Author Archives: Scott Frizzell

About Scott Frizzell

I have lived in New Hampshire my entire life. Huge Boston sports fan with an emphasis on baseball and football. Love the history of baseball and I should be given a Hall of Fame vote to help them get it right. This is my first time writing for an audience, I appreciate any support from you guys.

2018 Baseball HOF Ballot: The Hitters

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The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) released their Hall of Fame ballot yesterday. Over the next few weeks, Boston Sports Extra will make our case for who should and who shouldn’t, as well as who will and who won’t get elected. This is a follow up to the article covering the pitchers.

A Messy Situation

The Hall of Fame process has become a messy situation in recent years. Thanks to the steroid era, the ballots have been overloaded with quality players. There is a disagreement on how known steroid users should be treated in the voting process. This trickles down to other players who played during the steroid era. Just being a power hitter during the 90’s is cause for a little scrutiny, fair or not. To those who were clean during this era, their numbers have been overshadowed by those who were juicing. Some writers will vote for steroid users or ones under suspicion, others will not. Thus, those players are stuck in purgatory, too many votes to fall off the ballot, not enough to gain election. This has an unfortunate side effect on other players.

Some very good players have been victims to this crowded ballot and failed to gain the 5% necessary vote to remain on the ballot. Kenny Lofton and Jim Edmonds are two names that come immediately to mind. They may not be Hall of Fame players, but they put up some very nice numbers, ones that deserved more consideration and argument. Due to the high number of players on the ballot and the Hall of Fame’s refusal to up the limit a writer can vote for from 10, these players fell off the ballot. There will be more ballot casualties in the future unless something is done to rectify the situation.

2018 Class of Hitters

Vladimir Guerrero of the Montreal Expos. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

This year’s ballot features 19 hitters. Nine of these are holdovers from previous ballots after surpassing the necessary 5% of the vote. Vladimir Guerrero is the one most likely to join the Hall of Fame ranks this year after receiving 71.7% of the vote last year. Edgar Martinez, entering his final year on the ballot, might be the most interesting case this year. Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez, Larry Walker, Fred McGriff, Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield and Sammy Sosa also will appear on the ballot again.

The 10 newcomers are headlined by Chipper Jones and Jim Thome, who are likely headed for enshrinement. They are joined by Scott Rolen, Andruw Jones, Johnny Damon, Omar Vizquel, Orlando Hudson, Carlos Lee, Aubrey Huff, and Hideki Matsui.

Rk Name YoB % of Ballots Yrs R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG OPS
2 Vladimir Guerrero 2nd 71.7% 16 1328 2590 449 1496 181 .318 .379 .553 .931
3 Edgar Martinez 9th 58.6% 18 1219 2247 309 1261 49 .312 .418 .515 .933
5 Barry Bonds 6th 53.8% 22 2227 2935 762 1996 514 .298 .444 .607 1.051
8 Manny Ramirez 2nd 23.8% 19 1544 2574 555 1831 38 .312 .411 .585 .996
9 Larry Walker 8th 21.9% 17 1355 2160 383 1311 230 .313 .400 .565 .965
10 Fred McGriff 9th 21.7% 19 1349 2490 493 1550 72 .284 .377 .509 .886
11 Jeff Kent 5th 16.7% 17 1320 2461 377 1518 94 .290 .356 .500 .855
12 Gary Sheffield 4th 13.3% 22 1636 2689 509 1676 253 .292 .393 .514 .907
14 Sammy Sosa 6th 8.6% 18 1475 2408 609 1667 234 .273 .344 .534 .878
15 Chipper Jones 1st 19 1619 2726 468 1623 150 .303 .401 .529 .930
16 Jim Thome 1st 22 1583 2328 612 1699 19 .276 .402 .554 .956
17 Scott Rolen 1st 17 1211 2077 316 1287 118 .281 .364 .490 .855
18 Andruw Jones 1st 17 1204 1933 434 1289 152 .254 .337 .486 .823
20 Johnny Damon 1st 18 1668 2769 235 1139 408 .284 .352 .433 .785
23 Omar Vizquel 1st 24 1445 2877 80 951 404 .272 .336 .352 .688
26 Orlando Hudson 1st 11 648 1319 93 542 85 .273 .341 .412 .752
29 Carlos Lee 1st 14 1125 2273 358 1363 125 .285 .339 .483 .821
30 Aubrey Huff 1st 13 806 1699 242 904 37 .278 .342 .464 .806
31 Hideki Matsui 1st 10 656 1253 175 760 13 .282 .360 .462 .822

The Holdovers

Edgar Martinez hit the ball so hard his bats caught on fire.

With Vlad likely to make the Hall of Fame this year, will any other holdovers join him? Edgar Martinez is getting some strong support entering his final season on the ballot. But can he make up 17% of the vote with several strong newcomers joining the ballot? There are a lot of worthy names to vote for. How much more support will known steroid users receive? Barry Bonds’ vote totals have been creeping up, while Manny Ramirez is receiving less than one quarter of the vote. Sammy Sosa looks to be in danger of fading off the ballot after garnering less than 10% of the vote last year.

Joining them are players being overshadowed by their era and pushed out by a crowded ballot. Fred McGriff, who I plan on covering more extensively later, is a long ways off from enshrinement. Jeff Kent fits in the same boat, the all-time home run leader as a second baseman finished with less than 20% of the vote last year. Meanwhile, Larry Walker’s big numbers have been tainted by “The Coors Effect” as much as steroid users numbers have been tainted. Worthy or not, none of them look like they will be joining the ranks anytime soon.

The Newcomers

Chipper had a swing of beauty.

As mentioned earlier, Chipper Jones and Jim Thome will almost certainly be voted in. Who else can we expect to see join them among the newcomers? My guess would be no one this year. I have already covered three likely to be voted in this year. With Edgar Martinez garnering a strong push, he seems to be the most likely to make it if a fourth joins the group. That doesn’t leave room for anyone else. But, that doesn’t mean some of these names won’t make it at a later date.

Scott Rolen will gather some support. However, he fought injuries for a lot of his career, leaving his enshrinement with a lot of question marks. Andruw Jones looked like a sure thing after a decade in the league. Jones was the best defensive center fielder in the league for a stretch and was hitting 30+ homers a season. Then he decided he liked food a little more than being a great ballplayer. The new age “statistics” do not favor Omar Vizquel, but he was the best defender of his generation at a premium position. Not only that, he only fell 123 hits shy of 3000. Vizquel should have a case down the road.

