Boston Red Sox: Nomar Garciaparra’s epic run revisited

Former Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra had an epic run of success from 1997-2000. But which year was his best?

Former Boston Red Sox shortstop Anthony Nomar Garciaparra was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round of the 1991 June MLB amateur draft out of St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California a suburb of Los Angeles.

Electing to go to college over signing with the Brew Crew, Nomar played his college baseball at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Upon graduation, he was drafted in the first round of the 1994 draft by the Red Sox. He debuted in the majors two years later as a September call up for the third place squad.

Nomar hit .241 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in twenty four games with the Red Sox that season, but the next four years would see the young infielder tear up the American League.

Look, let’s address the elephant in the room before we continue.

When Nomar was shipped out of town at the trade deadline in 2004, he had become a grouchy, reticent, mope for a couple of seasons, and it left a sour taste in fans’ mouths. He had become bitter and distrustful of the media, and the once wide smile was replaced by guarded eyes.

Nomar’s troubles began after a wrist injury shortened his 2001 campaign, and no Red Sox fan can forget the game against the Yankees when Derek Jeter went headlong into the stands and bloodied his face while Nomar was seated squarely on the Sox bench after requesting the night off. Bad look.

But from 1997-2000, Namar was a fan favorite and one of the most productive players in the majors. He hit at a .337 clip with 113 homers, 420 RBIs, 53 stolen bases, and boasted a .963 OPS with a .386 OBP. He won the 1997 Rookie of the Year award (a year after Jeter nabbed the same hardware at the same position) , but was that his finest season during this epic run?

Let’s investigate.