The Boston Red Sox are one of the most beloved, strongest, and most recognized teams in all of professional sports. Players come and go, but these are the 50 best.
Babe Ruth? Carl Yastrzemski? David Ortiz? Ted Williams? Pedro Martinez? Who is the greatest Boston Red Sox of all time? We seek to settle that debate below, but we know you’ll disagree. If you think someone was missed, or that players are seeded too high or low, let us know in the comments!
The team has had a huge number of super star players, with great history. Some, were unable to bring a championship to Boston, until the curse was reversed in 2004. Of course members of that 2004 team crack the list, but there are also plenty from the 1900’s, and the days between titles.
Without further delay, here is my ranking of the 50 Greatest Red Sox Players of All Time!
50. Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Youkilis spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Boston Red Sox. Youk’s rookie season was the Red Sox magical 2004.That year, he played in 72 games and drove in 35 RBI. Over his Boston career, Youkilis hit .287 driving in 564 RBI with 133 home runs. Youk quickly became a fan favorite, and is still a fixture around New England as he’s Patriots QB Tom Brady’s brother in law.
49. Rico Petrocelli
Rico Petrocelli spent 13 years as shortstop and third baseman for the Sox. Rico put up rather average offensive numbers, but was a stellar defender. He post a .970 fielding percentage, and committed just 176 errors in 1,508 games.
48. Bill Lee
The Spaceman! Bill Lee was certainly a character in Boston, The pitcher played in Fenway Park for 10 years, putting up some great numbers. Lee went 94-68 with a 3.64 ERA in Boston. He pitched 64 complete games and earned seven shutouts.
47. Jim Lonborg
Jim Lonborg is not a household name around Boston these days. From 1965 to 1971, that may have been a little different. Lonborg won 68 games for the Red Sox, winning the 1967 Cy Young. He went 2-1 in the 1967 World Series, beating St. Louis in Game 2 and Game 5, but lost the critical Game 7 . After giving up 0 and 1 run in the first two games, Lonborg gave up six in six innings in the final game.
46. Bob Stanley
Back to back pitchers on the list as we feature Bob Stanley. Stanley spent his entire 13 year career with the Red Sox, putting up steady and consistent numbers. He won 115 games for Boston, with a career 3.64 ERA. Stanley was a member of the Red Sox 1986 World Series team. In that series, Stanley pitched 6.1 relief innings, allowing just 5 hits and no runs.
45. Reggie Smith
Primarily an outfielder, Reggie Smith spent the first 8 seasons of his career in Boston. Over those 8 years, Smith launched 149 home runs for 536 RBI and .281 batting average. Smith finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting in 1967. He went to two All Star games as a Red Sox and earned a Gold Glove as well.
44. Ellis Kinder
Who? Most current Red Sox fans have no clue who Ellis Kinder was. The pitcher known as “Old Folks” made his debut in 1946 as a 31 year old. He spent eight years with the Red Sox, going 86-52 with a 3.28 ERA and 557 strikeouts. Kinder went on to spend time in St. Louis and Chicago before retiring at 42.
43. Rick Ferrell
More from Boston Red Sox
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
- Mookie Betts Has Humble Outlook on Returning to Fenway
- Alex Cora Reveals What He Said to Cause NSFW Response from Justin Verlander
Another old timer, Rick Ferrell played with the Sox from 1933-1937. The catcher hit .302 over his five years in Boston, and was phenomenal behind the plate. Ferrell’s lowest fielding percentage over those years was .979, and he was routinely a .990 fielder. In 522 Red Sox games, Ferrell had just 34 errors behind the plate.
42. Carl Mays
Carl Mays spent five years in Boston, making his debut in 1915. mays went 72-51 with a 2.21 ERA. At the time, Mays was the third best pitcher on a team with Babe Ruth. He helped the Red Sox win both the 1916 and 1918 World Series titles before joining Ruth as a New York Yankee.
