Everyone of course knows who the last man was to ever be issued #9 by the Boston Red Sox. Yep: Hal Wagner.
Wait--what?
This is interesting (and weird) and I only just found out about it in the last few days. Ted Williams came up in 1939, and was given #9. It was the only number he ever wore. Yet in 1944, after Williams had hit .406 in '41, then won a triple-crown in '42, then joined the Marines and gone off to war in '43, the Red Sox gave his number to backup catcher Johnny Peacock. When Peacock was sold to the Phillies in June, #9 was again given out--this time to Wagner, who wore it until he was eventually inducted into the Army late in the season.
What makes the story even stranger is that Peacock had been on the roster from 1941-1943, when Williams was still around, and during that time wore #11. Wagner was acquired when Peacock was still on the roster, and was initially given #19, before switching to 9 when Peacock was dealt.
I remember hearing a great story about Steve Sax joining the Yankees as a free agent. The equipment manager asked him in spring training what number he wanted, and he said #3--what he'd worn with the Dodgers. The equipment manager laughed and said "That's Babe Ruth's number"... to which Sax responded "So? He's not using it, is he?" Peacock and Wagner seemed to have tried the same thing... except in their case it actually worked.
Anyway, here they are: #
9, Johnny Peacock and
Hal Wagner.