The others first appearing on the ballot don’t seem to have any shot. Johnny Damon is the only other name who might attract a few votes after piling up over 2700 career hits. Orlando Hudson, Carlos Lee, Aubrey Huff and Hideki Matsui, although fine players, fall well short of Hall of Fame consideration.

Red Sox Greatest Third Basemen of All-Time

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Making the way around the infield, my next installment in the series comes at the hot corner. Making the top five there will be a couple mainstays, a couple players from a century ago, and one I think you all will remember watching play. There were a couple options for the last spot, guys who weren’t with the team a real long time but made a big impact. But that’s what the honorable mention section is for at the end.

Wade Boggs

Wade Boggs is by far the greatest third baseman in franchise history. He leads the team at the position in almost every offensive category. Wade burst onto the scene in 1982 by batting .349. Over the next six seasons he only batted below .357 once, leading the league in hitting five times. Over his first seven seasons Boggs batted .356 while averaging 220 hits and 103 walks per 162 games played. He was the best hitter in baseball during the 80’s, seemingly able to foul off pitch after pitch until he got the one he wanted.

Boggs set a Major League record while with the Red Sox by collecting 200 hits in seven consecutive seasons. Not only that, they were the first seven full seasons of his career. Even with all the base hits, Boggs managed to walk over 100 times each season from 1986-89. Over the course of his Red Sox career, Boggs walked 1004 times, more than twice as often as he struck out. They just don’t make them like they used to.

Year Tm AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
1982 BOS 338 51 118 14 1 5 44 35 21 .349 .406 .441 .847
1983 BOS 582 100 210 44 7 5 74 92 36 .361 .444 .486 .931
1984 BOS 625 109 203 31 4 6 55 89 44 .325 .407 .416 .823
1985 BOS 653 107 240 42 3 8 78 96 61 .368 .450 .478 .928
1986 BOS 580 107 207 47 2 8 71 105 44 .357 .453 .486 .939
1987 BOS 551 108 200 40 6 24 89 105 48 .363 .461 .588 1.049
1988 BOS 584 128 214 45 6 5 58 125 34 .366 .476 .490 .965
1989 BOS 621 113 205 51 7 3 54 107 51 .330 .430 .449 .879
1990 BOS 619 89 187 44 5 6 63 87 68 .302 .386 .418 .804
1991 BOS 546 93 181 42 2 8 51 89 32 .332 .421 .460 .881
1992 BOS 514 62 133 22 4 7 50 74 31 .259 .353 .358 .711
BOS BOS 6213 1067 2098 422 47 85 687 1004 470 .338 .428 .462 .890

Frank Malzone

Malzone spent almost his whole career with the Red Sox, going to California for his final season in 1966. He batted .276 while picking up 1454 base hits. His 131 home runs and 716 runs batted in are tops at the position for the Red Sox. His heyday lasted eight seasons, from 1957-64. During those years he batted .281 with an average of 16 home runs and 84 RBI. He made eight all-star teams during those seasons, thanks to two All-Star Games in 1959 and 1960.

Malzone was also an excellent fielder, winning the first three Gold Gloves ever awarded to third basemen. In 1957, he led the league in errors made, but also in putouts, assists and double plays turned. He would lead the league in double plays for five consecutive seasons.

After his playing days were over Malzone came back to the organization. He would spend over three decades as a Red Sox scout. After scouting for years he would serve as a player development consultant for the team. Frank Malzone meant a lot to the Boston Red Sox organization.

Frank Malzone shown at batting practice before game with Cleveland at Fenway Park in Boston, July 28, 1957. (AP Photo/Frank C. Curtin)

Jimmy Collins

Collins was already well regarded before joining the Boston Americans in 1901. The franchise was known as the Americans during his entire stint with the team, not becoming named the Red Sox until 1908. Collins’ play remained well above average after switching leagues and he was often regarded as the best third baseman in baseball. On top of that, Collins was also the manager until part way through 1906. He led the team to the first ever World Series Championship in 1903. The following season he led them to a second consecutive pennant, but the Giants refused to play the World Series.

Collins batted .296 while picking up 881 base hits during his time with the organization. He was also a great defender, redefining the position. Before Collins, shortstops were the ones to field bunts. Collins became known for his ability to field bunts and the job eventually shifted to the third baseman. He is still second all-time at the position for putouts recorded. Collins was part of the seventh Hall of Fame class ever with his induction in 1945.

Larry Gardner

Gardner is the other one on the list who played a century ago. He first appeared with the team in 1908 and was the main third baseman from 1910-1917. During that time he collected 1106 base hits while batting .282. His 30.5 WAR is second only to Wade Boggs at the position.

During his stay in Boston, Gardner won three World Series championships. Despite only hitting 16 home runs over eight seasons, Gardner hit three home runs in 18 World Series games with the Red Sox. Despite a low batting average in series play, he made his presence felt.

William Larry Gardner of the Boston Red Sox swinging a bat in 1916. (Photo by Sporting News and Rogers Photo Archive)

Mike Lowell

Mike Lowell was acquired from the Marlins in a deal where Josh Beckett was the headliner. Lowell made his impact in Boston though, putting up fine offensive numbers, playing a rock solid third base and winning the 2007 World Series. That 2007 season was possibly the best of Lowell’s career, batting a career high .324 with 21 home runs and 120 runs batted in. Then in the postseason he batted .353 and drove in 15 runners. His .400 batting average in the World Series helped to net him the MVP Award for the series.

Before a hip problem slowed him in 2010, Lowell averaged a season of .295 19 87 over his first four seasons with the team. He made the All-Star Game in 2007 and finished fifth in the MVP vote. His .814 OPS with the team is 2nd among the guys included in the top five. In the field, Lowell only made six errors during his first season with the team. He is 2nd all-time at the position in career fielding percentage. A well liked player, it will be nice to have him back in the organization for this coming season.

Honorable Mentions:

Bill Mueller, Jim Tabor, Tim Naehring, John Valentin, Johnny Pesky, Rico Petrocelli, Butch Hobson

 

Greatest Starting Right Handed Pitchers

Greatest Starting Left Handed Pitchers

Greatest Relief Pitchers

Greatest Catchers

Greatest First Basemen

Greatest Second Basemen

 

Red Sox Greatest Second Basemen

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Red Sox Greatest Second Basemen

The keystone position is next on the agenda for my series of Red Sox articles. Unfortunately, the top player has just passed away. At the age of 99, Bobby Doerr passed away on Tuesday. He was the oldest living Hall of Famer. Doerr played against Lou Gehrig, and faced A’s teams managed by Connie Mack, who was born in 1862. RIP to the great Bobby Doerr.

