Colts Owner Jim Irsay To Bring His Memorabilia And Band To Boston
Yes, you read that right. Although the Colts will be coming to town in November to play the Patriots, owner Jim Irsay will rolling his crew in this summer as well. Irsay will be holding the “The Jim Irsay Collection” show at the TD Garden, where his band will perform, and his rock memorabilia collection will be onsite.
It all takes place this Saturday, July 15. Irsay’s band certainly features many big-name rockers. His nine-man roster includes Mike Mills of R.E.M., actor Danny Nucci, Vince Gill, and Kenny Wayne Shepard on guitar and vocals.
What Is The Jim Irsay Collection?
“Jim Irsay’s passion for rock music, American history and pop culture led him to assemble a robust collection of historic and culturally significant artifacts over several decades that together make up The Jim Irsay Collection,” his official website states.
Some of the items in Irsay’s collection are rare (and very expensive) instruments once owned by rock and roll royalty. His most recent acquisition was a legendary guitar owned by Eddie Van Halen. This is Van Halen’s signature red 2004 Charvel EVH Art Series guitar. Irsay also now owns the “Me and Bobby McGee” Janis Joplin acoustic guitar. In addition, Kurt Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” guitar also belongs to Irsay.
Outside of music, back in February, Irsay became the owner of Secretariat’s saddle from the 1973 triple crown.
What To Expect On July 15
The TD Garden describes the atmosphere as “a traveling museum of iconic artifacts from rock music, American history and pop culture.” Admission is free, however you must register at JimIrsayCollection.com. The concert portion of the event, featuring Irsay’s all-star band, will also be free with registration.
Prior to coming to the TD Garden, Jim Irsay took his road show to other major NFL markets. Previous stops include Nashville, San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago.
What Are Boston's Most Iconic Jersey Numbers?
“What number do you want?” A youth coach will ask on the first day of the season. It’s common for players to respond with the number of their favorite player. That got us thinking:bwhat is Boston’s most iconic jersey number in professional sports?
Sometimes uniform numbers are assigned at random. Other times, a star player can demand “their number.” Boston is such a rich market in terms of sports legacy. And some numbers are closely associated with iconic players. In baseball for example, Ted Williams was a pioneer of the game. Even former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, who grew up in Texas before playing for the Chargers and Saints, referenced Ted Williams when asked why he wore #9.
Inside The Numbers
Boston has a plethora of Hall of Fame players in all sports. There’s certainly a great list of numbers to pick from in terms of those worthy of being labeled legendary. In compiling a list of just six selections, we specifically looked for numbers that were made historic in multiple professional sports. They were typically shared by great players. These athletes not only left a mark within their own franchise, but also across the sport in general. Each of these numbers is also directly tied to championships. The players who wore them often were part of teams that won it all.
Many of these numbers are now retired within their respective sports. Though new generations of professionals may not be able to select them, athletes across the world will continue to wear them proudly within their programs. These retired numbers are not shelved, as they can carry a deeper meaning here for those who aspire to be like the pros who made them famous.
Honorable Mention
Before we proceed with the list of Boston’s most iconic jersey number, we must give a nod to Bill Russell’s (and Johnny Pesky) #6. Carl Yastrzemski and Cam Neely’s #8, and Ray Bourque’s infamous #77.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.