Apr 13, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Baseball fans make their way along Yawkey Way before opening ceremonies at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox home opener against the Washington Nationals. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Founded in 1901 as one of the original members of the American League, the Boston Red Sox have a long and storied history. While there was a major gap between the Red Sox early success, and their modern championship teams, the franchise has taken home eight World Series championship in their existence, which is tied for the fourth most of all-time.
That may not seem like much considering the Red Sox hated rivals, the New York Yankees, have the most World Series wins in MLB history with 27, but that has more to do with the Yankees dominating the field (the St. Louis Cardinals are the closest team with 11 championships).
Simply put, the Red Sox are one of the most successful MLB organizations of all-time. They have had many incredible teams, and of course, a stock of legendary Hall of Fame players.
With the announcement that David Ortiz is set to retire following the 2016 season, I had began to wonder where he fits in the history of the franchise. Ortiz has been an incredible player for many years in Boston, and his playoff success will undoubtedly make him among the best players in the history of the franchise in fan’s eyes.
To see where Ortiz truly ranks in the history of the Red Sox, I decided to make a list profiling the 30 greatest players in the history of the organization.
The list is simple, taking into account offensive and defensive performances, giving extra points for team success (especially in the post season) and only accounting for a player’s time with the Red Sox, I will rank the players from the 30th best player of all-time, all the way down until we decide on the greatest player in the history of the franchise.
Enough of this, let’s get to the list. Without further ado, here are the 30 greatest players in the long and storied history of the Boston Red Sox.
Next: Number 30
30: Curt Schilling, SP (2004-2007)
While his time in Boston was incredibly short, Curt Schilling had a massive impact on the organization during his four-year stint. Schilling is best known for his “Bloody Sock” performance in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS, where he pitched magnificently despite needing surgery to repair the tendon in his right ankle.
The bloody sock became a phenomenon, and Schilling’s incredible performance was a massive reason why the Red Sox came back and beat the Yankees after being down 3-0 in the ALCS. Schilling then helped the Red Sox sweep the St. Louis Cardinals for their first World Series victory since 1918.
Schilling was not only an incredible post season performer for the Red Sox in 2004, as he dominated the regular season as well. Schilling finished 21-6 in 2004 with a 3.26 ERA and 203 strikeouts to only 35 walks. His performance got him votes for second in the American League Cy Young that season.
Schilling spent the next three years of his career with the Red Sox, and had varying results. 2005 was an awful season for Schilling, as he missed the beginning of the year still recovering from his ankle injury. When healthy, the Red Sox brought him back as their closer, and eventually moved him into the rotation. Schilling did not perform well in either role.
His 2006 season was much better, as Schilling went 15-7 as a full-time starter, and had a league leading 6.54 strikeout to walk ratio. He had a solid 2007 regular season, but he really turned it on for the Red Sox in the post season. Schilling seemed to save his best for last in 2007, as he ripped through the post season with similar success that we saw in 2004.
The Red Sox won the World Series again in 2007, and Schilling was a major part of their run. He retired following the 2007 season at 40-years-old.
Schilling had such a short career with the Red Sox, and time were not always great. However, he will always be remembered in Boston history for his major part in those two historic World Series victories.
Next: Number 29
29: Tony Conigliaro, OF (1964-1970, 1975)
One of the most exciting young players of his era, Tony Conigliaro made his big league debut with the Red Sox as a fresh-face 19-year-old in 1964. He immediately burst onto the scene as a rookie that season, hitting .290/.354/.530 with 24 home runs. Those 24 bombs set an MLB record that still stands of the most home runs hit by a player in their teenage years.
Conigliaro’s sophomore campaign was even more impressive, as he led the league in home runs with 32, becoming the young player to lead the league in home runs. In 1967, at the ripe age of 22, Conigliaro hit his 100th career home run, becoming the youngest American League player to reach the milestone, a record that still stands today.
Later that season, the Red Sox emerging star was hit on the left cheekbone with a pitch by Jack Hamilton of the California Angles. The pitch broke Conigliaro’s cheekbone, dislocated his jaw and gave him serious vision issues.His baseball career was immediately put in jeopardy.
Conigliaro missed the rest of the 1967 season and the entirety of the 1968 season, before making his triumphant return in 1969. Despite vision issues, Conigliaro hit .255/.321/.427 with 20 home runs and 82 RBI. He was named the Comeback Player of the Year for his efforts in 1969, and backed that up with an even better 36 home run, 116 RBI performance in 1970.
Conigliaro had an unsuccessful stint with the Angels in 1971, and did not play for three seasons before signing back with the Red Sox in 1975 as a designated hitter. Late in his career, the vision issues Conigliaro suffered from his accident proved to be too much to overcome, and he was forced to retire.
He had the skills to become a legitimate Hall of Fame type player, but obstacles proved too much for him to truly reach his potential. That said, Conigliaro’s comeback after the injury is an inspiration to all, which is the MLB now gives out the Tony Conigliaro Award.
The award is given to the player in Major League Baseball who “overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage that were trademarks of Conigliaro.”
Next: Number 28
28: Jason Varitek, C (1997-2011)
A career .256/.341/.435 hitter, Jason Varitek will not be in the running for having the best statistics on this list (although his offensive numbers were always good, to even great for a catcher). While he was a solid and reliable hitter, Varitek’s value to the Red Sox throughout his 15-year-career (all with Boston) was much more than offensive output.
Varitek was a great defensive catcher, and was known as a relentless worker on and off of the field. He did an incredible job of handling the Red Sox pitching staff for many years, and was always prepared for anything. Varitek was a very studious player, seemingly knowing the best way for a pitcher to work each and every at-bat.
His presence as the catcher for the Red Sox was simply invaluable, but it more than just being able to call a game. Varitek became the unquestioned leader for the successful Red Sox teams of the early 2000s, and even named the team’s undisputed captain following Boston’s World Series victory in 2004. Varitek was only the fourth player on the Red Sox to ever officially be named captain of the team.
His presence in the clubhouse and for the pitching staff would have been impossible to replace, and the Red Sox simply would not have won their World Series rings in 2004 or 2007 without their captain leading the way.
Next: Number 27
27: Fred Lynn, OF (1974-1980)
Fred Lynn made his MLB debut with the Red Sox late in the 1974 season, instantly showing his impressive all-around ability in 15 games played, but it was in his actual rookie season of 1975 where Lynn really made his mark.
In what could possibly be the greatest rookie season of all-time, Lynn hit .331 with an OBP of .401 and a league-leading slugging percentage of .566. His .967 OPS also led the league, as did his 47 doubles and 103 runs scored. Add in his 21 home runs, 105 RBI and gold glove winning defense in centerfield, and Lynn not only took home Rookie of the Year honors, he was named the American League MVP.
