After his much-hyped debut on Monday night, in which he sported No. 48, Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony has changed his uniform to No. 19. It was almost as if it was presaged in yesterday’s Question of the Day from Mike Chamernik.
Anthony’s Monday debut was inauspicious. He went 0-for-4 with an RBI, a walk, and a strikeout in his first game in the majors. He also committed an error in the fifth inning of that game, allowing a baserunner to score from first base and the batter to get to third.
Following Monday’s debut, Anthony was informed that No. 19 was available, and after just one game wearing No. 48, he made the switch in time for last night’s game.
Anthony confirmed to Tokyo Sports Press’ Carlos Yamazaki yesterday that he would switch from No. 48 to No. 19.
“I wore (48) in spring, and wore 19 last year in Triple-A,” he told Yamazaki. “And then credit to Tom and those guys, called me this morning and ‘Hey, we’re gonna be able to get you 19.’ So I was super thankful for that.”
“48 was I wore it in spring, and wore 19 last year in triple A. And then credit to Tom and those guys, called me this morning and ‘Hey, we're gonna be able to get you 19.’ So I was super thankful for that.” pic.twitter.com/NW2WgXv0aa
— Carlos Yamazaki (@masashicarlos) June 10, 2025
No. 19 was available after Sean Newcomb (who wore No. 19 with Boston) was traded to the A’s on May 27. If you’re familiar with Red Sox numerology, there have been several big name Red Sox to previously wear No. 19, including Jackie Bradley, Jr., Koji Uehara, Josh Beckett, Gabe Kapler, and Fred Lynn. That’s some select company.
If No. 19 was theoretically available to Anthony on Monday, why would he choose to debut in No. 48? As he mentions, he wore the number in Spring Training, so it was technically “his” number once he got the call to the show.
As was noted, Anthony had worn No. 19 in the minor leagues.
So if anything, he probably considers No. 19 more as his number than No. 48.
Did the poor performance on Monday night in No. 48 have any bearing on the switch to No. 19? Anthony hasn’t said. But almost immediately upon making the switch to No. 19, in Tuesday night’s first at-bat, Anthony ripped a pitch down the line in left for a two-run double to break a scoreless tie with two outs in the bottom of the first.
Roman Anthony's first career hit drives in two runs! pic.twitter.com/QWzbZc3Y8x
— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2025
That would be his first (and so far only) MLB base hit, and his family — who didn’t make it to Beantown in time to see his debut — were all in attendance.
All the feels for Roman Anthony's family after his first Major League hit 🥹 https://t.co/VzmarQVar4 pic.twitter.com/ge4WOsb75u
— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2025
Good for him, and nice moment for the family. Looks like he’ll be sporting No. 19 for the foreseeable future.
As was noted in the comments section for Mike’s QOTD, many athletes “famous” for wearing a certain number actually made their major league debuts wearing different numbers. I’m not 100% positive, but this may be the least number of games a player wore a certain number before changing. Certainly it ties the record (if anyone else made a switch after one game).
Obviously it’s far too early to know what kind of career Anthony will have (or if it will be spent entirely with the Red Sox), but Anthony’s debuting in No. 48 will likely be the answer to a trivia question in the not too distant future.
It’s almost as if Mike predicted it!
Ha, we all explored similar instances of this the other day
link
Yep. I specifically mentioned your article in the first graf ;)
even the staff skip right to the comment eh?
For Mark Grace’s MLB debut, a road game in San Diego, he wore the number 28.
Once Grace and the Cubs returned home, he switched to number 17.
Not a debut, but new acquisitions Matt Holiday (#15 -> #7) and Scott Rolen (#16 -> #27) wore different numbers when they first started for St. Louis.
Rolen: link
Holiday: link
When Adam Graves joined the NY Rangers during the 1991 preseason he was given number 11. He wore it until opening night. Then the Rangers traded for Mark Messier and Graves switched to number 9.
And BOTH numbers have been retired by the Rangers.
I will play for any team under any number but I must admit I got goose bumps last night after watching the Dodgers-Padres game and two relievers wore my old basketball number 66. A number can have some emotional effects while wearing it so I get it that players hold on to it or return to it.
With tongue planted firmly in cheek, I wonder: If anyone bought the 48 jersey be able to swap it for the 19? I know Fanatics has a 30 day “trade” warranty… I’m *sure* the Red Sox team store would gladly swap.
How can you write about Roman Anthony without mentioning that his father, brother, and grandfather are all named Anthony Anthony?
Of course, there was Mickey Mantle who debuted with the Yankees at the age of 19 in April 1951, wearing number 6 after a monstrous spring training that saw him go from Class C in 1950 to the starting right fielder (DiMaggio in center) in 1951. Cliff Mapes was wearing 7 then, having gotten there after being the last Yankee to wear number 3 before it was retired in 1948. He would be the next-to-last to wear 7. Mantle was sent down to KC in AAA for some weeks, and when he returned, Mapes had been traded to the Browns. Clubhouse manager Pete Sheehy thought it’d be a good idea to give the kid 7 instead of 6 to take some of the pressure (Ruth at 3, Gehrig at 4, DiMag – who wore 9 as a rookie – at 5) off the kid. Seemed to work.
Just spending night seeing if Devers Red Sox jerseys have hit the discount rack..
Jason Heyward hit HR in his first MLB at-bat in 2010 and they showed his dad with the No. 22 jersey. However the Atlanta Baseball Club was supposedly not to sell Heyward merchandise in the ballpark until the completion of the fifth inning when game became official.