It’s no question that Boston has had its fair share of super star athletes and coaches. If you had to pick four for Boston’s own ‘Mount Rushmore’ of athletes, who would you pick?
With four major Boston sports franchises, the Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics and the Patriots, there are so many former and current stars to choose from. Should every team have a representative? Is there a non-major sport athlete who belongs? Should coaches be allowed?
Perhaps you feel two Patriots or two Celtics belong on the list. The next few slides detail a few options I contemplated before deciding on my top 4.
Red Auerbach
The cigar-chomping Auerbach was an aggressive, and often explosive mentor. Over his career, Red coached 11 Hall of Famers, including Bob Cousy and Bill Russell, and led Boston to 10 Eastern Division titles in 16 years. When he left the Boston bench in 1966 he was the winningest coach in NBA history with 938 victories.
Paul Pierce
The Truth spent 15 seasons in a Boston uniform before moving on. In 1,102 games, Pierce averaged 21.8 points, 6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He was the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics, through good times and bad. In 2008, along with Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce delivered the Celtics’ 17th championship.
Larry Bird
Larry Legend, the “Hick from French Lick”, is a 3-time NBA Champion and 3-time NBA MVP. He was also Rookie of the Year in his first season. Larry’s 33 is in the rafters. There is nothing more Larry Bird could have done during his NBA career in Boston. His rivalry with Magic Johnson was among the all-time best. He IS Celtics basketball.
Bill Russell
Over 13 seasons for the Boston Celtics, Bill Russell won 11 championships. That mark is tops in the league’s history for any player. He was an All Star, an MVP, and more. Russell averaged 15.1 points, 4.3 assists and an astounding 22.5 rebounds per game.
Bobby Orr
Every Boston Bruins fan. young and old, has an image of Bobby Orr flying through the air. He is the greatest defenseman to ever lace up a pair of skates. Over 10 years in Boston, #4 tallied 264 goals and 624 assists for 888 points.He won two Stanley Cups, three Hart trophies, eight Norris trophies, two Art Ross trophies and two Conn Smythe trophies. Orr is fourth in career points per game, and second in career +/- at 597.
Patrice Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron is the Boston Bruins modern day star. He has spent his entire 13 season career in Black and Gold, playing in over 800 games. bergeron has already totalled over 620 points, and a 121 +/-. He is a three time Selke award winner, and led the Bruins to a championship in 2011. His play was also key to the team appearing in the 2013 Finals.
Willie O’Ree
O’Ree’s first NHL game was marked with historic content as he was the first black hockey player in the NHL. After a stop in Kingston of the Eastern Professional Hockey League, O’Ree rejoined the Bruins in 1960-61 where he played in 43 games, scoring his first NHL goal against the Montreal Canadiens.
David Ortiz
No one screams BOSTON RED SOX as much as Big Papi does. He was the face of the franchise from 2004 through his retirement this season. His 2004 heroics ahgainst the Angels and Yankees brought a World Series title to the Sox after 86 long years. He did it again in 2007 against the Indians and Rockies. In 2013, just days after the Boston Marathon bombing, Ortiz made us all ‘Boston Strong’. Then, he capped off that season with another title. The awards are piled high for Big Papi and the connection between him and the city is unbreakable.
Carl Yastrzemski
Yaz is one of the greatest Red Sox to ever take the field in Fenway Park. The Hall of Famer played 23 seasons for Boston, where he hit 452 homeruns and totalled 3,419 hits. Yaz is an AL MVP and won numerous gold gloves in the field. He ranks second in career games played at 3,308.
Jim Rice
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Over 16 career years with the Red Sox, Jim Rice became a fan favorite. He was consistently an All Star and took home an MVP award in 1978. Per every 162 games, Rice averaged 30 home runs and 113 RBI. He was a career .980% fielder among all three spots in the outfield. Rice was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Ted Williams
Teddy Ballgame spent 19 seasons with the Red Sox, though it could have been 22 if he had not left to serve in the war. Williams’ on base percentage of of .482 is the greatest of all time, and he is the last player to bat .400 in a single season. The 1966 Hall of Famer won two MVP awards and was selected to the All Star team 17 times. He ranks 14th in career WAR, 8th in batting average, 14th in RBI and 4th in walks.
Terry Francona
Tito broke The Curse in 2004. He led the team to another title in 2007. Over eight years as the Red Sox skipper, Francona went 744-552, including a 28-17 postseason record.
Tedy Bruschi
Tedy Bruschi was the heart of New England’s defense during the dynasty era. He spent his entire 13 year career with the Patriots after being drafted in the 3rd round of the 1996 NFL Draft. Tedy appeared in 189 career games, where he took home 12 interceptions for four touchdowns. He forced 17 fumbles, and recovered 7 himself. Bruschi tallied over 600 career tackles and 30 sacks.
Tom Brady
Not much needs to be said about the GOAT. He is a four time Super Bowl champion, two wime NFL MVP, and holds numerous season and career records. Brady recently tied Peyton Manning for most wins all time at 200, and will certainly surpass that mark this season. Over his career TB12 now has nearly 450 TDs, and just 151 INTs. Brady has led 48 career game winning drives, including nine in the playoffs. He’s a sure bet Hall of Famer in his first year of eligibility.
Bill Belichick
Coach Belichick has lead the New England Patriots for 17 seasons to this point. He’s delivered six AFC Championships and four Lombardi trophies. Bill has gone 196-71 in the regular season, and 22-9 in the playoffs for the Patriots. He is a mastermind, and may be the greatest football coach of all time. If not, he’s a close second.
My Boston Sports ‘Mount Rushmore’
My Boston Sports ‘Mount Rushmore’ omits a single Boston team, the Bruins. While I would have liked to include a member from each major sport, I simply felt like some players and coaches could not be passed up. The New England Patriots are the beneficiary for me, with two spots on my list. My ‘Mount Rushmore’ of Boston sports is, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, David Ortiz, and Bill Russell. The greatness of Boston sports makes this a truly difficult pick, as I would have loved to include Ted Williams, Bobby Orr or Larry Bird.
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have changed the New England Patriots. They have created a dynasty and maintained an NFL stranglehold for over a decade and a half. Without this duo, the Patriots would not be what they are today. You cannot have Bill without Brady, and vice versa. I knew I wanted to include one, but I needed to include both the coach and the GOAT.
David Ortiz may be the most beloved Boston athlete of all-time. His 2004 postseason heroics will never be forgotten. He helped the Red Sox in the greatest comeback of all-time in the defeat of the Yankees. Ortiz was key in that 2004 World Series as well. He then did it again in 2007. In 2013, David Ortiz said what all Bostonians needed to hear after the Boston Marathon bombings. “This is our ****** city!” That October, he added a third World Series title to his Boston career. Newly retired, he’s sure to still be a prominent figure in the city.
Next: 10 Reasons To Be Thankful As Boston Sports Fans
The oldest former athlete on the list is the Celtics’ Bill Russell. He was a force to be reckoned with in his heyday, and is the leader in NBA championships. To this day, Russell is a part of the NBA and its missions. The NBA Finals MVP trophy still bears his name. There is no greater Celtic in the history of the game.