By Bill Chuck
CSNNE.com
Today is Cinco de Mayo, a date observed to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride. So in honor of Alfredo Aceves born in San Luis Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, and Adrian Gonzalez whose parents are Mexican, here's a look at the Red Sox and numero cinco:
Five Red Sox who wore No. 5
Tony Perez1980-82
George Scott 1966-71
Mike Higgins 1937-38, 55-62 (MGR)
Nomar Garciaparra 1996-2004
Rocco Baldelli 2009
Five Red Sox who wore No. 55
Bob Veale 1972-74
Jeff Suppan 1995-97
Ramiro Mendoza 2003
Lenny DiNardo 2004-06
Ryan Kalish 2010
Five Red Sox who had 55 extra-base hits in a season
Year2B 3B HR
Todd Walker200338413
Jim Rice197529422
Carlton Fisk1977 26326
Joe Cronin193933319
Wade Boggs19904456
Five Red Sox who had 55 RBI in a season
Year
Jason Varitek2006
Johnny Pesky1948
Johnny Pesky1946
Rick Ferrell1936
Eddie Bressoud1964
Wade Boggs1984
Five Red Sox who scored 55 runs in a season:
Year
Jason Varitek2000
Jerry Remy1981
Brian Daubach2000
Coco Crisp2008
Cecil Cooper1974
Gene Stephens, Candy LaChance, and Clyde Engle all had 55 doubles in their Red Sox careers.
Between 1907 and 1915, Tris Speaker was hit by 55 pitches while playing for the Sox.
Boston Red Sox
Don Buddin grounded into 55 double plays in his Red Sox career.
These five third basemen ("5" when keeping score) hit five homers in a season for the Red Sox:
PlayerYear
Wade Boggs1988
Wade Boggs1983
Dalton Jones1965
Grady Hatton 1954
Pinky Higgins1938
Jimmy Collins 1903
You can add Kevin Youkilis to the mix this season as well.
Rick Burleson was caught stealing 55 times in his Sox career.
On 5555, the Sox lost to Detroit, 3-2 (five runs scored).
On 552005, the Sox beat Detroit, 2-1 (Jason Varitek hit his fifth double of the season).
Bill Hall, Tony Conigliaro, Jack Clark, Jose Canseco and Mike Cameron are five former or current Red Sox who struck out five times in a game, but none did it while a Red Sox. The five times a member of the Red Sox struck out five times in a game were by Jason Bay, Ray Jarvis, Phil Plantier and George Scott (who did it twice).
Derek Lowe had 55 losses for the Sox, to go along with 74 wins. No Sox pitcher ever had 55 wins.
David Aardsma, pitching for the Sox in 2008, had a 5.55 ERA.
Gary Peters allowed 55 homers in his Red Sox career from 1970 to 1972.
Ray Culp, who pitched for the Red Sox from 1968-73 had a record of 71-58 with a winning percentage of .550.
Manny Delcarmen allowed 55 hits for the Sox in 2008.
Bob Hefner in 1964 and Mark Clear in 1982 each appeared in 55 games for the Sox.
From 1956-58, Bob Porterfield appeared in 55 games for the Sox.
Clay Buchholz is 31-24 in his 55 decisions.
Finally, in case you are a musical theatre buff, "Damn Yankees," the musical adaptation of the book "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant," opened on Broadway on 5555. Not that it matters.
Adios!