NOMAH!

He was one of the greatest Red Sox players of all time, even if his career was cut short by injuries. The Red Sox are signing Nomar Garciaparra to a one-day contract today so he can retire as a Red Sox. 

It's a classy - if somewhat puzzling - move by the Red Sox who have reconciled with several players who ended their careers elsewhere including Dewey Evans, Carlton Fisk and Fred Lynn. Evans, Fisk and Lynn did not leave as a result of contract negotiations with the current management team, nor was their departure as bitter.

It seems a long time ago that Nomar was in the mix of the discussion about the best shortstops in the American League along with A-Rod and Derek Jeter. In fact it's Jeter who essentially ended Nomar's time in Boston when he went diving into the stands to catch a foul ball behind third base in a game against the Sox. His all-out catch contrasted with Nomar who sat out that series with an injury that Red Sox management thought was not serious. Shortly after that, Nomar was sent packing - four months after turning down a $60m contract with the team. The Red Sox went on to win two World Series in four years, Nomar went on to play for four teams.

In Boston, he'll be remembered for great hitting, owning the playoffs in '98 and '99 and a unique, fidgety sequence at homeplate before every pitch that was copied by Little Leaguers and softballers (me!) throughout New England. Dicks probably sold a lot of hitting gloves as a result of Nomar.

In my mind, Nomar belongs with Yaz, Doerr, Pesky and a handful of other players in the pantheon of Red Sox stars. Certainly a cut below Ted Williams, but right there with many perennial All Stars. David Ortiz may join that group someday and it's possible that Pedro Martinez and even Manny might too.  None of them, however, will be held in higher esteem than Nomar who stood out in an era of steroids, and was never tainted by it.