41. Jackie Jensen
Rightfielder Jackie Jensen spent seven years on Yawkey Way from 1954-1959. The former Yankee and Washington Senator hit .282 in Boston, driving in 733 runs on 170 dingers. In 1958, Jensen earned league MVP honors. Jensen was sadly never able to play in a postseason game for Boston.
40. Mo Vaughn
MVP Mo Vaughn spent eight seasons with the Red Sox. He earned league MVP honors in 1995 when he hit 39 home runs, drove in 126 RBI and hit an even .300. In Boston, Mo hit .304 total with 230 long balls. The designated hitter became the heart of Boston’s 90’s lineup before moving on to the Anaheim Angels in 1999.
39. Dutch Leonard
Hubert Benjamin Leonard, more commonly known as Dutch Leonard, wen 90-64 as a pitcher in Boston from 1913 to 1918. He won the 1915, 1916 and 1918 titles with Boston. Leonard teamed up with Babe Ruth and Carl Mays to form the most dominant pitching staff of the era. In Boston, he had just a 2.13 ERA over 1361.1 innings pitched.
38. Larry Gardner
From 1908 to 1917, Larry Gardner was on the field for the Boston Red Sox. The second and third baseman hit .282 with just 16 homers, but played extremely will in the field. A career .948 fielder, Gardner helped the Sox win three World Series titles in 1912, 1915 and 1916.
37. Frank Malzone
Frank Malzone spent 11 years with Boston. Occupying the third base slot, Malzone went to 5 All Star games. He hit .276 and was a consistent 15 home run, 80 RBI performer. Malzone also earned three Gold Gloves for the Red Sox in 1957, 1958, and 1959. He was a career .955 fielder.
36. Vern Stephens
Shortstop Vern Stephens spent just five seasons as a member of the Boston Red Sox. He hit .283 with 122 homers and 562 RBI. Stephens’ lowest fielding percentage in his five Boston seasons was .957.
35. Jonathan Papelbon
Pap! Jonathan Papelbon was an absolute fan favorite while in a Red Sox uniform. From 2005 to 2011 Pap was a stud. He became the Red Sox closer in 2006, and in six seasons he recorded 219 saves. He pitched with a 2.33 ERA over seven years for the Sox. Papelbon allowed just 322 hits in 429.1 innings pitched. When “Shipping Up to Boston” rang out from Fenway Park, anyone walking down Yawkey Way would surely know that Papelbon and the Red Sox had closed out a win.
34. Dick Radatz
Dick Radatz played in Boston for five seasons with the Red Sox. he won 49 games with a 2.65 ERA. As a closer, Radatz earned 102 saves, He also earned two All Star appearance while with Boston. Radatz went on to pitch for 3 more seasons, with the Expos, Cubs and Tigers.
Related Story: Sox 2017 Lineup Set in Stone?
33. Duffy Lewis
Leftfielder Duffy Lewis spent eight years as a member of the Red Sox. A member of the 1912, 1915 and 1916 World Series teams, Lewis hit .289 with 620 RBI. He also recorded 102 stolen bases throughout his Red Sox career.
32. Tony Conigliaro
Tony Conigliaro, a northern Massachusetts native, spent 7 seasons playing for his hometown Red Sox. In that time, Tony C. hit 162 home runs and drove in 501 RBI. During the Red Sox 1967 season, he was hit in the face by a pitch, causing a severe eye injury and derailing his career. Conigliaro would return from the injury, but never could get back to his old self. He took 3 seasons off, but played in 21 more Red Sox games in 1975.
31. Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling came to the Red Sox as a five time All Star and he was expected to help the Red Sox win a World Series. In 2004, his first season with Boston, he did just that. Schilling went 3-1 in the 2004 postseason, including a win in Game 6 of the ALCS that has become synonymous with his career. The “bloody sock” game is a part of every Red Sox fans memory, as Schilling put on one of gutsiest performances in baseball history. Down 3-2 in the series against the Yankees, Schilling earned a win to tie it all up. He pitched 7 innings of four hit baseball that night on a bum ankle. The Red Sox would of course win that series and the World Series. In 2007, Schilling brought another title to Boston. That postseason, he was 3-0 with one no decision. He won a game in the ALDS, ALCS and the World Series. In his Red Sox career, Schilling went 53-29 with a 3.95 ERA. He retired in 2007 with 216 career wins.
