Numbers

Craig Hansen (56), Manny Delcarmen (57), Jonathan Papelbon (58) and Jon Lester (62) are young pitchers with high uniform numbers.

Only Papelbon plans on keeping his longterm. "I'm not superstitious, but No. 58 has been very good to me and I don't see any reason to change now." Papelbon wore 19 in high school, 19 and 41 in college, and 50 in the minors.

Lester is "comfortable" with 62, but would like 31. That belongs to bench coach Brad Mills, who would rather have 2, which was worn by Willie Harris. After the trading deadline, a switch might be made.

Delcarmen wore 17 in high school and has the number tattooed on his right biceps, but Dave Wallace has it now. ... Hansen's favorite number, which he wore in high school and college, is 34. There's no chance of that one becoming available anytime soon.

A list of every player who has worn the four numbers:

56
Zach Crouch          1988
Scott Taylor         1992-93
Jeff Pierce          1995
Alex Delgado         1996
Darren Bragg         1996-98
Tim Harikkala        1999
Steve Lomasney       1999
Israel Alcantara     2000-01
Chris Haney          2002
Jimmy Anderson       2004
Craig Hansen         2005-06
  
57
Nate Minchey         1993-94
Brian Bark           1995
Ken Grundt           1996
Rudy Pemberton       1996
Ron Mahay            1997-98
Juan Pena            1999
Rod Beck             1999
Calvin Pickering     2001
Luis Aguayo          2002 (Coach)
Jason Sheill         2003
Joe Nelson           2004
Scott Cassidy        2005
Manny Delcarmen      2005-06
  
58
Jeff McNeely         1993
Nate Minchey         1996
Bill Moloney         1997-2000 (Coach)
Hector Carrasco      2000
Nelson Norman        2001 (Coach)
Luis Aguayo          2002 (Coach)
Bryant Nelson        2002
Hector Almonte       2003
Sandy Martinez       2004
Jonathan Papelbon    2005-06
  
62
Marino Santana       1999
Sun-Woo Kim          2001
Jon Lester           2006

The lowest number that has never been worn is 64.

According to the Red Sox Team Store, Papelbon's 58 is the most popular uniform shirt. He is followed by David Ortiz (34), Coco Crisp (10), Kevin Youkilis (20), Manny Ramirez (24), Jason Varitek (33) and Curt Schilling (38).