys weren’t making 99 available to linebackers when I joined them, so I took 55. And then I wore 99 with the Giants and Jets.” DeOssie also has a funny No. 99 story to tell from his BC days: “It was 1980, and it was the first game of the season at Pitt. My first college game. When the equipment guy was packing the uniforms for the trip, he had what we thought was my jersey but it was upside-down. He packed a No. 66 for me. I played my first college football game wearing No. 66.”

Thanks so much for joining us on this tour of Boston’s illustrious uniform history. Leave a comment below if you have any questions, or, better yet, maybe we can all meet somewhere and break down the numbers once it’s safe to hang out again.

How about we meet at The Ninety Nine in Charlestown?

(Top photo of Bird: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)