It was the first time that the same player had ever won both the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same season, and has only been done one time since (Ichiro Suzuki in 2001). Lynn’s incredible debut season in 1975 was capped off by leading the Red Sox to the World Series, where they eventually lost to the Cincinnati Reds.
Lynn went on to play five more seasons with Boston, all of which he made All-Star appearances, and won three more gold gloves. However, he was never able to lead the Red Sox to the post season again. He also struggled with injuries because of his reckless play in the outfield.
1975 is undoubtedly what Lynn’s career is remembered for, but it was not even his best statistical season. Lynn led the league in batting average (.333), on-base percentage (.423) and slugging percentage (.637) for the Red Sox in 1979, while also popping 39 home runs, 42 doubles and driving in 122 RBI. Offensively, Lynn was incredible and took home another Gold Glove for his play in center field. He did not however, win the AL MVP award.
Lynn went on to have a nice career with the California Angeles, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and a quick stint San Diego Padres, before retiring from the game at the age of 38 in 1990. Lynn was always a good player, but he was never again the same guy as we saw in Boston.
Next: Number 26
26: Jonathan Papelbon, RP (2005-2011)
Far and away the greatest closer in Red Sox history, Jonathan Papelbon’s 219 saves with the team is the most of all-time. The closest to him on the list is Bob Stanley with 132.
Papelbon burst onto the scene late in 2005, when he was brought up, and quickly became an important piece of the Red Sox bullpen. Papelbon was primarily a starter in the minor leagues, but quickly found his niche in the bullpen with improved velocity to go along with an already impressive repertoire of breaking pitches.
The Red Sox had plans of moving Papelbon back to the rotation entering the 2006 season, but incumbent closer Keith Foulke continued to struggle with injuries, forcing Boston to leave Papelbon in the bullpen and making him the closer. Well, that turned out to be the correct decision, as Papelbon was simply dominant.
In his first full season in the majors, Papelbon was the Red Sox closer, and he was nearly unhittable. Papelbon was lights out, finishing with 35 saves and a 0.92 ERA in his rookie season. He came in second to Justin Verlander in the Rookie of the Year voting that season.
Papelbon’s success continued in 2007, as he finished with 37 saves and a 1.85 ERA, but his most influential work came in the post season. Papelbon proved himself to be an extremely valuable weapon for the Red Sox, as he pitched nearly perfect through the post season. In seven appearances (10.2 innings), Papelbon did not allow any runs, and was a huge reason why the Red Sox took home the World Series title that season.
He had four more successful seasons with the Red Sox (although the last two weren’t quite as dominant), before leaving the team for the Philadelphia Phillies in free agency before the 2012 season. Papelbon has continued his great career, and is one of the best closers of this era. His work in Boston early in his career was essential for their success.
Next: Number 25
25: Nomar Garciparra, SS (1996-2004)
One of the best overall players of his era, “Nomah” found himself in a special place with Red Sox fans. He busted onto the scene as a 23-year-old rookie in 1997 where he hit .306/.342/.534 with 30 home runs, 98 RBI and 22 steals, while playing great defense at shortstop. Garciaparra also led the league with 209 hits, and was a unanimous selection for the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
Nomar continued to steal the heart of Red Sox fans with his performance the next season in 1998. He hit .323/.362/.584 with 35 home runs and 122 RBI that season, coming in second in the AL MVP voting. Garciaparra led the league in hitting the next two season with batting averages of .357 and .372 in 1999 and 2000 respectively.
His career started to change in 2001, as Garciaparra suffered a major wrist injury that held him out for most of the year. He made a successful return in 2002, and while his numbers were still great, he clearly was not the same players as before. His defense started to slip, and while he still hit for a high average, it was not league-leading worthy like before.
The Red Sox traded Garciaparra before the league trade deadline in 2004. They sent him to the Chicago Cubs in a four-team trade in which they acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz. Cabrera and Mientkiewicz were brought in to help with the Red Sox defensive issues that season, and they both player major roles in Boston’s World Series championship that season.
While his teammates did vote to give him a World Series ring, it was kind of sad to know they Garciaparra was traded away the year the Red Sox finally broke curse. He was an incredible talent who represented the city of Boston extremely well.
Next: Number 24
Jul 20, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester (31) throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
24: Jon Lester, SP (2006-2014)
Jon Lester made his debut with the Red Sox in 2006 as a 22-year-old rookie. He started 15 games that season, going 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA. He had some health complications late in the season that were later revealed to be an early form of cancer. Lester was treated early with chemotherapy, and in December of 2006, CT scans showed the cancer to be in remission.
With that behind him, Lester miraculously joined the team for Spring Training that season. They took it slow with his return, as he pitched in the minor leagues at the beginning of the year. In late July, Lester made his 2007 debut with the Red Sox, and continued to be a part of the rotation for the rest of the season.
Lester was on the post season roster that season as a reliever, but with the team up 3-0 in the World Series, they gave him the ball for the clinching Game 4. Lester pitched brilliantly, not giving up any runs in 5.2 innings of work. The Red Sox went on to win the game, clinching the 2007 World Series. Lester went from having a form of cancer to winning the clinching game in the World Series in one-year’s time.
From that point forward, Lester pitched like the ace of the Red Sox staff. He went 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 2008, and that was a start of four consecutive seasons with at least 15 wins and an ERA under 3.50.
Lester was the unquestioned ace of the staff for their 2013 World Series championship, leading the pitching staff in the regular season and post season. 2014 was Lester’s best statistical year, as he had a 2.52 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 143 innings pitched in the first half, before the Red Sox traded him away to the Oakland Athletics.
The Red Sox did not appear to be competitive, and Lester was set to get a huge pay-day in free agency at the end of the season. It is always hard to watch your team’s stars leave, but it made sense for the Red Sox to deal Lester.
He was a huge part of two World Series championships, and over-came the largest obstacle anyone can over-come.
Next: Number 23
23: Dom DiMaggio, OF (1940-1942, 1946-1953)
Known as “The Little Professor” throughout baseball, DiMaggio was the youngest of the DiMaggio brothers to play (the other two being Vince, and of course the great Joe DiMaggio). A career .298/.383/.419 hitter, DiMaggio spent his entire 11 year career playing for the Boston Red Sox during 1940-1953 (a three-year break fighting for his country in WWII), where he was an on base machine.
