Boston Red Sox: 30 Greatest Players in Team History
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