A number of concern for Beckett

11/26/2005
BOSTON -- Because of his mid- to upper-90s heat and his strong Texas roots, how will Red Sox fans be able to avoid conjuring up some memories of a young Roger Clemens when 25-year-old Josh Beckett makes his first start at Fenway Park in 2006?
Perhaps there will be another tie-in between the two before all is said and done.
The Red Sox brought in Beckett along with third baseman Mike Lowell and reliever Guillermo Mota for four Minor Leaguers on Thanksgiving. The trade unites the big Texan with the team that nurtured Clemens, another flame-throwing right-hander from the Lone Star state.
Beckett began wearing No. 21 in the second half of the 2003 season with the Marlins. Might he get the chance to wear that same number in Boston, something no Red Sox player has done since Clemens departed in free agency following the 1996 season?
"I'm going to wear whatever they give me," said Beckett. "I know nobody's worn it since Rocket, so, yeah, it would definitely mean something to me. But if that's something that they're holding back, that's their deal. I'll pick another number. I like 19, but I think Mikey [Lowell] wants 19. So I'm in some kind of predicament. I think Bronson [Arroyo] wears 61. I wore 61 for 2 1/2 years. All the numbers are taken. I'll have to pick something else."
Or maybe he won't.
Keep in mind that the Red Sox did offer No. 21 to Greg Swindell (who, like Clemens, attended the University of Texas) in 1998. Swindell didn't feel comfortable taking that historic number in Red Sox history and turned it down.
A Red Sox official said on Friday that the numbers for the three new players was still to be decided, hardly surprising when you consider the blockbuster trade was made during Thanksgiving.
Whether or not Beckett will break out Rocket's old number remains to be seen. But one thing is clear -- Beckett idolizes Clemens.
"I'm very excited about the trade," Beckett said. "Some of it has to do with the fact of me being a Boston fan. My father actually worked with Rocket's brother when I was in middle school and high school. I actually have an autographed ball from Rocket when I was younger. I had a Boston Red Sox hat just for that sheer fact."
Beckett might soon have an even better souvenir. His own Red Sox jersey with the number 21 on the back.

Source: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/