He batted .300 four times in his career, and was always a pesky hitter in the Red Sox line-up. DiMaggio was an extremely patient hitter who always had full control over the strike zone. His ability to get on base was special for his era.
The Little Professor made Red Sox history in 1949 when he held a 34-game hitting streak, a streak that still stands to this day. His best season came in 1950 when he hit .328/.414/.452 while leading the league in runs scored (131), stolen bases (15) and triples (11).
In 1995, 40 years after playing his last game for the Red Sox he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame. DiMaggio passed away on May 8, 2009 after a battle of pneumonia.
Bio on DiMaggio was given by DJ Smith. Check out his work, and give him a follow on Twitter, @dj_smitty.
Next: Number 22
Sep 13, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) hits a single against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Griffith-USA TODAY Sports
22: Dustin Pedroia, 2B (2006-current)
As the saying goes, “good things can come in small packages” and Dustin Pedroia is living proof of that. Standing at 5-foot-7, many look at Pedroia and wonder how such a small player can be so successful for an extended period of time? He is obviously talented, but the answer comes from his hard work and determination to consistently get the job done.
Pedroia made his debut towards the end of the 2006 season but Red Sox Nation was formally introduced to Pedroia during the 2007 season. Pedroia consistently started smashing balls that were up in the zone and in, his quick hands and violent swing allowed him to turn on balls and pull them with power. A great ability to have for a right-handed hitter at Fenway Park.
He was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 2007, but Pedroia really burst on to the national scene with his play in 2008, where he hit .323/.376/.493 with 17 home runs, 83 RBI and 20 stolen bases. Pedroia also led the league in runs (118), hits (213) and doubles (54) that season, and was voted as the American League MVP for his incredible play.
Throughout his career Pedroia has been able to not only maintain his power and consistency at the plate, but has also been a defensive wizard for the Red Sox, solidifying the second base position for the past nine seasons.
At age 32, Pedroia enters the 2016 season with two World Series Championships under his belt along with an MVP award, a Rookie of the Year, four All-Star appearances, three Gold Gloves and one Silver Slugger. There is no doubt that he has solidified himself as one of the best Red Sox second basemen in team history, and with plenty of time to add to his resume, Pedroia will only fly up this list.
Bio on Pedroia was given by DJ Smith. Check out his work, and give him a follow on Twitter, @dj_smitty.
Next: Number 21
21: Harry Hooper, OF (1909-1920)
Harry Hooper was a stable for the Red Sox during their early 20th century run of World Series championships. He played with the team from 1909 until 1920, in that time he captured four World Series championships (1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918).
Hooper, a right fielder, was widely regarded as a great defensive outfielder in his day and was always among the league leaders in put-outs during his playing day. Along with Tris Speaker and Duffy Lewis, the trio would man the outfield at Fenway Park and were considered one of the best outfield trios in baseball history.
While he was probably best known for his defense, Hooper was among the greatest lead off hitters of his generation. Blessed with great speed, contact ability and a strong eye at the plate, Hooper hit .281/.368/.387 for his career, and stole 300 bases in 383 attempts in his 12-year career with the Red Sox.
In a breakout decade for the Red Sox, their string of four championships during that decade are largely thanks to Hooper. His ability to set the table and play incredible outfield defense was a true game changer for the Red Sox.
Bio on Hooper was given by DJ Smith. Check out his work, and give him a follow on Twitter, @dj_smitty.
Next: Number 20
20: Luis Tiant, SP (1971-1981)
Luis Tiant, or El Tiante, only spent eight of his 19 MLB seasons with the Red Sox, but his time in Boston was almost in arguably the most memorable time period of his career.
Arguably the best year of his entire career came with the Red Sox in 1972, when Tiant went 15-6 with a 1.91 ERA.
While with the Red Sox, Tiant was the team’s ace, and would pitch in some big games for the Red Sox back in the 1970’s. Most memorably was Tiant throwing a complete game three hitter in the 1975 ALCS against the three-time defending World Series champion Oakland Athletics. Tiant allowed only one unearned run in that game, and was the driving force to send them to the World Series.
He would follow-up that performance starting in Game 1 of the World Series by beating the Reds 6-0 only allowing 5 hits while shutting out the likes Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and Joe Morgan. The Red Sox could not win the World Series that season, but it was through no fault of Tiant’s, who pitched well in his following three starts of the series.
Tiant has not been inducted into the Cooperstown since his retirement, but in 1997 he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame as well as being inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Bio on Tiant was given by DJ Smith. Check out his work, and give him a follow on Twitter, @dj_smitty.
Next: Number 19
19: Johnny Pesky, INF (1942, 1946-1952)
Probably best known in recent times for “Pesky Pole” down the right-field line at Fenway, Johnny Pesky was a great player for the Red Sox during his career. He burst onto the scene as a rookie in 1942, finishing the season with a league-leading 205 hits. Pesky’s .331 average was second in the league, and he was voted third in the MVP race. All of this as a rookie.
Pesky, like many MLB players at the time, did not play the next three seasons as he fought for his country in World War II. However, he did return to the Red Sox in 1946, and continued his incredible play.
Pesky hit .335/.401/.427, once again leading the league in hits with 208, this time coming in fourth place in MVP voting. Pesky continued his impressive career with another league leading 207 hits in 1947. So, Pesky led the league in base hits in each of his first three big league seasons. He is one of two players to ever do that in his career, with Tony Oliva being the other from 1964-1966.*
The first three years of his career were undoubtedly his best, but Pesky continued to be a strong player through most of his remaining years with the Red Sox. He was a strong defender at shortstop early in his career, before the Red Sox trade for Vern Stephens moved him to third base prior to the 1948 season. The position changed seemed to take a toll on Pesky offensively, as he had worst season to date, hitting only .281 in 1948.
He was able to get back on track, hitting over .300 every year until the Red Sox traded him away during the 1952 season.
Pesky later went on to manage the Red Sox for two seasons, although unsuccessfully, and worked as a color commentator for the team’s television and radio broadcasts in the 1960s.
Pesky was a common presence in the clubhouse for the Red Sox championship runs in 2004 and 2007. He was majorly involved in celebrations, and even received World Series rings from team both times. Pesky took on the role of “Mr. Red Sox” before passing away at the age of 93 in 2012.
He was an incredible player on the field, but his presence for the team for such a long period of time made him such a fan favorite, and an obvious selection to do well on this list. If it weren’t for losing three of his prime years due to serving his country at war, Pesky would have been a strong Hall of Fame candidate.
*Oliva did lead the league in hits for his first three full big league seasons, but he did make appearances in the two seasons prior. Pesky leading the league in hits during his first three seasons was truly the first three years he played Major League Baseball.