30. Jon Lester
Many Boston fans hate the fact that Red Sox management let Jon Lester get away. Lester went 110-63 in 8 1/2 years in Boston. He hurled 10 complete games, including a no-hitter in May 2008. jon helped the Red Sox raise World Series trophies in 2007 and 2013. In 2013, Lester went 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA over 15.1 innings pitched in the World Series. He was unhhitable to the Cardinals. Lester has since helped the Chicago Cubs break their World Series curse.
29. Nomar Garciaparra
In the late 90’s and early 2000’s Nomar Garciaparra was the talk of Boston. I had a Nomar jersey, posters, and more around my room. Growing up, a trip to Fenway Park was worth the T ride just to watch Garciaparra play.”Nomah” was every young Bostonians baseball idol. Over 8 1/2 Boston seasons Nomar hit .323 with 178 home runs and 690 RBI. Garciaparra won the 1997 Rookie of the Year Award.He was a career .975 fielder as well. he was the face of the franchise, and you can still spot many Nomar shirts and jerseys at Red Sox home games.
28. Johnny Pesky
We all know that the right field foul pole at Fenway Park is “The Pesky Pole”. Mel Parnell named the pole after Johnny Pesky while he was a Red Sox broadcaster. Ironically, Pesky rarely hit home runs and very few landed near the pole. However, in 2006 the Red Sox organization officially dedicated the right field foul pole as Pesky’s Pole with a commemorative plaque placed at its base. Pesky played shortstop, third base and second base for the Red Sox for 7 1/2 years over a 10 1/2 year span. The 1943-1945 seasons were lost for Pesky due to his military service in World War II. he hit .313 in a Red Sox uniform and slapped 196 doubles. Pesky was a .966 fielder as well. He became a fixture around Fenway Park following his retirement.
27. Jimmy Collins
Jimmy Collins patrolled third base for the Red Sox from 1901 to 1907. He batted .296 and was a shut down defender. Often forgotten, Collins almost cracks our top 25.
26. Dom DiMaggio
The younger brother of Joe and Vince, Dom DiMaggio spent his entire 11 year baseball career with the Red Sox. The Little Professor missed three years due to military service, but hit .298 in his career. DiMaggio stole 100 bases, went to seven All Star games and recorded 1,680 hits. He was always overshadowed by his older New York Yankee brother, but was a star in his own right in Boston.
25. Fred Lynn
Cracking the top 25 is Fred Lynn. The All Star center fielder spent seven of his 17 professional years in Boston. With the Sox he hit 124 homers, brought in 521 RBI and hit .308. Lynn was the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 1975. He reached the All Star game in each of his complete Boston seasons. Additionally, Lynn won the AL Batting Title in 1979.
24. Mel Parnell
Mel Parnell pitched for the Red Sox for 10 years before joining the broadcast booth. From 1947 to 1956 Parnell went 123-75. He hurled for a 3.50 ERA and recorded 20 shutouts. Parnell averaged nearly 100 strikeouts per season. He was a multi-time All Star, and a favorite around Boston.
23. Dustin Pedroia
The only current Red Sox player to crack the top 50 (for now, until Mookie, JBJ and others make their mark), Dustin Pedroia cracks the top 25. The 5’9″ second baseman will be playing his 12th season for Boston in 2017. Through 11 years, Pedey has hit .301 with 133 home runs, 662 RBI and 375 doubles. Pedroia brought home the Rookie of the Year Award in 2007 and the MVP in 2008. Pedroia is also the owner of multiple Gold Gloves, with a .991 fielding percentage. He’s recorded just 56 errors in 6,260 chances over 12,030.2 innings played. Pedroia has a career 50.7 WAR as well. Pedey still has room to improve his Red Sox legacy, like adding a third World Series title.
