Roger Clemens, a great pitcher, #21, had a horrid post-season career with the Red Sox. Bucky Dent’s 1978 game-winning playoff homer came off Mike Torrez, #21. Who wore #21 for the Red Sox in 1975, 1967, 1946, years where the Red Sox have crumbled when it counted most? Is the real Red Sox jinx due to the #21, instead of being due to the ghost of Ruth?

The Bambino is still the one putting the hex on the Sox. Starting pitcher Tex Hughson wore #21 in 1946, when Boston lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Though he took the Game Four loss, he pitched well overall, giving up five runs in 14 1/3 innings. Reliever Hank Fischer had #21 in 1967, when Boston again lost to the Cards in seven games. However, he tossed only 26 innings that year and was not on the playoff roster. Another reliever, Rick Kreuger, had the number in 1975 when the Sox lost to Cincinnati in the Series, but like Fischer he was not on the playoff roster.