Next: Number 18
18: Lefty Grove, SP (1934-1941)
Perhaps best known for his time with the Philadelphia Athletics to begin his career from 1925-1933, Lefty Grove went on to continue his great career with an impressive stint with the Red Sox.
The Red Sox traded for Grove prior to the 1934 season, but his debut year was held back by an arm injury. He went 8-8 with a 6.50 ERA that season, but clearly was not healthy, and immediately got back in a groove the next year, going 20-12 with a league-leading 2.70 ERA. Grove also led the league in ERA the very next season in 1936, with a 2.81 mark.
Grove was a major part of the Red Sox in the late 30s and early 40s, but was never able to lead them to a World Series. However, Grove did win two World Series titles in three appearances with the Athletics.
Grove is arguably the best left-handed pitcher in Red Sox history, as he led the league in ERA four times, and was named an All Star five times in his eight-year Boston career. In his last season of 1941, Grove went 7-7 with a 4.37 ERA, but he won his 300th game late in the season. Grove lost his remaining three starts before retiring, so he finished his career with exactly 300 wins.
In 1947, Grove was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics, but if you take away his time in Boston, Grove was not a Hall of Fame player.
Next: Number 17
17: Dwight Evans, OF (1972-1990)
As a premier defender with great pop and impressive on-base skills, Dwight Evans was a player who may have been a bit before his time. In today’s game of advance statistics where patient hitters with power and defensive skills are more appreciated than ever before, Evans would have been an absolute star.
That said, he was certainly known as a great player in his day. Evans 19 of his 20-year career with the Red Sox, Evans was a three-time All-Star, won two Silver Sluggers and took home eight Gold Glove awards.
The eight Gold Gloves are obviously impressive, but he likely would have taken home even more defensive awards if the outfield positions were split up from left to right as they are today. Evans was clearly the best right fielder in baseball for a very long time.
He did not develop much with his bat until later in his career, really taking off in 1981 where he hit .296/.415/.522, leading the league in home runs with 22, an OPS of .937 and 85 walks. Coupled together with his usual elite defensive play in right field, Evans came in third in AL MVP voting that season.
From that point forward, Evans became a strong force in the Red Sox line-up, leading the league the next season with a .402 on-base percentage, while also knocking out 32 home runs. His patient and powerful approach at the plate continued throughout his Red Sox career, as Evans lead the league with 114 walks in 1985 and 106 bases on balls in 1987. He also hit 29 and 34 home runs in those respective seasons.
His 251 home runs from 1981-1990 were the most hit by any player in the American League during that time. While it took him a while to get the bat going, Evans was clearly one of the most productive bats in baseball throughout the second half of his career. His skills may not have always jumped off the page, but Evans was an extremely well-rounded and reliable player for the Red Sox for many years.
Next: Number 16
16: Joe Cronin, SS (1935-1945)
The Red Sox traded for Joe Cronin to be their starting shortstop in 1935. He also took on the role of manager, and will go down as one of the greatest player-managers of all time. Cronin played the last 11 seasons of his career with the Red Sox, finishing up in 1945, but stayed on as the team’s manager for two more seasons. Cronin then took over as the Red Sox General Manager until 1959.
A great defender, and strong contact hitter with impressive plate discipline, Cronin hit .300/.394/.484 in his 11 seasons with Red Sox. He was a five-time All-Star selection while playing for the team, but was never able to reach the post season as a player. His first year after retirement from playing, Cronin was able to lead the Red Sox to the World Series as a manager, before they eventually lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Cronin had an incredibly long and storied career with the Red Sox as a player, manager, general manager and even the president of the American League after that. His body of work is incredible, as he is undoubtedly one of the most influential Red Sox of all-time.
Cronin was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Red Sox in 1959, and his number 4 is retired by the organization.
Next: Number 15
15: Smoky Joe Wood, P (1908-1915)
Best known for having the fastest fastball of his era, Smoky Joe Wood is one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the Boston Red Sox. He joined the Red Sox as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 1908, before bursting onto the scene with the team in a more full-time role in 1909.
Wood pitched eight years with the Red Sox, and was arguably the most dominant pitcher of the era. The best year of his career was in 1912, which was one of the greatest seasons for any pitcher of all-time. Wood went an incredible 34-5 with a 1.91 ERA. He was an absolute force for the team, leading the league in wins, winning percentage complete games (35) and shutouts (10).
A pitcher having more than 30 wins has only happened 21 times since 1900, and Wood’s 34 wins in 1912 is the sixth most in a single-season of all-time.
He was also a huge contributor for the Red Sox in the World Series that season, pitching in half of the games. He started three of the first seven games against the New York Giants, going 2-1, including a becoming the first pitcher to record double-digit strikeouts in a World Series game, with 11 in Game 1.
One day after getting shelled for six runs in his one inning Game Seven start, Wood was called on in relief late in the decided Game Eight. While he did allow a run in his three innings of relief, Wood was able to hold off the Giants enough, picking up the win as the Red Sox won the World Series.
He had another three great years with the Red Sox, although in a more limited capacity after injuring his thumb on a fielded bunt in 1913. His worst ERA with the Red Sox was a 2.62 put up in 1914 following the tough thumb injury, but he immediately bounced back the next year, going 15-5 with a league-leading 1.49 ERA. However, he sat out the entire 1916 season, and never pitched again.
Wood was also a strong hitting pitcher for the Red Sox with a solid .244/.304/.351 during his time with the team, and found a second career as an outfielder with the Cleveland Indians. Wood was never a star outfielder, but he put in a solid run of five seasons as an above average outfielder in Cleveland, even helping the team to a World Series championship in 1920.
One of the greatest pitchers of his era, but Wood was never able to fully recover from his thumb injury. His pitching career was cut far too short, as he was clearly heading down a strong Hall of Fame caliber career. Wood is sometimes remembered as a player struck down by injuries, but make no mistake, he was a dominant force for the Red Sox for many years.
Next: Number 14
14: Bobby Doerr, 2B (1937-1944, 1946-1951)
A nine-time All-Star in 14 MLB seasons (all with Boston), Bobby Doerr was a consistent force in the Red Sox line-up for a long time, and is almost inarguably the best second baseman in the history of the organization. Before it’s all said and done, Dustin Pedroia may hold that title, but Doerr has undoubtedly set a high bar.
Hitting behind some of the best players of the generation, Doerr was such a consistent player for a long time. He was a strong contact hitter who could place the ball wherever he wanted, a good defensive player and showed surprising power.