22. Harry Hooper
Harry Hooper patrolled right field for the Red Sox from 1909 to 1920. Over 12 seasons he hit .272 with 496 RBI. Hoop had over 1,700 hits in Boston. He had a WAR of 38.4 and a career .966 fielder. He was finally enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971, on a vote by the Veteran’s Committee.
21. Luis Tiant
El Tiante, Luis Tiant, is a fixture on Yawkey Way. From 1971 to 1978 the pitcher went 122-81 with a 3.36 ERA. He pitched 113 complete games with 26 shutouts. Sadly, Tiant was never elected to the Hall of Fame, falling off the ballot in 2002. Perhaps one day the Veteran’s Committee will recognize him and he’ll join the hall in a Red Sox cap.
20. and 19. Tim Wakefield/Jason Varitek
It’s hard to imagine Tim Wakefield without Jason Varitek and vice-versa. It was also hard to separate them on this list, so collectively their 20th and 19th all in one. Wakefield won 186 games over 17 years in Boston. Wake pitched 3,006 innings, recording 26 complete games. He was a fan favorite, even if he was never the man with the best statistics. Wakefield did whatever was needed to help the team, starting or out of the bullpen.
Wake’s battery mate Jason Varitek is another case of the man outperforming his stats. Though drafted by the Mariners, Tek spent his entire 15 year MLB career in Boston. He was able to control the game from behind the plate, ensuring his pitchers were prepared. 33 was a fan favorite, and will surely have his number retired in Fenway Park for his contributions to the team. Who can forget his throw down with A-Rod in 2004!?
18. Joe Cronin
Shortstop Joe Cronin helped the Red Sox out from 1935 to 1945. He hit an even .300 with 119 home runs and 1,168 hits. Cronin was a .953 fielder, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.
17. Smoky Joe Wood
With the Red Sox, Smoky Joe Wood was a pitcher for eight seasons. He went 117-56 with a 2.03 ERA from 1908 to 1915. During the Sox 1912 World Series season, Wood won a league high 34 games. He later joined the Cleveland Indians as a right fielder.
16. Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans joined the Red Sox in 1972 and remained until 1990. The Gold Glove winning All Star hit .272 with 379 homers. In the field, Evans shut it down in right field. He recorder a .986 fielding percentage, with just 78 career errors. The Red Sox great never received more than 10.4% of the Baseball Writer’s votes for the Hall of Fame, and he dropped off the ballot in 1999.
15. Carlton Fisk
The original Pudge, Carlton Fisk was the Sox catcher from 1971 to 1980. The New Hampshire native hit .284 with over 1,000 hits. Fisk went to multiple All Star games and was the 1972 Rookie of the Year. Pudge was a wizard behind the plate, with just 155 errors in his career. Fisk ensured that his pitching staff was as well prepared as could be ahead of each and every series.
14. Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs was loved, hated, but is beginning to be embraced in Boston again. The All Star third baseman spent 11 seasons with the Red Sox before dashing to the New York Yankees. In those 11 seasons, Boggs hit .338 with 687 RBI. Wade also recorded over 2,000 hits over his Red Sox career. He was a key member of the Sox 1986 World Series team as well. Boggs was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005 with 91.9% of the vote.
13. Lefty Grove
Southpaw pitcher Lefty Grove spent eight years in a Red Sox uniform. He went 105-62 with a 3.34 ERA. Lefty recorded 119 complete games and tossed 15 shutouts. He also tallied over 700 strikeouts over the eight seasons. Grove represented the Red Sox in five straight All Star games from 1935 to 1939.He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1947.
12. Bobby Doerr
Second baseman Bobby Doerr spent 14 years patrolling for the Sox. From 1937 to 1941 he was a staple in Boston’s lineup. Doerr hit .288 with 223 homers. He went to nine All Star games, thanks in part to his 1,247 RBI in Boston. The Veteran’s Committee elected Doerr to the Hall of Fame in 1986.
