Boston Red Sox: 30 Greatest Players in Team History
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