He was solid in limited time in 1937, starting making a larger impact as a full-time player in 1938, but Doerr’s breakout season came in 1939 when he hit .318/.365/.448 with 12 home runs and 73 RBI. In his remaining 12 years, Doerr would never hit less than those 12 home runs and 73 RBI in a single season, including an impressive 22 home runs and 105 RBI the very next season in 1939.
Doerr’s best offensive season was probably in 1944 where he hit .325 (only two percentage points behind the league leader), and a league-leading .528 slugging percentage. Unfortunately, he was unable to build on that success, as he stepped away from the game for a year to serve his country in World War II.
Doerr returned to the Red Sox in 1946, where he helped lead them to a World Series appearance in an eventual loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Doerr played a strong six more season after returning to the Red Sox from war before retiring after the 1951 season. He retired as the Red Sox career leader in games played (1,865), at bats (7,093), hits (2,042), doubles (381), RBI (1,247) and total bases (3,270), although none of those records still stand.
After retirement, Doerr got into scouting and eventually coaching. He was the minor league hitting coordinator for six seasons with the Red Sox, before taking the first base coach job in 1967. Doerr worked closely with Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski that season, and received a ton of credit for finding the power in Yastrzemski’s swing.
Yastrzemski won the Triple Crown and MVP that season, leading the Red Sox to their first American League pennant in 20 years. Doerr resigned from the Red Sox late in the 1969 season, and was not around the game again until taking a job as the hitting coach for the expansion Toronto Blue Jays franchise.
His famous number 1 jersey has been retired by the Red Sox, and while it took a while, Doerr was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1986.
Next: Number 13
13: Carlton Fisk, C (1969-1980)
Carlton Fisk started his career in Boston and played with the Red Sox for 11 seasons before moving on to play 13 more for the White Sox. That kind of longevity is rare to see from a catcher.
His longevity is just one example of the toughness and hard-working attitude Fisk brought to the Red Sox clubhouse day in and day out. He was a hard worker, but do not discount Fisk’s talent. His numbers back up the fact that he was a legitimate All-Star caliber player.
Career numbers of .269/.341/.457 with 376 HR and 1330 RBI are impressive and make him one of the greatest offensive catchers of all time. In fact, those numbers have been paralleled by very few in MLB history, regardless of position.
Fisk’s career with the Red Sox will live on forever with one moment: Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. With the game tied in the bottom of the 12th, Fisk hit a deep fly ball down the left field line. The iconic moment shows Carlton Fisk waving the ball fair as he hops out of the batter’s box.
The walk off homer over the Green Monster is one of the most unforgettable moments in MLB history. While this one moment will highlight many people’s memory of Fisk’s career, it just goes to show how instrumental and important he was to the organization in the 1970s.
Bio on Fisk was given by Matthew Kennedy. Check out his work, and give him a follow on Twitter, @MattFKennedy.
Next: Number 12
12: Jimmie Foxx, 1B/UTL (1936-1942)
Jimmie Foxx was the epitome of a slugger, a right-handed power hitting first baseman who anchored the middle of the Red Sox lineup during the 1930’s and early 40s. He was probably best known for his time with Philadelphia, but joined the Red Sox in 1936, and immediately made a huge impact. Foxx was an All-Star in all six of his full seasons with the Red Sox, led by his 1938 AL MVP campaign, the 3rd of his career.
Foxx’s stats are eye-popping during the 1938 season: hitting .349/.462/.704 with 50 HR and 175 RBI, only highlight the incredible numbers he put up while wearing a Red Sox uniform. He spent six and a half years in Boston before being traded to Chicago midway through the 1942 season, Foxx accumulated 222 homers and 788 RBI’s, all while hitting over .300 while wearing a Red Sox uniform.
Foxx was an incredible hitter, and while he mostly handled first base, I found it extremely interesting the position versatility he gave the Red Sox. Foxx played 1B, 3B, OF and even catcher while he was in Boston, and played all of them a fair amount of time. That is simply not something you would see out of a superstar today.
He hit 534 HR over the course of his career and at the time; he was the 2nd player in MLB history to hit 500 career home runs after the great Babe Ruth.
Foxx was someone Red Sox management hoped to build the team around for years and make it back to the World Series; however, Foxx and the Red Sox were never able to top the hated Yankees, finishing behind some of the greatest lineups in Yankees history. However painful it is for Red Sox fans to finish behind the Yankees, this shouldn’t take anything away from Foxx’s legacy.
Bio on Foxx was given by Matthew Kennedy. Check out his work, and give him a follow on Twitter, @MattFKennedy.
Next: Number 11
11: Wade Boggs, 3B (1982-1992)
It can be said that Wade Boggs love of chicken was only rivaled by his knack for coming up with a base hit.
Boggs played 11 seasons for the Boston Red Sox, totaling 2,198 career hits while playing in Beantown. He had a career-high 240 hits in the 1985 season, the same year he hit a season best .368. In fact, in his first seven seasons along Boggs collected 1,390 hits while hitting .356. The eccentric third baseman would go on to finish his career with 3,010 hits.
While never known for his power, Boggs hit 24 home runs in the 1987, a fifth of his career total of 118. Boggs had a propensity for getting on base, walking over 100 times in each season from 1986-89. He ended with a career line of .328/.415/.443.
Elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005, Boggs was an 11-time all-star and won two Gold Gloves. He was an integral part to Boston’s World Series run in 1986, hitting .290 in the Series, driving in three runs. Boggs left Boston after the ’92 season, spending the next seven seasons touring the AL East.
He spent five seasons with the Yankees and finished his career in Tampa Bay. Despite his contributions to the Red Sox, he has not had his number retired in Boston. An injustice that will hopefully be one day changed.
Bio on Boggs was given by Jason Haskins. Check out his work, and give him a follow on Twitter, @jasonrh_78.
Next: Number 10
10: Jim Rice, OF/DH (1974-1989)
An eight-time All Star, Jim Rice played all 16 of his MLB seasons with the Boston Red Sox. Along with Fred Lynn and Dwight Evans, Rice helped to form one of the great outfield trios of the ’70s. Rice was selected to the Hall of Fame in 2009, finally getting voted in on his 16th try.
Rice, a left-fielder and DH throughout his career, was also played a huge part in taking the Red Sox to the 1986 World Series. He hit .324 during the regular season and drove in 110 runs. He hit just as well during the series, batting .333 and achieving an OBP of .455. While he scored six runs (and 14 in the entire postseason), Rice failed to drive in a run during the seven game World Series.
Rice is quite the humanitarian and many older Red Sox fans remember when, in 1982, he once carried a four-year old fan that had been struck by a line drive into the clubhouse for medical attention. Rice left the dugout and went into the stands to lend his helping hand.