11. Jim Rice
Jim Rice patrolled left field in Fenway Park for 16 years. He went to multiple All Star games, won multiple Silver Slugger awards, and won an MVP. He hit .298 over his career with 382 home runs. His number has been retired by the Red Sox organization, and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009 with 76.4% of the vote.
10. Manny Ramirez
Another left fielder, though this one wasn’t so great in the field. Manny Ramirez wore a Red Sox jersey from 2001 to 2008. He helped bring the 2004 and 2007 World Series titles to Boston, hitting .312 in his Boston years. Manny hit 274 of his 555 career home runs for the Sox. Paired with Big Papi, the duo formed the toughest middle lineup of any MLB team. “Manny Being Manny” was a daily phrase uttered by fans and media alike. Ramirez went to the All Star game in each of his Boston seasons. In the 2004 World Series, Manny earned the MVP after hitting .412 in four games.
9. Jimmie Foxx
Double X, Jimmie Foxx, played for the Red Sox from 1936 to 1942. He hit .320 with 788 RBI on 222 home runs. He was the 1938 MVP with .349 average and a league leading 175 RBI. Foxx was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951.
8. Cy Young
The man for which the pitching award is named, is not even the best pitcher in his team’s history. Cy Young led the Red Sox from 1901 to 1908 with a 192-112 record and a 2.00 ERA. Young allowed just 2,347 hits over 2,728.1 innings pitched. Cy helped the Red Sox bring home a 1903 World Series title. Had he spent his entire 22 year career in Boston, he’d surely be number one on this list.
7. Roger Clemens
The majority of Roger Clemens’ career was spent in Boston, where he pitched for 13 seasons. In that span, Clemens won an MVP and three Cy Young awards. He went 192-111 with a 3.06 ERA. If Clemens had remained a Red Sox and stayed off the juice, he would be even higher on this list and would be a Hall of Famer.
6. Tris Speaker
Tris Speaker spent 9 seasons in Boston as a center fielder. Over those years, Speaker hit .337 and had 241 doubles. His career 792 doubles is an MLB record. Tris won the 1912 American League MVP Award, as he hit .383 with 10 home runs and 53 doubles. Speaker was a career .971 fielder and he helped Boston bring home titles in 1912 and 1915.
5. Babe Ruth
The Great Bambino. Of course, all Red Sox fans hate the fact that Babe Ruth was sold for $100,000 to the New York Yankees. With the Red Sox though, as a pitcher and outfielder, Ruth was still spectacular. Over 6 seasons, with 4 as a pitcher, Ruth hit 49 home runs. Most came in his two seasons as a true outfielder. Babe hit .308 and drove in 224 runs.
In 1918, Babe Ruth transitioned to become a true outfielder. Before that, he was primarily a top American League pitcher. In his Boston career Ruth went 89-46 with a 2.19 ERA and 17 shutouts. He pitched 1190.1 in his 6 Red Sox seasons.
Ruth helped the Red Sox win the 1915, 1916 and of course the 1918 World Series titles.
4. Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski is Mr. Red Sox. Yaz spent his entire 23 year career in Boston, putting up some tremendous numbers. He put 452 long balls over the fences and drove in 1844 runs. Yaz batted .285 for his career, with a .841 OPS. As a fantastic left fielder, he totaled 7 Gold Gloves. He was a part of the 1967 and 1975 World Series teams, but never could bring a title home. With 94.6% of the vote, Yaz became a Hall of Famer in 1989.
3. Pedro Martinez
On many other franchise all time lists, Pedro Martinez would be number 1. This however, is the Boston Red Sox. Pedro spent seven seasons with Boston after coming over from the Montreal Expos. Over those seasons, Martinez went 117-37 with just a 2.52 ERA. He won his 2nd and 3rd career in back to back years, 1999 and 2000. Pedro’s 1999 season is thought to be one of the best in Major League Baseball history. In ’99, he led the AL with a 23-4 record, 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts. In 2000, Pedro had just a 1.74 ERA, a career best.