Bobby Doerr

Doerr spent 14 seasons with the Red Sox, which spanned his entire career. He missed the 1945 season, while serving his country in the war. He then was forced into an early retirement at the age of 33, due to a bad back. Even still, Doerr managed to collect over 2000 base hits, and swat 223 home runs. His 1247 runs batted in are far and away the tops at the position. About the only category he doesn’t lead in is stolen bases. He was a career .288 hitter, and posted an .823 OPS.

Doerr was just as good in the field as he was at the plate. In 1948, he set a record for second basemen, by handling 414 consecutive chances without making an error. This record lasted for nearly 60 years, until it was broken in 2007. He also turned more double plays than any second baseman in Major League history, until 1963. His .980 fielding percentage came at a time when gloves were rudimentary. His fielding percentage only dipped below .980 once over the final eight seasons of his career.

Bobby Doerr was also known as a clutch hitter, driving in over 100 runs, in six different seasons. He accomplished this feat in three straight seasons, before his final season. Doerr also batted .409 during the 1946 World Series. It’s unfortunate he had to retire when he did, Doerr was still a very good ballplayer. In fact, he had been improving. Over his final four seasons, Doerr batted .294, while averaging 21 home runs, and 103 RBI per season. Doerr made nine All-Star Games during his career.

Bobby Doerr’s glove, which he managed to post a .980 career fielding % with and set records which stood for decades.

Dustin Pedroia

Pedroia has been aiming for Doerr’s mantle, but isn’t there yet. If he can put together a couple more good seasons, maybe. Pedroia is a career .300 hitter, banging out 1802 base hits at this point in his career. Over a 162 game schedule, Pedroia has averaged 15 home runs, 15 stolen bases and 42 doubles during his career.

Pedroia, of course, is an excellent fielder as well. He is routinely going all out in the field, making diving stops, and throwing out the runner. This has helped him net four Gold Glove Awards thus far. His .991 fielding percentage shows how steady he is in the field, but you’d have to watch him to know how much he flashes his leather around.

Pedroia started off his career by winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 2007. He followed that up by leading the league in hits (213), doubles (54) and winning the MVP Award in 2008. He used to be sneaky on the base paths too, stealing 20 bags that year while only being caught once. Pedroia might not steal many bags anymore, but this was the first of four seasons in which he stole 20 bases. Pedroia has made four All-Star Games, in addition to his previously mentioned accolades.

Pete Runnels

Pete Runnels wasn’t with the Red Sox nearly as long as the guys above him on this list, but he sure made an impact while in Boston. Runnels spent five seasons with the team, and batted over .300 in all five. He had a cumulative batting average of .320, and an on-base percentage of .408. He didn’t hit for power, only totaling 29 home runs over those five seasons. But with a .320 average, who cares? Second basemen were rarely power hitters in those days.

Runnels did play primarily first base his final two years with the Red Sox, but he played more games at second during his tenure with the Sox. According to Baseball Reference, Runnels had a 20.3 WAR over his five seasons in Boston. In his first season with the Red Sox, in 1958, he finished runner up for the batting title, losing to teammate Ted Williams. After finishing third in 1959, Runnels won his first batting title in 1960. He would go on to win his second batting title in his final season with the team in 1962. Runnels also made three all-star teams while with the Red Sox.

Billy Goodman

Goodman was a valuable utility man for the Red Sox. He had some years he played exclusively at second, some entirely at first, and others where he played all over the diamond. That versatility made him even more valuable than just his numbers. He played second more than anywhere though, and was usually at the keystone position over the final five seasons he was with the team.

Goodman didn’t have power, topping out with a career high of four home runs, but he was a fine hitter. Goodman batted over .300 five times, and never finished below .293 during a full season (he had a combined 27 at-bats between his first and last seasons). His .354 batting average in 1950 led the Major Leagues, and he finished runner-up for the MVP Award. A player mostly forgotten by time, Goodman deserves to be remembered with all of these accomplishments. He could easily be ahead of Runnels for third on this list. Goodman made two All-Star Games.

September 1950: Boston Red Sox player Billy Goodman watching the action of a game from the dugout. (Photo by Francis Miller/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Jody Reed

Standing at a listed height of 5’9″, Jody Reed was well liked for his scrappy, all out style of play. Despite his small stature, Jody Reed was a doubles machine in Boston. He was very adept at using the Green Monster to his advantage, and averaged 41 doubles per 162 games played with the Red Sox. His lifetime average of .280 as a Red Sox is good, but is a little misleading since he only batted below that number once. Reed was a career .288 hitter, before falling off at the plate in 1992.

Reed came up with the Red Sox as a shortstop, replacing Spike Owen at the position when Joe Morgan took the helm in 1988. He was one of the new guys inserted into the lineup by Morgan that led to their magical run in the second half of the season. By the next season, Reed was splitting his time between the middle infield positions, and eventually became the starting second baseman. He was a fine defender at the position too, though he did get better at it after leaving Boston. It was a tough call for the fifth place Second Basemen position, between Reed and Marty Barrett, but I gave Reed the nod due to his better ratios.

Hey, I think this guy used to deliver Schwan’s ice cream to my house.

Honorable Mentions:

Marty Barrett, Jerry Remy, Mike Andrews, Jeff Frye

 

Red Sox Greatest First Basemen Ever

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Continuing on with my series of articles, I make my way to the five greatest first basemen in the history of the franchise. After delving into the statistics, I found that picking the top five was not very difficult. The only arguments to be made, would be the order of the five, and the honorable mentions.

Jimmie Foxx

Foxx was a beast, hence his nickname, “Beast.” One of the most powerful right-handed bats of all-time, Foxx hit his 500th career home run by the age of 32. A decline in eyesight, drinking problems and a broken rib, aided in a quick decline from there. All that matters for this article, however, is his time spent with the Red Sox. Foxx batted .320, with 222 home runs and a 1.034 OPS, during his time with Boston. His 50 home runs in 1938, remained a single-season franchise record, until Big Papi broke it in 2006.

Jimmie Foxx spent six full seasons with the team, making the all-star team all six years. He led the league in batting average, home runs and RBI once each while leading in OPS twice. He won the MVP in 1938, when he hit .349, with 50 homers and 175 RBI. The next season he batted .360, and led the league with 35 home runs, finishing 2nd in the MVP vote.

