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‘Hoping it’s good for Roman too’: Red Sox legend wished Roman Anthony luck wearing No. 19
Anthony joins an interesting list of Red Sox players to wear No. 19.
Fred Lynn wishes Roman Anthony luck wearing his former number: Red Sox Nation has been fixated on the recent promotion of top MLB prospect Roman Anthony to the big league roster earlier this week. And before Anthony delivered his first MLB hit (an important two-run double) in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over the Rays, he made an unexpected choice.
Anthony, 21, opted to switch from wearing jersey number 48 in his first game to No. 19 in his second (and likely going forward). While largely symbolic, the number has interesting lineage given the lengthy history of the Red Sox.
Last worn earlier in 2025 by Brockton native Sean Newcomb (who was traded to the Athletics in late May), No. 19 has also been associated with a few memorable players over the years:
- Moe Berg
- Dante Bichette
- Gabe Kapler
- John Olerud
- Josh Beckett
- Koji Uehara
- Jackie Bradley Jr.
- Fred Lynn
The last name on the list, Lynn, is an example that Boston fans undoubtedly hope Anthony can emulate. The thrilling centerfielder became the first player in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season in 1975.
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Lynn addressed the development himself on social media. In a post during Tuesday’s game, Lynn wished the rookie luck.
“The [No.] 19 was good for me,” Lynn wrote. “Hoping it’s good for Roman, too.”
Lynn donned No. 19 for the entirety of his Red Sox career, making six straight All-Star appearances before—as the result of a bizarre series of events—he was traded to the Angels in Jan. 1981.
Trivia: Only one other MLB player besides Fred Lynn has won MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Can you name him?
(Answer at the bottom).
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Hint: Mariners.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox defeated the Rays 3-1 on Tuesday, with rookie Roman Anthony delivering the decisive two-run double.
The two teams close out the three-game series this evening (7:10 p.m.) at Fenway Park.
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- Former BU defenseman Lane Hutson honored as NHL’s rookie of the year
“Nothing to do but try to look busy”: College football expert Paul Finebaum had harsh words for NCAA president Charlie Baker (though it was less about Baker personally, and more a reflection of his position). In discussing the recent development of schools now being allowed to pay athletes directly, Finebaum noted that the longtime organization presiding over college athletics is essentially dead.
“If you’re the NCAA president, who happens to be Charlie Baker, you get to fly around on a luxury plane, you work in a Taj Mahal, you stay in five-star resorts, but essentially you have absolutely nothing to do but try to look busy.”
Red Sox-Yankees ratings: Even in a relative low period of the historic rivalry, it reportedly still delivered the biggest MLB audience for a regular season telecast since 2022.
On this day: In 1940, the Red Sox defeated Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller in a 9-2 win over Cleveland. Feller allowed four earned runs in five innings, including a Joe Cronin home run and a Ted Williams triple (Williams added a home run of his own later in the game).
Daily highlight: Roman Anthony delivered a crucial two-run double, for his first MLB hit, but also made a highlight-worthy sliding catch in Tuesday’s win.
Trivia answer: Ichiro Suzuki
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