His finest season on the field was in 1978. He was the winner of his first and only A.L. MVP award. Rice hit 46 home runs, drove in 139, had 15 triples, had over 400 total bases, and had a slugging percentage of .600. He finished his career with a final line of .298/.352/.502 and had 382 home runs.
Bio on Rice was given by Jason Haskins. Check out his work, and give him a follow on Twitter, @jasonrh_78.
Next: Number Nine
9: Cy Young, SP (1901-1908)
While already established as the best pitcher in baseball with the Cleveland Spiders and St. Louis Cardinals of the National League from 1890-1900, Cy Young did not join the Boston franchise until he was 34-years-old in 1901. That was when the American League was first given Major League status, and their teams were raiding National League rosters.
The Boston Americans signed Young away from the National League on a $3,500 contract, and he dominated at an even higher level. In 1901, Young had arguably the greatest pitching season in professional baseball history, going 33-10 with a 1.62 ERA. He led the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts (158), becoming the first ever player to record the Triple Crown for pitching.
Young went on to lead the league in wins again with a 32-11 record in 1902 and a 28-9 mark in 1903. He was obviously a huge part in Boston’s World Series championship in 1903. It was a different game back then, but Young seemingly pitched all of the time for the Americans/Red Sox, putting up incredible innings totals that would never even be considered in today’s game.
In his eight years with the Boston Franchise, Young only pitched less than 300 innings two times, 287.2 in a down 1906 season, and 299 at 41-years-old in 1908, going 21-11 with an career-best 1.26 ERA. That 1908 season was the last of Young’s career with the Red Sox as he was traded back to Cleveland prior to the 1909 season. Cy Young retired following the 1911 season.
Young had a great career before he ever came to Boston, but his years here could be considered the best of his career. He had many more wins with Cleveland (241 to 192), but Young’s career 2.00 ERA with the Red Sox franchise is far and away the lowest he had with any other organization.
He holds the major league record for career wins with 511, with nearly 100 more than Walter Johnson’s second place total of 417. With the incredible amount of work over the course of his career, Young also has the most losses of all-time with 316. His 815 career starts, 749 complete games and 7,356 career innings pitched are all far and away major league records as well.
Young is undoubtedly one of the greatest pitchers of all-time, and while all of his success did not come in Boston, a lot of it did.
Somehow, Young did not make the cut for the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1936, but he was inducted in 1937. While he was inducted as a member of the Cleveland Spiders, make no mistake, his time in Boston had a ton to do with that induction.
Next: Number Eight
8: Roger Clemens, SP (1984-1996)
Less than one year after selecting him as the 19th overall pick in the 1983 MLB Amateur Draft, Roger Clemens made his big league debut with the Red Sox in May of 1984. While he immediately showed elite stuff, Clemens’ first two years were up-and-down. However, in 1986 he exploded onto the scene and never looked back.
At only 23-years-old, Clemens became the best pitcher in baseball in 1986, going 24-4 with a 2.48 ERA and 238 strikeouts for the World Series appearing Red Sox. Clemens led the league in wins, winning percentage and ERA that season, and was not only named the Cy Young award winner, but was also the first pitcher to win the MVP award since 1971.
Early in that historic 1986 season, Clemens became the first MLB pitcher to record 20 strikeouts in a nine inning game, in an April match-up at Fenway Park against the Seattle Mariners.
Clemens continued his domination in 1987, leading the league with 20 wins and taking home another Cy Young award. Clemens led the league in ERA for three consecutive seasons from 1990-1992. His 21-6, 1.93 ERA performance in 1990 allowed for a second place Cy Young finish and third place in MVP voting.
Clemens won his third Cy Young award with the Red Sox in 1991, when he led the league in ERA (2.62), innings pitched (271.1) and strikeouts (241). After another dominant 1992 season, Clemens had an up-and-down few years with the Red Sox. However, late in the 1996 season, Clemens put up another 20 strikeout performance, and is still the only player to have accomplished that feat twice.
That 20 strikeout game ended up being the third to last start in Clemens’ career with the Red Sox, as he left the team via free agency in the off season. The Red Sox tried hard to resign Clemens, but he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays instead.
Clemens dominated in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, not only winning the fourth and fifth Cy Young awards of his career, but completing the pitching Triple Crown (league leader in wins, ERA and strikeouts) in both seasons. Clemens went on to have a dominant career with the New York Yankees and Houston Astros after his two years in Toronto, pitching well into his 40s and picking up two more Cy Young awards.
Clemens is commonly looked at as the one who got away from the Red Sox, and while he was incredible, it is not like he lead them to any success. The Red Sox only reached the post season four times in Clemens’ 13 years with the team, reaching the World Series only once. Clemens was obviously incredible, but does keeping him around really change the course of Red Sox history?
Regardless of what happened later in his career, Clemens is arguably the best pitcher in Red Sox history. His 13 years with Boston were among the greatest of his career, and he left the organization tied as the team leader with 192 wins, and the lone all-time strikeout leader with 2,590.
Controversy clouded the later stages of Clemens’ career, and despite being arguably the best pitcher of his generation, he has yet to receive the Hall of Fame nod. It may be unlikely that he ever reaches the Hall, but if he does, based on body of work, Clemens should go in as a member of the Red Sox.
Next: Number Seven
7: Manny Ramirez, OF (2001-2008)
As a career .312/.411/.585 hitter, Manny Ramirez may not have been the best fielder, but his bat more than made up for his lackluster defense. Who could forget the deadly 3-4 combo of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez? Signing with the Boston Red Sox in 2000 after eight seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Ramirez’s eight seasons in Boston were an overall success.
Ramirez not only brought his play onto the field but his personality was shown as well. Disappearing inside the Green Monster during various moments to high-fiving fans while running up the wall in Camden Yards, Ramirez was not afraid to be himself, which coined up the phrase “Manny Being Manny.”
If there’s one thing Manny brought to the Red Sox but also the game itself, have fun. Regardless of the embarrassing blunders he made in the outfield, Ramirez always found ways to laugh it off though he did take the game seriously. Manny never let his errors change his mentality and would get right back up, majority of the time smacking home runs over the Green Monster would make people forget about his embarrassing moments.
One of the greatest hitters of the modern era, Ramirez also excelled in the post season. Manny has the third most hits in post season history with 117, the second most RBI with 78 and holds the record for the most MLB post season home runs with an impressive 29. The next closest is Bernie Williams with 22.
