Kevin Youkilis, Derek Lowe, and Mike Lowell will headline the 2018 Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame class next season, with some other greats in the mix as well.
The Boston Red Sox are one of the most storied franchises in all major sports. Now, 5 new people will be forever enshrined in the team’s Hall of Fame.
The 2018 Hall of Fame Class is made up of former players Kevin Youkilis, Derek Lowe, Mike Lowell, and John Freeman. Al Green, a longtime Red Sox employee, will be this year’s non-uniformed inductee.
The three headliners for the event are of course Youk, Lowe, and Lowell. All three played a part in bringing World Series titles to Boston, and they were all fan favorites. Youkilis is still a very clear fan favorite in 2017, as he’s married to legendary Patriots QB Tom Brady’s sister.
Those three players are all tied together as Youkilis and Lowe helped win the 2004 World Series, while Youkilis and Lowell were on the 2007 championship team.
The new Red Sox Hall of Fame class will be inducted at a Red Sox Foundation gala on May 24 at the Westin Copley Place.
Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Youkilis was a fan favorite, and one hell of a player for the Boston Red Sox. Now, the team will honor the Greek God of Walks.
"“Wow, I’m extremely honored, extremely humbled and feeling a little bit shocked,” said Youkilis. “I think just to be in the select company of some of the legends that I got a chance to talk to when I was coming up through the Minor Leagues and the Major Leagues and being around them and seeing the history of their playing careers probably means the most to me. I still can’t believe it.”"
Youk spent 9 seasons with the Red Sox, with 494 walks. He also had 133 home runs and 564 RBI as he helped Boston win the World Series in both 2004 and 2007. Youkilis was a 3-time major league All-Star and won a Gold Glove in 2007.
Kevin Youkilis came up as a third baseman, but when the Sox acquired Mike Lowell before the 2006 season, he made the swap to first base. In 2007 when Boston won the World Series, Youk did not commit a single error at first base all season long in 135 games there. That postseason, he hit .500 in the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians. He was 14 of 28 with 3 home runs, a triple, a double, and 7 RBI. He also drew 5 walks for a .576 on base percentage.
Youk was a model of consistency, and there was no one else that Red Sox fans would have rather had on their team. “Yooooooouuuuuuuuk” could be heard loud and proud each and every time he stepped up to the plate.
Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe came over to the Boston Red Sox in the franchises greatest trade of all-time. The same trade brought Jason Varitek to Boston.
In 8 season for the Red Sox from 1997 to 2004, Lowe was 70-55 with a 3.72 ERA and 673 strikeouts. He also threw a no-hitter on April 27, 2002, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. On that day, Lowe went 9 innings, allowed no hits, and walked just one batter while striking out 6. Boston’s offense backed him up with 10-runs from players like Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek, Shea Hillenbrand, Rickey Henderson, and Jose Offerman.
While Lowe was great in the regular season, he seemed to turn things up in October.
"“We had Pedro [Martinez] and Schill [Curt Schilling] and Wake [Tim Wakefield] and all the bullpen guys, but Derek Lowe had one of the most impressive postseason runs for us and was kind of a guy who got pushed to the curb and stepped up big when we needed him to,” Youkilis said. “I remember watching him pitch in the Cape Cod League and through the Minor Leagues, and getting to win that championship with him meant the world to everyone.”"
Lowe was 3-0 in the 2004 postseason in 4 games, including 2 starts. Lowe won the clincher against the Angels in the ALDS and he then pitched 11.1 innings in the ALCS against the New York Yankees and earned the win in Game 7. Lowe went 6 full innings and allowing just 1 run. In the World Series, he again earned the final W. In Game 4 he pitched 7 shutout innings as Boston won 3-0.
Mike Lowell
After winning the 2003 World Series with the Marlins, Mike Lowell came to Boston in 2006. He took over for Kevin Youkilis at third base, and he instantly became another fan favorite. In ’06 he hit .284 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI. Lowell was even better in 2007 though as he brought another World Series title to Boston.
Lowell hit .324 with 21 homers and 120 RBI in 2007 and finished 5th in AL MVP voting behind Alex Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez, Vladimir Guerrero, and David Ortiz. Lowell played just as well in the postseason. He was the World Series MVP after hitting .400 with a home run, 3 doubles, and 4 RBI in the 4 game sweep of the Colorado Rockies.
In his 5 full seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Lowell hit .290 with 80 home runs and 374 RBI in 612 games. He’s a career .976 fielder, and he played extremely well at third base for Boston.
Words can’t describe how honored I am being told of election into #RedSox Hall of Fame. Just as happy to be going in with @GreekGodOfHops and Derek Lowe!! #ecstatic #RedSoxNation.
— Mike Lowell (@mikelowell25) December 1, 2017
Go Sox!!!
John “Buck” Freeman
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Buck Freeman spent seven seasons with the Boston Americans from 1901 through 1907. He had 48 home runs and 504 RBI with Boston in 820 games. Freeman helped to win the 1903 World Series as well.
Alphonso “Al” Green
Al Green was hired by the Red Sox in 1973 as a member of the Gameday Staff, and he’s been a fixture at Fenway Park ever since. He turned 90 during the 2017 season, and he now works mainly in the team’s Fan Services information booth. Green has a lifetime of Red Sox knowledge, and if you need to know anything about the team or Fenway, he’s the man to ask.
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The Red Sox Hall of Fame is gaining some great members in 2018, but it’s exciting to look ahead to the future as well. Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts, and Craig Kimbrel all seem like they could one day find themselves on this list, while a World Series title would help guys like David Price, Chris Sale, Andrew Benintendi, or Xander Bogaerts. It will be fun to see who is in the 2028 Red Sox Hall of Fame class.