Year Tm AB H HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ Awards
1936 BOS 585 198 41 143 .338 .440 .631 1.071 155 AS,MVP-11
1937 BOS 569 162 36 127 .285 .392 .538 .929 127 AS
1938 BOS 565 197 50 175 .349 .462 .704 1.166 182 AS,MVP-1
1939 BOS 467 168 35 105 .360 .464 .694 1.158 188 AS,MVP-2
1940 BOS 515 153 36 119 .297 .412 .581 .993 150 AS,MVP-6
1941 BOS 487 146 19 105 .300 .412 .505 .917 139 AS
AB H HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ Awards
BOS BOS 3288 1051 222 788 .320 .429 .605 1.034 156

Mo Vaughn

Big Mo, “The Hit Dog,” isn’t too far behind Foxx when talking about what they did for the Red Sox. Mo was the team leader in the 90’s, both at the plate, and in the clubhouse. A big power prospect, Mo Vaughn struggled for a couple years, before breaking out in 1993. He would go on to win the MVP Award in 1995, and place in the top five in two other MVP votes. His swing and hitting style were tailor-made for Fenway Park and the Green Monster. He never should have left.

Mo batted .304 during his time in Boston, while bashing 230 home runs. He had a stellar slash line of .394/.542/.936. From 1993 to 1998, when he left as a free agent, Mo Vaughn had an average season of .315, with 36 home runs, 110 RBI and a .974 OPS. He batted .300 with 39 home runs during his MVP season of 1995, but was arguably better during each of the next three seasons. 1996 was likely his best, batting .326 with 44 home runs and driving in 143 runners. His impressive hitting, combined with his presence, made Big Mo a fan favorite.

Kevin Youkilis

“The Greek God of Walks” comes in at third for me, in a tight race amongst the next three. Youkilis originally came up as a third baseman, but was shifted to first base by 2006, his first full season. He spent the next five seasons as their primary first baseman, before the team acquired Adrian Gonzalez for 2011. Coincidentally, Youkilis’ move back to third for 2011 coincided with his offensive decline.

From 2006-2010, as the Red Sox first baseman, Kevin Youkilis batted .297, while averaging 21 home runs per season. Youkilis also had a .396 on base percentage, and .507 slugging percentage during this time. Youkilis battled teammate Dustin Pedroia for the 2008 MVP Award, finishing third in the vote. He followed that up with a sixth place finish in 2009.

Youkilis was also a very good fielding first baseman. He set a Major League record for most consecutive errorless games, while manning the position. He didn’t make a single error in 2007, and won the Gold Glove Award. His career fielding percentage at first base was .997.

Kevin Youkilis celebrates as he rounds third base after teammate J.D. Drew hit a grand slam off pitcher Fausto Carmona of the Cleveland Indians in Game Six of the ALCS. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

George Scott

“Boomer” had some power, while flashing some Gold Glove leather at first base. Spending parts of nine seasons with the Red Sox, Scott batted .257, while hitting 154 homers. His offense was a little hit or miss, hitting over .290 twice, but under .250 three times. He even batted .171, with 3 home runs, in 1968. After spending five seasons with Milwaukee, Scott returned to the Red Sox, and hit 33 home runs in 1977. Boomer made two All-Star Games, and won three Gold Gloves with the Red Sox.

George Scott of the Boston Red Sox connects for a two run homer in the bottom of the night inning of All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, July 20, 1977. (AP Photo)

Carl Yastrzemski

Yaz is the little wrinkle thrown in at first base. Better known for his time in left, Yaz would be tops on this list if it were just for what they did in their Red Sox career. However, this is an article just on first base. As a first baseman, Carl Yastrzemski was definitely a top five first baseman in franchise history, but most of his stats came in left field. Yaz could still arguably be up a spot or two higher, but he slots in fifth on my list.

Yastrzemski was the Red Sox main first baseman in 1970, and again from 1973-76. He played 50 or more games at first base in seven different seasons. During his time playing first, Yastrzemski batted .277, and hit 101 of his 452 career home runs. His 752 base hits actually do place fifth all-time at the position, after the players I have above him. He had a nice .373 on base percentage, which helped him to an .813 OPS while playing first base.

Honorable Mentions:

Brian Daubach, Kevin Millar, Mike Stanley, Dick Stuart

Best Right-Handed Pitchers

Best Left-Handed Pitchers

Best Relief Pitchers

Best Catchers

 

Best Catchers in Red Sox History

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Best Catchers in Red Sox History

This article covers the five greatest catchers in Red Sox history. With the Red Sox all-time pitching staff completed, it is time to move on to the positional players. Quite frankly, there is a steep drop-off after the first few, so there could be some debate as to who makes the top five. There is no debate on the top two.

Carlton Fisk

Carlton Fisk is the greatest catcher in Red Sox history. His Red Sox career was shorter than it should have been, the Red Sox missed the deadline to tender him a contract in 1980. Nonetheless, Fisk spent over 9 seasons in Boston, and was their most productive catcher to date. In addition to his well known postseason heroics, Fisk batted .284 and hit 162 home runs, while with the Red Sox.

Fisk battled injuries, between 1974 and 1975, he had about one full season worth of at bats (2 excellent seasons I might add). He easily has the highest slugging percentage and OPS (on-base + slugging) of anyone on this list. For those new age stat lovers, his 39.5 WAR with the Sox also easily tops the list.

When it comes to awards, Fisk started his career with an all-star appearance, a Rookie of the Year Award, a Gold Glove and a top 5 MVP finish during the 1972 season. He made six more all-star teams, before heading to Chicago.

Carlton Fisk stands with Jason Varitek as Tek is presented with the Gold Glove Award.

Jason Varitek

Varitek holds the franchise record for many statistics at the catching position, spending 14+ seasons with the team. He collected 1307 base hits, while hitting .256, with 193 home runs during his career. His triple slash was a very solid .341/.435/.776, and he averaged 20 home runs per 162 games played. There is little doubt a 25 man all-time roster would include his name.

Just talking about numbers does Varitek’s career no justice. This is a man who was a leader on the Red Sox for years, and on two separate World Series winning teams. The 2004 season can never be topped, and Tek was an essential core piece of that team. There’s a reason why he was given the big “C” on his chest, the first Red Sox player since Jim Rice in 1989 to receive the honor. Varitek is one of the most beloved Red Sox in franchise history, and rightfully so.