While all of those post season numbers were not entirely from his time with the Red Sox, a majority of them were, as he was a major force for the team through their success in the 2000s. In fact, Ramirez took home the World Series MVP when the Red Sox broke the Curse of the Bambino, and was a major force in the middle of their lineup when they won the World Series again in 2007.
His personality made big difference not only for himself but to the clubhouse in general. Living up to his eight-year contract in Boston, Manny did not disappoint. He will not only go down as one of the best and most important players in Red Sox history, but he was also incredibly fun to watch.
Bio on Ramirez was given by Tim Felix. Check out his work.
Next: Number Six
6: Tris Speaker, OF (1907-1915)
After two part-time seasons to lead off his career, Tris Speaker became the everyday center fielder for the Red Sox in 1909. He immediately made an impact with his bat hitting .309/.362/.443 that season, with 26 doubles and 35 stolen bases. He was great at the plate, but it was in the outfield where Speaker truly shined, especially early in his career.
Speaker was so fast that he would play an incredibly shallow center field, almost to the point of giving the Red Sox five infielders, and still be able to track back on deep fly balls. He had incredible speed and natural defensive instincts which allowed him to play a creative and effective brand of outfield defense. Playing so shallow also allow Speaker to put up a ridiculous amount of outfield assists.
Quickly, Speaker became the star of the Red Sox “Million-Dollar Outfield” made up of Harry Hooper, Duffy Lewis and Speaker. They are arguably the best outfield trio of all-time.
The best season of Speaker’s career came in 1912, when he hit .383/.464/.567 with 53 doubles, 12 triples, 10 home runs, 90 RBI and 52 stolen bases. His on-base percentage, doubles totals and home runs led the league. Coupled with his incredible defensive play, Speaker took home the American League MVP award that season, and also led the Red Sox to a World Series championship.
Speaker played for three more seasons with the Red Sox, capped off by another World Series title in 1915. That off season, a contract dispute caused the Red Sox to trade Speaker to the Cleveland Indians, where he continued to dominate the American League for many years.
Speaker retired in 1928 after an incredibly long 22-year career. He was inducted as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937, the second class to ever be elected. Speaker represents the Indians in the Hall of Fame, but his nine seasons with the Red Sox is where it all started, and is important to his history as an incredible player.
He currently holds two career MLB records. His 792 career doubles are the most of all-time, as are his 449 career outfield assists.
Next: Number Five
5: Pedro Martinez, SP (1998-2004)
Arguably the most dominant pitcher of his era, Pedro Martinez is the greatest pitcher in Red Sox history. His seven-year stretch with the Red Sox was not the lengthiness, but it carried the most impact. If you needed to win one game, Red Sox era Pedro is not only the easy choice if you are limited to Red Sox pitchers, but may be the best selection when every pitcher in MLB history.
Simply put, his ability to go in and completely shut down an offense during this time is unrivaled.
Martinez made his Boston debut in 1998, coming off of a National League Cy Young winning season with the Montreal Expos. Martinez immediately dominated for the Red Sox, finishing 19-7 with a 2.89 ERA. He finished second in the American League in ERA, strikeouts (251) and Cy Young voting.
Martinez was even more dominant in 1999, winning the pitching Triple Crown by leading the American League in wins (23-4 record), ERA (2.07) and strikeouts (313). He unanimously ran away with the Cy Young, and finished second in MVP voting. Pedro won another Cy Young the next season in 2000, leading the league with a 1.74 ERA and 284 strikeouts.
Pedro’s dominance continued throughout his last four years with the Red Sox, capped off by leading the Red Sox to their first World Series championship since 1918 in 2004.
Martinez was the best pitcher in baseball throughout his time with the Red Sox. His legendary number 45 is retired by the team, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (receiving 91% of the vote on his first ballot) as a member of the Red Sox in 2015.
Next: Number Four
4: Babe Ruth, P/OF (1914-1919)
Obviously best known for revolutionizing the game with the New York Yankees as a premier power hitter, Babe Ruth also has important place in Red Sox history. Before he became the legendary Great Bambino and The Sultan of Swat, Ruth was a dominant left-handed pitcher for the Red Sox.
Ruth made his big league debut with the Red Sox at 19-years-old in 1914, and really started to make a name for himself in 1915, when he went 18-8 with a 2.44 ERA, and helping the Red Sox win the World Series.
FanSided
Ruth’s best year as a pitcher came in 1916, when he led the league by making 40 starts, going 23-12 with a league-leading 1.75 ERA. The Red Sox won the World Series again in 1916, making Ruth the ace pitcher for back-to-back World Series championship teams. He backed that season up with an equally impressive 24-13, 2.03 ERA campaign in 1917.
The Red Sox started to see Ruth’s value as a hitter in 1918, allowing him to play other positions on days he did not pitch. Despite having relatively limited at-bats, Ruth’s 11 home runs that season led the American League, as did his incredible .555 slugging percentage. Ruth was beginning to show signs of becoming a power hitter that the game had never seen before.
With Ruth’s continued success on the mound, and powerful bat emerging, the Red Sox won another World Series in 1918. The Babe pitched in only 17 games in 1919, as the Red Sox tried to get him into the line-up more and more. Ruth hit .322/.456/.657 in 1919, leading the league in OBP, SLG, runs scored (103), home runs (29) and RBI (113).
He had become far and away the best hitter in baseball in his first season as a full-time hitter at 24-years-old. Why the Red Sox sold him to the Yankees that very next off season, no one will ever know.
Ruth went on to be an absolutely unstoppable force, playing 15 more seasons with the Yankees. His ridiculous power numbers were never seen before, as he completely revolutionized the game of baseball. Babe Ruth is one of the best players in the history of the game, and undoubtedly the best if you consider the era he played in. Nobody hit home runs back then, and Ruth was slugging out over 50 almost every single season.
When talking about Babe Ruth and is time with the Boston Red Sox, there is so much what could have been to imagine. But even the way it played out, Ruth is one of the best players in the history of the franchise.
Next: Number Three
Jul 26, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) follows through on his second three-run home run of the game against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
3: David Ortiz, 1B/DH (2003-Present)
After being non-tendered by the Minnesota Twins at 26-years-old in 2002, the career of David Ortiz was not looking so bright. However, the Red Sox took a chance on the left-handed slugger, and it turned to be arguably the best under-the-radar free agent signing of all-time. 13 incredible years in Boston later, and Ortiz is among the greats in Red Sox history.
Ortiz immediately became a true force in the middle of the Red Sox line-up, hitting .288/.369/.582 with 31 home runs and 101 during his debut season in Boston. His career arc continued to rise in the 2004 regular season, hitting .301/.380/.603 with 41 home runs and 139 RBI, before exploding that post season.
