Red Sox Winter Weekend: Here’s What To Expect

Though we are still a month out from the Major League Baseball season getting started with pitchers and catchers reporting, the pre-season fun is about to get started. This weekend, the Red Sox will host their traditional Winter Weekend. Here is everything you need to know.

This year marks the 8th edition of Winter Weekend. It will take place on January 19 and 20 in Springfield. Though there will be events spread across multiple venues, the big parties will be mostly located at the MGM Springfield and at the MassMutual Center.

Legendary Red Sox pitcher, Jonathan Papelbon will be the featured biggest star this year. As you probably recall, Papelbon is a Red Sox World Series champion (2007), recording the final out in the World Series vs. the Colorado Rockies. Furthermore, he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2023. Papelbon will host Winter Weekend and get things started Friday, starting with an official welcome gathering. "The event will open with the introduction of the 2024 players and coaches followed by “The Cinco Ocho Show with Jonathan Papelbon,” a late-night talk show-style segment," the Red Sox said in a press release.

In addition, Tom Caron of NESN will then join Papelbon for a sit-down to preview the upcoming season. This opening session is scheduled to take place from 6-8 pm at the MassMutual Center. Then, from 8 pm-10 pm the fan fest exhibit will first open at Exhibition Hall.

There's a full lineup of thrilling action to take part in on day two. In fact, this is your opportunity to snag some signed merchandise. The schedule for Saturday's portion of the Red Sox Winter Weekend is as follows:

Lastly, the late great knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will be honored during Winter Weekend as well. The Red Sox explain that this will take place on night one, "The evening will conclude with a reflection on the life of Tim Wakefield."

Boston Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo wears number 99. Closer Kenley Jansen wears number 74. At first glance, you may think these are not typical baseball uniform numbers. The organization has 11 options that are immediately unavailable. The Red Sox retired numbers include 10 players that are forever Yawkey Way legends, and one player who is forever a MLB legend.

The Red Sox first retired a uniform number in 1984. It was #4 which belonged to Joe Cronin, who spent 48 years in baseball. The nod was to honor the fact that Cronin was a player, manager, and executive with Boston. Five days later (May 29, 1984) the Red Sox retired Ted Williams' #9. It would be four years until another number was retired with Bobby Doerr.

In April of 1997 all of Major League Baseball retired #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson.

Walking into Fenway Park you will see banners draped along the outside walls of the stadium honoring each player who has their number retired. You will also see them displayed high above right field inside the park, complimenting the Pesky pole.

So, if you are catching a game this year and wondering why a starting pitcher like Nick Pivetta is sporting #37, it's important to know what his options were to select from. Here are the Red Sox retired numbers.