Varitek made 3 all-star teams during his career, which was spent entirely in Boston. He won a Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove. I’m not sure how he only was given one Gold Glove, but then again, Derek Jeter won five, so don’t read too much into it. Tek was a master behind the dish, catching a record 4 no-hitters.

Who doesn’t love this picture?

Rick Ferrell

Ferrell spent parts of five seasons with the Sox, equating to roughly four full years. His brother Wes pitched for them as well, sharing the field with him from 1934-37. Rick had less power than his brother, despite being the position player of the two. He was a fine contact hitter though, who drew a lot of walks. Rick Ferrell batted .302 during his time in Boston, while posting an impressive .394 on base percentage. His best offensive season came in 1936, when he batted .312, with 8 home runs and an .867 OPS.

Ferrell was also regarded as a strong defender. If Gold Gloves had been invented, he may have won a couple. He threw out a league high 60% of runners in 1935, with the Red Sox. Ferrell also made the All-Star Game in each season he spent with the Red Sox.

Sammy White

White spent the first 8+ seasons of his career catching for the Boston Red Sox. From 1952-55, he was one of the better catchers in the league. During that time, he batted .273, and received MVP votes in two different seasons. This was the 1950s, catchers weren’t expected to hit much. White accumulated 881 hits during his time in Boston, third most among catchers in team history. White made one all-star team.

Sammy White reaching into grandstands for foul ball, during game with Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Francis Miller/The LIFE Picture Collection)

Rich Gedman

Gedman had an uneven career. After a few years of performing well in a part-time role, Gedman got his chance to start in 1984, and bashed 24 homers. He made back-to-back All-Star Games the following two seasons. Feeling underpaid, Gedman held out in 1987, and seemingly forgot to hit. He batted .205, with a measly .528 OPS that season. He never regained his form, hitting .231 in 1988, and .212 in 1989, before being shipped out the following season.

In total, Gedman’s 83 home runs place third amongst Red Sox catchers, and his 741 base hits place fourth. He did have that three year peak when he averaged a season of .275, with 19 home runs and 72 RBI during the mid-80s. All of this is enough to place him among the top five catchers in Red Sox history.

Honorable Mentions

I received quite a few comments after my last article saying certain players deserved to be mentioned. I hadn’t planned on doing honorable mentions, out of fear of rambling, but since I received so many comments about it, I have decided to add a spot. The pitching articles would have had some very worthy players listed under honorable mention. Unfortunately, the catcher position has been a little thin in the history of the Red Sox,

Honorable Mentions: Birdie Tebbetts, Bill Carrigan, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Scott Hatteberg.

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/10/best-starting-pitchers-red-sox-history-right-handed

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/11/best-starting-pitchers-red-sox-history-left-handed

https://bostonsportsextra.com/boston-red-sox/2017/11/best-relief-pitchers-red-sox-history

 

Remembering Roy Halladay

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Roy Halladay passed away on Tuesday following a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico. At just 40 years old the news was both stunning and heartbreaking. He touched the lives of so many, not only with his feats of greatness on the mound, but with his caring nature.

The Beginning of a Hall of Fame Career

Roy Halladay came into the Major Leagues in 1998 surrounded by high hopes. He had been a 1st round pick of the Blue Jays in 1995 and proceeded to pitch two excellent games at the end of the ’98 season. But after a solid season in 1999, Halladay’s career appeared to be on the ropes the following year. With an ERA of 10.64 over 19 appearances, the Blue Jays shipped Halladay all the way back to A ball in 2000. This move could have destroyed the confidence of anyone and expedited their path out of the sport. Roy Halladay wasn’t just anyone though. He came back from the experience, stronger than ever and with a mission.

Halladay returned to the majors in midseason of 2001. After a rocky first game back pitching in relief, Halladay made 16 starts, posting a 2.71 ERA. He took his previous failure in stride and used it as motivation to become better.

Roy Halladay pitching in some fashionable Toronto Blue Jays uniforms.

Peak Performance

For the next decade Halladay was at the top of the sport, possibly the best pitcher in all of baseball. He averaged 17 wins with a 2.97 ERA over that decade long span. Halladay won two Cy Young Awards while also finishing runner-up in two others. From 2006-2011, he never finished worse than 5th in any Cy Young vote. In an often overlooked stat, but no less meaningful, Halladay had five seasons in which he struck out 200 batters while walking less than 40.

One thing that endeared Halladay to so many was his bulldog mentality. He wanted the ball, and he wanted to stay on the mound all game. He was there to help his team win games, and he wouldn’t be able to do that from the dugout. Halladay led the league in complete games for five consecutive seasons from 2007-2011, and seven times during his career. He also earned the respect of others with his work ethic. He didn’t just go from A ball to one of the best pitchers in the game overnight. Halladay put in the work and then maintained it throughout the rest of his career.

Philadelphia Phillies

In 2010, after years of pitching on mediocre teams in Toronto, Halladay was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He finally got to pitch for a team good enough to head to the postseason. Given his mentality, no one should have questioned whether he’d be a playoff performer. Then again, no one could have predicted what would happen next either. In Halladay’s very first playoff start of his career, at the age of 34, he threw a no-hitter. In 1264 playoff games in Major League history there had only been one no-hitter thrown. Halladay managed to be the second to ever accomplish this feat in his very first attempt. This also happened to be his second no-hitter of the season, having thrown a perfect game in May of that year.

Roy Halladay waves to the crowd after pitching a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park on October 6, 2010. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

A Hall of Fame Person

Roy Halladay was a remarkable competitor and fantastic pitcher, one who will surely get strong Hall of Fame consideration when he appears on the ballot starting in 2019. However, I am not here to only talk about Roy Halladay the baseball pitcher. Pitching in front of millions he was able to touch countless lives and bring joy to many just from the way he was able to throw a baseball. Halladay used that fame and success to touch the lives of so many more  and make the world a better place.

Halladay did a lot of charitable work and had his own foundation. The Halladay Family Foundation has aided children’s charities, hunger relief and animal rescue. A lot of his work came with underprivileged children. At the Roger’s Centre, where the Blue Jays play their home games, there was a box called “Doc’s Box,” named for Roy’s nickname. Halladay would often invite children and their families to sit there and take in Blue Jays games. He also had it in his contract with the Blue Jays to donate $100,000 every year to the “Jays Care Foundation.”

The Roberto Clemente Award is given to an individual who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team”. Roy Halladay was nominated for this award many times over the years due to his charitable work off the field and his work ethic and sportsmanship on the field.