He was absolutely incredible during the Red Sox post season run that year, coming up with huge hits at the absolutely most necessary times for the Red Sox.
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He was ridiculous against the Anaheim Angels in the ALDS, hitting .545/.688/1.000 in three game sweep, incredible during their historic come-from-behind ALCS series win against the New York Yankees, hitting .387/.457/.742 while coming up with many clutch hits and taking home the ALCS MVP and of course essential in their four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Simply put, the Red Sox would not have ended their 86 year World Series championship drought with Ortiz coming through in the biggest possible ways time and time again. He was already a Red Sox legend, and had only been with the team for two seasons.
Ortiz continued to dominate the American League, hitting .300/.397/.604 with 47 home runs and a league-leading 148 RBI in 2005. He led the league in both home runs with 54 and RBI with 137 in 2006. Ortiz led the Red Sox to a World Series title again in 2007, continuing his clutch play at the plate.
As he entered his mid-30s, Ortiz’s power number began to dip in 2008. He was still an important part of the offense, and an incredibly clutch player, but days of consistent 45+ home runs in a season were gone.
Ortiz continued to play at a high-level, being an All-Star selection in each year from 2010-2013. Following his impressive 2013 campaign, a 37-year-old Ortiz led the Red Sox to yet another World Series championship.
For the first time in his career, Ortiz was named the World Series MVP. His numbers in that six-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals are almost impossible to believe. Ortiz hit .688/.760/1.188 in those six games, proving to be a nearly impossible out for the Cardinals’ pitching staff.
There were many players who had essential parts in the Red Sox dominant run of this era. However, after the World Series championship in 2013, Big Papi is the only one who was one the team for all three championship teams. He is set to retire following the 2016 season.
One of the greatest post season hitters of all-time, over 500 career home runs and an essential part of the Red Sox teams who finally got over the hump, Ortiz is undoubtedly a legend in Boston sports history.
Next: Number Two
2: Carl Yastrzemski, OF (1961-1983)
From the moment he made his big league debut in 1961 there was a ton of pressure on Carl Yastrzemski. Taking over for an absolute legend as the Red Sox everyday left fielder, Yastrzemski certainly had some big shoes to fill. As an elite defender and solid contact hitter, Yastrzemski was not flashy, but reliable in his first two seasons.
In 1963, he started to come into his own at the plate, leading the league in batting average (.321), on-base percentage (.428), hits (183) and doubles (40). Add in Gold Glove award-winning defense in left field, and the Red Sox had a great player on their hands. Yastrzemski was great, but his lack of power prevented him from becoming a star. That was, until his legendary season in 1967.
It all came together for Yastrzemski in “The Year of the Yaz” in 1967. With already elite contact ability, Yastrzemski was able to unlock his power in 1967, allowing him to turn in arguably the best offensive season of all-time.
Yaz won the Triple Crown in 1967, leading the league with a .326 batting average, 44 home runs and 121 RBI. Yastrzemski also led the league in runs (112), hits (189), on-base percentage (.418), slugging percentage (.622) and total bases (360). Always an opposite field doubles hitter, Yaz was able to unlock his pull power in 1967, and it led to a historic season. He obviously won the American League MVP.
Yastrzemski will always be remembered for 1967, but he continued to have an incredible career after that. He played 23 MLB seasons (all with Boston), was an 18-time All-Star (including 15 in a row from 1964-1979) and won seven Gold Glove awards.
With such a long and storied career, Yaz is the Red Sox all-time leader in RBI, runs, hits, doubles, total bases and games played. He has second most home runs in franchise history with 452 career bombs.
A legitimate Red Sox legend, the team retired Yaztrzemski’s number eight in 1989. That was also the year he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving 95% of the votes on his first time being eligible.
Next: Number One
1: Ted Williams, OF (1939-1942, 1946-1960)
When putting together this list, I was pretty unsure how I was going to rank everyone. You know the names. Ortiz, Yastrzemski, Pedro, Manny, Ruth, but how will they all come together? At the time, I only knew one thing for sure, Ted Williams was going to be number one. The other guys are great, but Teddy Ballgame is the best player in Red Sox history.
Arguably the greatest pure hitter to ever play the game, Williams burst onto the scene as a rookie for the Red Sox in 1939. He hit an incredible .327/.436/.609 with 31 home runs and a league-leading 145 RBI. Right out of the gate, Williams was one of the best players in the game.
He was great again in 1940, leading the league in on-base percentage (.442) and runs score 134, but became an instant legend for his 1941 season. Williams hit an incredible .406/.553/.735 which all led the league. His 135 runs scored, 37 home runs and 147 walks were also league leaders. Somehow, he came in second in MVP voting to Joe DiMaggio.
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Williams’ 1941 season was one of the greatest of all-time. His .406 batting average that season is not only the highest in Red Sox history, but the best average in all of baseball since 1924. His .553 on-base percentage and .735 slugging percentage are also Red Sox records, and the OBP was an MLB record until 2002.
As if 1941 was not good enough, Williams backed that up with a Triple Crown season in 1942, leading the league in batting average (.356), home runs (36) and RBI (137). For good measure, he also led the league in runs (141), walks (145), OBP (.499) and SLG (.648). He finished in second place in MVP voting again in 1942.
Like most of the players in his era, Williams missed the next three seasons for serving his country in World War II. There was some controversy of Williams’ appeal on being drafted, which hurt his popularity, but he eventually did serve in the military.
Losing three years in his prime may have hurt some players, but not Ted Williams. He returned to the Red Sox in 1946 and immediately put up another incredible season. This time, actually taking home the American League MVP award.
He continued to be a dominant force in the middle of the Red Sox line-up for many years, continually leading the league in batting average and especially on-base percentage. He also won another Triple Crown in 1947.
Williams took home another MVP award in 1949, leading the league in many categories including his 43 home runs and 159 RBI.
In his 19 MLB seasons (all with Boston) Williams was a 17-time All-Star selection, two-time MVP, two-time Triple Crown winner, six-time batting champion and led the league in home runs four times. His .482 career on-base percentage is an MLB record, while his .344 career batting average is the highest for any player who has hit more than 302 home runs.
Next: Looking Back at Historic 2004 Boston Red Sox
Williams holds numerous Red Sox records including batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. His 521 career home runs are also the most in Red Sox history.
With an incredibly patient approach, Williams was an advanced hitter for his era. He has an unbelievable eye for the strike zone, ridiculous contact ability and elite power. Williams truly was the total offensive package, and is arguably the greatest hitter in the history of the game.