This summer on a swing through Boston, I took the Fenway Park tour. Along the way, our guide pointed out the retired Red Sox numbers hanging over the grandstands: No. 1 Bobby Doerr, No. 6 Johnny Pesky, No. 8 Yaz and others that included David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Jim Rice and Carlton Fisk, even though he played more years for the Chicago White Sox than the Bosox.

When the guide announced No. 9 Ted Williams, I broke out in spontaneous applause, but absolutely no one joined me. Immediately, the r...