Peer Reactions

The outpouring of comments from fans and former ballplayers on social media says it all; the baseball world is in mourning.

https://twitter.com/MikeyY626/status/928033969786032128

Leaving Behind a Legacy

Halladay left behind a wife and two children, who he had just started getting to spend more time with the last few years since his retirement. He stated he wanted to be more active with his kids and their own baseball careers when he retired, and he did just that by coaching their baseball teams.

Tuesday we not only lost a great baseball player, but a fine human being. Millions mourn the loss of Halladay, not just the baseball world, but the countless lives he touched while he was with us. Halladay did more to help his fellow man than most of us ever will. He was a shining example of what so many others should strive to be.

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Best Relief Pitchers in Red Sox History

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To round out the Red Sox all-time pitching staff I will cover their five greatest relief pitchers ever. This is the third installment of my series of articles. Again, this covers how good they were as a Red Sox, and longevity plays into it. Craig Kimbrel was crazy filthy this season, but to be included he needs at least one more great year, probably two.

Jonathan Papelbon

Papelbon is the best reliever in Red Sox history, and would be their closer on an all-time roster. Papelbon is by far the all-time saves leader in franchise history with 219. He accomplished this with a 2.33 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 10.7 strike outs per 9 innings pitched. Pap made 4 All-Star Games with the Red Sox. From 2006-2009 he was nearly unhittable, posting a 1.74 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. He had a WHIP under 1.00 in three straight seasons and an ERA under 2.00 in 3 out of 4. Hell, his ERA was under 1.00 in his rookie season of 2006.

Papelbon was also unhittable in the postseason and helped the Red Sox to the 2007 World Series championship. That season he threw 10.2 shutout innings in the playoffs and saved 3 games in the World Series. For his Boston career, Papelbon did not allow a run in his first 25 postseason innings, saving 7 games in that span. Remarkable. He was also a fun pitcher to watch, glaring at the hitter like he’s about to throw the ball through the batter’s head. Then there were also his wild celebrations after a successful save.

 

 

 

 

 

Dick Radatz

“The Monster” got his nickname for a reason: nobody wanted to face him. Standing at 6’6″, Radatz was an imposing figure on the mound. He became burned out quickly, unfortunately, pitching a lot of innings in relief. In his first 4 seasons Radatz averaged 135 innings pitched over 68 appearances. Compare that to your typical relief pitcher nowadays. During his first 3 seasons he made 2 All-Star Games, had a top 5 MVP finish and led the league in saves twice. During that span he had a 40-21 record and saved 98 games. In a time when batters were embarrassed to strike out, Radatz struck out 10.6 batters per 9 innings during those 3 seasons and had a 2.17 ERA.

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Ellis Kinder

Ellis Kinder was a swingman for the Sox in the late 40s and 50s. In his first 3 seasons he made a lot of starts for the Red Sox while also relieving. He won 23 games in 1949, finishing 5th in the MVP vote. Two years later he led the league in appearances. By 1953 Kinder was a full-time reliever. That season Kinder was 10-6 with a 1.85 ERA and led the league in saves with 27. This was the 2nd time in three seasons Kinder had led the league in saves. For his Red Sox career, Kinder finished 86-52 with a 3.28 ERA and 93 games saved.

Bob Stanley

The all-time games pitched leader in franchise history has to make an appearance here. Stanley made starts in some years, but he was almost always a relief pitcher, and better at it then he was starting. Bob Stanley won 115 games and saved 132 during his career, which he spent entirely in Boston. As a relief pitcher his ERA was 3.28, opposed to being north of 4.00 as a starter. Stanley made 2 all-star teams and saved as many as 33 games in 1983.

Koji Uehara

Koji was always good, but often injured before coming to the Red Sox. No one could have predicted the impact he had on the team. In 2013, Koji was 4-1 with a 1.09 ERA and microscopic 0.56 WHIP. Then in the playoffs he allowed 1 run over 13.2 innings while saving 7 games. He was instrumental in their World Series run that season. Koji spent 4 seasons with Boston, saving 79 games. His rate statistics during that time were phenomenal; a 2.19 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 11.6 strikeouts per 9 innings.

Koji Uehara of the Boston Red Sox reacts after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in Game Six of the 2013 World Series at Fenway Park on October 30, 2013. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Special Mention

Keith Foulke needs to get an honorable mention in this article. He cannot make the top five Red Sox relievers ever, only having one good season, but he gave his career for that one season. Without him the Red Sox wouldn’t have broken the curse, beat the Yankees and won the World Series in 2004. Period. After a season in which Foulke had a 2.17 ERA and 0.94 WHIP, he amped up even further when the Sox needed him most. Foulke allowed 1 run over 14 innings in the playoffs, striking out 19 batters.

With their backs against the wall, down 0-3 to the Yankees in the ALCS, Foulke pitched in 7 of the final 8 games. During four of those appearances Foulke pitched more than the typical one inning. In Game 4 against the Yankees, he pitched 2.2 shutout innings, helping prolong the game to give the offense the opportunity to win it. What he did that postseason was nothing short of miraculous, and he was never the same afterwards. I’m sure he would do it all over again.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Keith Foulke, center, and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, left, celebrate after St. Louis Cardinals’ Edgar Renteria (3) grounded out to end the ninth inning and give Boston a 3-0 win and a sweep of the World Series, Wednesday Oct. 27, 2004, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Red Sox Begin Filling Coaching Staff

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NEW COACHING STAFF

On Thursday, the morning after the Houston Astros World Series victory, Alex Cora went to work as the new manager of the Red Sox. The Red Sox added 3 new names to the coaching staff, and still need a pitching and a hitting coach.

Bench Coach

Ron Roenicke was Alex Cora’s choice to be the bench coach for the 2018 season. Although it may not be a splashy choice, it is likely a good hire. Alex Cora has no managerial experience. Bringing aboard Roenicke, the Red Sox now have a bench coach who managed for over 4 seasons in Milwaukee. During his time in Milwaukee, Roenicke finished with a winning record, and made the postseason once. In addition to his managerial experience, he also brings a little bit of postseason experience. Cora also has familiarity with Roenicke. Ron Roenicke was Alex Cora’s manager in the minor leagues, back in 1997 and 1998. A manager has to be comfortable with his bench coach, and Cora got the man he wanted.