In 2003, Martinez started Game 7 of the ALCS against the Yankees. Sox Manager Grady Little left a tiring Pedro in for the 8th inning, a controversial move that is still discussed around Boston. Martinez assured his manager he still had something left, but promptly gave up a double to Derek Jeter and a single to Bernie Williams.
Surprisingly, Grady Little left Pedro in the game. Martinez then gave up a double to Hideki Matsui and a bloop double to Jorge Posada to tie the game, sending it to extra innings. The Red Sox lost off a devastating Aaron Boone home run.
In 2004, Pedro got his revenge over the Yankees. In Game 2 of the ALCS, he tossed a scoreless 6+ innings. The Red Sox though, eventually lost the game 3-1. The Sox also lost Game 3 and found themselves down 3 games to their most hated rival.
The team battled back to win Game 4, earning Pedro another start. Game 5 was a struggle, but the Red Sox came out with win off a 14th inning David Ortiz home run. In Game 7, Martinez got yet another crack at the Yankees. He struggled, pitching one relief inning in the 7th and allowing 2 runs. The Sox won the game 10-3 however, completing the most epic comeback in baseball history.
Martinez’ struggles against New York that year were forgotten when the Red Sox lifted their first World Series trophy in 86 years. Pedro was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015 with 91/1% of the vote.
2. Ted Williams
Surprised he isn’t number one? Yes, Ted Williams boasted the best individual numbers of any Red Sox, but it takes more than that. Williams never played on a team that was able to bring a Word Series title to Boston. From 1939 to 1960, Teddy Ballgame was a fixture in the Red Sox lineup.
He missed three seasons from 1943-1945, but still tallied ridiculous numbers. For his career, Williams hit .344 with a Major League record best .482 On Base Percentage. In his 19 playing seasons, he knocked in 1839 RBI and launched 521 home runs.
Williams was a 17 time All Star, and two time American League All Star. He was also great in the outfield, playing mostly in Boston’s left field. Williams boasted a .974 fielding percentage between all outfield spots.
Teddy Ballgame was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966, with 93.4% of the Baseball Writer’s votes. His #9 is retired at Fenway Park, and the red seat in right field serves as a reminder of his longest deep ball.
Williams one fault was only that he never delivered a Boston Red Sox championship to the fans he loved so much.
1. David Ortiz
David Ortiz did more for the Boston Red Sox and their fans than any player ever has before. Yes, he’s even a greater Red Sox than Ted Williams. In his time in Boston, Big Papi delivered three World Series titles, the first of which ended the Curse of the Bambino after 86 years.
At 6-foot-3, 230lbs, Ortiz was larger than life around New England. Over his 14 Boston seasons, he clobbered 483 home runs, brought in 1530 RBI, with a .570 slugging percentage. Of course, Ortiz was more than just the numbers, he was the pulse of Boston sports. Papi was clutch.
Boston Red Sox
In 2003, the walkouts began. In 2004, Ortiz helped the Red Sox comeback from down 0-3 to the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Late into the night, or early in the morning, Big Papi delivered.
Time after time, when he was truly needed, Ortiz was able to drive in the winning runs. In 2007, he led the team to yet another World Series title.
In 2013, after the city of Boston was attacked by a coward at the Boston Marathon, Ortiz said what we were all thinking.
"Alright, alright Boston. This jersey that we wear today, it doesn’t say Red sox, it says Boston. We want to thank you Mayor Menino, Governor Patrick and the whole Police Department for the great job they did this past week. This is our f*****g city, and nobody gonna dictate our freedom. Stay strong, thank you."
From that moment, the Red Sox grew into more than just a local sports team, they were Boston’s soul. When they raised the Word Series trophy later that October, Ortiz had cemented his spot as a local legend.
David Ortiz is not just a baseball player. He is a man who poured all of his heart in passion into his team and his adopted city. There will never be another Big Papi. His number will be retired this season, and he should be a sure Hall of Famer.
The Red Sox have had many legends take the field for them at Fenway Park. Did we leave anyone off the list that you think should have been on it? Think someone is ranked too high or too low? Let us know in the comments!