First Base Coach

The Red Sox brought Tom Goodwin back to the organization. Goodwin has spent the last six seasons coaching 1st base for the New York Mets. Before that, Tom Goodwin was a coach for the Lowell Spinners for four seasons. I believe Goodwin will be of most use not as first base coach, but in his role as base running and outfield instructor. It is no secret the Red Sox ran into a lot of outs on the basepaths last season. Goodwin was brought in to help clean that up. When I was a kid, Goodwin was a good defensive outfielder, and a very good base stealer for the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. Hopefully he can impart some of his wisdom on the young Sox.

12 Apr 1998: Outfielder Tom Goodwin of the Texas Rangers in action during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Credit: Stephen Dunn

Third Base Coach

Carlos Febles gets a promotion to the big leagues, and continues his rise through the Red Sox organization. Febles has been with the team since 2007. He spent the first four seasons as a hitting coach in the organization, for 3 different teams. Next, he was named the manager for the Lowell Spinners in 2011. Febles managed in both Greenville and Salem for 2 seasons. This past season, he managed the AA Portland Sea Dogs. This marks his first opportunity at the big league level, and given his steady promotions, he is an interesting name added to the team. In addition to his work as the third base coach, Febles will also be working with infielders as an instructor. Maybe he can work with Devers on making those throws across the diamond.

PORTLAND, ME – Sea Dogs manager Carlos Febles points to home base as he talks to Josh Tobias (24) during the Sea Dogs game against the Altoona Curve at Hadlock Field. (Staff photo by Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)

Mike Lowell

One final note of the day; Dave Dombrowski mentioned Mike Lowell would be hired by the team. He did not say what role Lowell would be working, it is yet to be known in what role he will serve. I would imagine he will be in a behind the scenes role, maybe along the lines of what Jason Varitek has been the last few seasons. Whatever role he plays, this is a good hire. Mike Lowell is an even-keeled, well liked former player.

Could Mike Lowell be serving in a similar capacity to the one Jason Varitek has?

Best Starting Pitchers In Red Sox History: Left-Handed Edition

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This is the second article in my Red Sox all-time franchise players series. Following up the Right Handers, comes the greatest left-handed pitchers in Red Sox history. Again, this isn’t the five best lefties to ever put on a Red Sox uniform, these are the five who did the most while in a Sox jersey.

 

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth threw 29 consecutive shutout innings in the World Series.

Everyone knows about Babe Ruth. People also generally know he was a good pitcher before he switched to a full time hitter. But just how good was he?

Babe Ruth was 20 during his first full season, and won 18 games. The next season, at age 21, he led the league with a 1.75 ERA. The following season, he won 24 games. Ruth won 67 games with a 2.07 ERA, by the time he was 22 years old. Don’t forget the World Series either. By age of 23, Babe Ruth had set a record that would stand for 43 years, when he pitched 29 consecutive scoreless innings during World Series play. In 3 games total, Ruth pitched 31 innings, going 3-0, with a 0.87 ERA. He is both one of the best pitchers and hitters in World Series history. He would have undoubtedly made the Hall of Fame as a pitcher as well.

Lefty Grove

Lefty Grove on the mound in Comiskey Park circa 1934.(Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)

Lefty Grove is one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. Personally, I have him as the third greatest left-hander to ever take the mound. Much of that came with the Philadelphia Athletics, but Grove was still an excellent pitcher for five seasons in Boston. He picked up his 300th career victory in a Red Sox uniform.

After struggling in his first season while pitching with a sore arm, Lefty Grove returned to stardom for the next five seasons. From 1935-39, he averaged 17 wins per season for the Sox, with a 2.83 ERA. In 4 of those 5 seasons, he led the American League in ERA! Grove also led the league in WHIP twice, and made the All-Star Game in each of those five seasons.

Jon Lester

Lester had a heck of a run in Boston, one most of us wish was still going. There was his return from Lymphoma in 2007, to pitch 5.2 shutout innings in the final game of that year’s World Series. The following season, he threw his no-hitter in May against the Royals at Fenway Park. His first 200 strikeout season in 2009, followed by his first of three All-Star appearances as a member of the Red Sox in 2010. Then his stellar postseason pitching again in 2013, as he won his second World Series.

In total, Lester won 110 games, while posting a 3.64 ERA in a Red Sox jersey. He finished in the top five in two separate Cy Young votes. He’s also 4th in Red Sox history in strikeouts, 1st among lefties. Most importantly however, Lester was 3-0 in World Series contests, allowing just a single run in 21 innings pitched. We could always count on Lester to pitch well in the clutch.

Year Tm Series Opp W L W-L% ERA GS IP ER SO WHIP
2007 BOS ALCS CLE 0 0 4.91 0 3.2 2 5 1.091
2007 BOS WS COL 1 0 1.000 0.00 1 5.2 0 3 1.059
2008 BOS ALDS LAA 1 0 1.000 0.00 2 14.0 0 11 0.929
2008 BOS ALCS TBR 0 2 .000 4.97 2 12.2 7 15 1.263
2009 BOS ALDS LAA 0 1 .000 4.50 1 6.0 3 5 1.333
2013 BOS ALDS TBR 1 0 1.000 2.35 1 7.2 2 7 0.783
2013 BOS ALCS DET 1 1 .500 2.31 2 11.2 3 7 1.457
2013 BOS WS STL 2 0 1.000 0.59 2 15.1 1 15 0.652

Mel Parnell

Mel Parnell testing his arm which was broken in 1954, during Spring training. (Photo by George Silk/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Mel Parnell is the all-time winningest left-hander in Red Sox history, with his 123 career wins. His heyday was from 1948-53, when he averaged 18 wins per season with a 3.22 ERA. In 1949, he led the league with 25 wins, and a 2.77 ERA while placing 4th in the MVP vote. If there were a Cy Young Award back then, he’d have been a shoo-in.

Unfortunately, Parnell had a short career. Following his 21 win season in 1953, he broke his arm and never fully recovered. He only won 12 games over the next 3 seasons, before calling it quits following an operation on his elbow. However, in his final season, Parnell had a little magic left in his left arm. That season, he threw a no-hitter at Fenway Park against the Chicago White Sox.

Dutch Leonard

Baseball player Dutch Leonard winds up a pitch in the uniform of the Boston Red Sox, 1914. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

Dutch Leonard had a short peak with the Red Sox, but he made it count. In 1914, Dutch Leonard posted the lowest ERA, still to this day, in modern baseball history. That season he was 19-5 with a league leading 0.96 ERA and 0.88 WHIP! Regardless of the era, that is an all-time great season.

In six seasons with the Red Sox, Leonard won 90 games while pitching to a 2.13 ERA. He pitched once in both the 1915 and 1916 World Series. In each contest, Leonard allowed 1 earned run in a complete game victory.

 

Pedro ASG

Best Starting Pitchers in Red Sox History- Right-Handed Edition

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This is the first of a series of historical articles I will be putting out. I will be doing all-franchise teams for Major League Baseball, starting with the Boston Red Sox. Since the Sox are the best, I will go more in depth with them and cover the top five players at each spot. These picks will combine all factors, longevity, peak, influence, etc. To kick things off I will cover the 5 greatest right-handed starting pitchers in franchise history.

Pedro Martinez

Pedro is the most dominating pitcher I have ever seen. Pitching during the height of the steroid era while in the AL East, Pedro went on an historical run. Between 1999 and 2000 he was 41-10 with a 1.90 ERA, striking out 12.5 batters per 9 innings. He threw in the upper 90s and had the best changeup in the game. His curveball would have been a normal pitcher’s best pitch, it was his third best. Witnessing a game pitched by Pedro Martinez at Fenway Park was an event.

During the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park Pedro famously struck out 5 batters in 2 innings. He once 1-hit the Yankees in Yankee Stadium and struck out 17 of their hitters. Many refer to this game as possibly being the greatest pitched game they have seen. Then there is the 1999 postseason, when Pedro came on in relief, injured, and no-hit the dangerous Indians lineup for 6 innings. There is no end to the marvels of the greatest pitcher in my lifetime.

Year Tm W L W-L% ERA IP SO ERA+ WHIP SO9 SO/W Awards
1998 BOS 19 7 .731 2.89 233.2 251 163 1.091 9.7 3.75 AS,CYA-2,MVP-21
1999 BOS 23 4 .852 2.07 213.1 313 243 0.923 13.2 8.46 AS,CYA-1,MVP-2
2000 BOS 18 6 .750 1.74 217.0 284 291 0.737 11.8 8.88 AS,CYA-1,MVP-5
2001 BOS 7 3 .700 2.39 116.2 163 188 0.934 12.6 6.52
2002 BOS 20 4 .833 2.26 199.1 239 202 0.923 10.8 5.98 AS,CYA-2,MVP-20
2003 BOS 14 4 .778 2.22 186.2 206 211 1.039 9.9 4.38 CYA-3,MVP-22
2004 BOS 16 9 .640 3.90 217.0 227 124 1.171 9.4 3.72 CYA-4
W L W-L% ERA IP SO ERA+ WHIP SO9 SO/W Awards
BOS BOS 117 37 .760 2.52 1383.2 1683 190 0.978 10.9 5.45

 

Cy Young

The man for whom the best pitcher trophy is named for, Cy Young is in a tie for the most wins in franchise history with 192. He averaged a 24-14 record with an ERA of 2.00 and a WHIP of 0.97 during his time in Boston. Cy led the league in wins in each of his first 3 seasons with the Americans/Red Sox and won the pitching Triple Crown in 1901. He had five seasons with an ERA below 2.00. There is a reason they named the award after this guy.

Year Tm W L W-L% ERA CG SHO IP SO ERA+ WHIP SO/W
1901 BOS 33 10 .767 1.62 38 5 371.1 158 219 0.972 4.27
1902 BOS 32 11 .744 2.15 41 3 384.2 160 164 1.048 3.02
1903 BOS 28 9 .757 2.08 34 7 341.2 176 145 0.969 4.76
1904 BOS 26 16 .619 1.97 40 10 380.0 200 136 0.937 6.90
1905 BOS 18 19 .486 1.82 31 4 320.2 210 147 0.867 7.00
1906 BOS 13 21 .382 3.19 28 0 287.2 140 86 1.088 5.60
1907 BOS 21 15 .583 1.99 33 6 343.1 147 129 0.982 2.88
1908 BOS 21 11 .656 1.26 30 3 299.0 150 193 0.893 4.05
W L W-L% ERA CG SHO IP SO ERA+ WHIP SO/W
BOS BOS 192 112 .632 2.00 275 38 2728.1 1341 147 0.970 4.48

 

Roger Clemens

“The Rocket” was the best pitcher in baseball during the late eighties and early nineties. From 1986-92 Clemens averaged a season of 19-9 with a 2.66 ERA and 239 strike outs. During that stretch he won 3 Cy Young Awards and an MVP Award. He also came in 2nd in another Cy Young vote and 3rd in yet another. He is tied with Cy Young for most wins in franchise history while holding the distinction as team leader in strikeouts with 2590.

In 1986 Roger Clemens set a Major League record by striking out 20 batters in one game. A decade later he matched the feat, striking out 20 Detroit hitters in one of his final starts with the Red Sox. During that time Clemens led the league in wins twice, ERA four times, strike outs three times and WHIP twice. Regardless of what happened afterwards, Clemens is an all-time great for the Red Sox.

strike out king

Roger Clemens was a strike out artist.

Joe Wood

Smoky Joe Wood was possibly the hardest thrower in the league in his day. The great Walter Johnson once said, “Listen, mister, no man alive can throw harder than Smoky Joe Wood.” Wood tied an American League record in 1912 by winning 16 straight decisions. He accomplished this en route to an all-time great season, winning 34 games against just 5 losses. Wood had a 1.91 ERA that year, threw 35 complete games and 10 shutouts!

Unfortunately Wood’s reign at the top was short lived. He broke his thumb while fielding a ball in July of 1913. This was just the start. According to accounts of his shoulder injury he later sustained, modern physicians believe Wood tore his rotator cuff. Remarkably, while pitching through a probable torn rotator cuff in 1915, Joe Wood led the league with an eye popping 1.49 ERA! Without injury, it is possible Smoky Joe would be considered a top 10 pitcher of all-time. He retired after 1915 due to the pain, ultimately returning with the Indians as a hitter. He finished his Red Sox career with a 117-56 record and 1.99 ERA.

Smoky Joe Wood

Smoky Joe Wood

Luis Tiant

“El Tiante” as he was affectionately known. Tiant’s career was on the scrap heap when he was signed by Boston. He had battled injuries and wasn’t thought to have much left. After a 1-7 record in his first season with the Sox, Tiant bounced back to lead the league with a 1.91 ERA in 1972. He would go on to win 20 games three times with the Red Sox. Tiant finished in the top 6 in three Cy Young votes during his time in Boston, pitching to a 122-81 record and 3.36 ERA. In his one postseason with the team he went 3-0, winning 2 games during the 1975 World Series.

El Tiante

Luis Tiant #23 of the Boston Red Sox pitches.
(Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images)