Tag Archives: Bobby Doerr

The Greatest Red Sox Legends by Uniform Number: 1-5

One of my projects for the MLB offseason this year will be a series of articles covering the greatest Red Sox to wear each uniform number. My plan is to cover five uniform numbers at a time starting here with one through five. Right off the bat, we dig into a couple retired numbers. Before I begin, I would like to mention that Brandon Phillips became the first player in franchise history to wear the number zero this September. He didn’t play much, but he did pimp out this game-winning home run against the Braves.

Number 1 – Bobby Doerr

The greatest second baseman in franchise history, Bobby Doerr made the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 and has his number one retired by the Red Sox. Doerr played on some great teams in the forties with pals Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky and Dom DiMaggio. He had a smooth glove at second base and was one of the finest offensive players at the keystone position the game had seen.

Doerr batted .318 in 1939, his third season in the big leagues. By the next season, he had surpassed 20 home runs and 100 runs batted in for the first time. He would make four straight All-Star Games from 1941-44 before joining the fight overseas in World War II and missing the 1945 season. After returning, Doerr made three straight All-Star Games and five times in six seasons to close out his career. He drove in more than 100 runs in four of the five seasons following World War II, finishing with 95 the season he fell short.

Unfortunately, Doerr was forced into early retirement due to a bad back. He had actually become more consistent at the plate later in his career, posting an OPS between .886 and .891 each year between 1948 and 1950. He still finished with a very solid .826 OPS in his final season. From his first full season in 1938 through his last in 1951, Bobby Doerr averaged a season of .289 with 17 home runs and 95 RBI.

Honorable Mentions: George Kell, Bernie Carbo, Billy Conigliaro, Joe Foy

BOBBY DOERR from the Boston Red Sox. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images)

Number 2 – Jacoby Ellsbury

Ellsbury’s career has spiraled, but that’s a good thing since he’s eating up the Yankees payroll to do nothing. With the Red Sox, he was a good player when healthy and helped the Red Sox win two World Series. Ellsbury came up that year and was so successful down the stretch that he was put on the postseason roster. He then batted .438 in the World Series. Ellsbury was solid again in the 2013 postseason, winning a second World Series with the Red Sox.

Ellsbury spent parts of seven seasons with the Red Sox, but only had four relatively full seasons. He led the league in stolen bases in three of his four healthy seasons. He batted .300 twice and stole 50 bases three times. In 2011, Ellsbury had a career season, finishing second in the MVP vote, winning a Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger. While the rest of the team collapsed down the stretch, Ellsbury was white hot and would have won the MVP if the team hadn’t fallen apart and missed the playoffs.

Honorable Mentions: Rick Ferrell, Xander Bogaerts, Jerry Remy, Mike Andrews

Number 3 – Jimmie Foxx

Foxx is one of the most powerful right-handed bats of all-time. The greatest first baseman in Red Sox history, Foxx won one of his three MVP Awards with the Red Sox and finished second in another season. He homered 35 or more times in each of his first five seasons with the team, averaging 40 home runs and 134 runs batted in per season. There is a reason Foxx was referred to as “The Beast.”

In 1938, his third season in Boston, Foxx won the MVP Award. That season he hit 50 home runs and drove in a league high 175 runs. His slash line that season was .349/.462/.704/1.166, leading the league in each category. The next season he batted .360 and led the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and home runs. Cumulatively, Foxx batted .320 with the Red Sox and is second in franchise history in on-base percentage and slugging percentage behind only Ted Williams.

Honorable Mentions: Pete Runnels, Jody Reed, Jeff Frye, Walt Dropo

Number 4 – Joe Cronin

Another retired number, as the Sox retired the number four in honor of Cronin. Cronin spent seven seasons as a full-time player before he started focusing more on managing the club and being limited to mostly pinch-hitting. Despite this role, Cronin batted over .300 with an OPS over .900 each of his first two seasons doing so.

Cronin made five all-star teams with the Red Sox and had two top ten MVP finishes. From 1937-41 he batted over .300 four times, posting a .307/.404/.504/.909 line during that time period. He averaged 19 home runs and 103 runs batted in during that time. He was the Red Sox manager from 1935-47. After, Cronin went on to become general manager, president and treasurer of the team before moving on to the role of American League president.

As a close second, Jackie Jensen deserves a few words. Jensen hit 20+ home runs in each of his first six seasons with the Red Sox, averaging a season of .285 with 26 home runs and 111 RBI. He was the 1958 MVP and won a Gold Glove the following season.

Honorable Mentions: Jackie Jensen, Butch Hobson, Tommy Harper, Carney Lansford

Number 5 – Nomar Garciaparra

During his time in Boston, Nomar was one of the most popular players the franchise had ever seen. Around Fenway Park, around the city, you could hear people yell “Nomaaahhh!” Arguably the greatest shortstop in franchise history, the uniform number five is synonymous with Nomar for an entire generation of fans.

Nomar came up with much fanfare and won the Rookie of the Year in 1997. He hit 30 home runs and led the league in hits that season. In year two, Nomar finished runner-up for the MVP Award. The following two seasons he was batting champion, hitting .357 and .372. Nomar was getting better and better, before an Al Reyes pitch hit him on the wrist, requiring surgery the following season. Nomar was still an excellent player when he came back, but wasn’t quite the same. His averages fell to .310 and .301 his next two full seasons. However, he did hit 52 home runs and drove in 225 runs over those two seasons. He also led the league with an astounding 56 doubles in 2002.

Things didn’t end on the best terms in Boston for Nomar, but he should be remembered for what he did with the team and for how much the fans loved him. He batted .323 with a .923 OPS during his time in Boston. Nomar hit 50 doubles twice and eclipsed 40 two other seasons. In his six full seasons with the Sox, Nomar hit over 20 home runs in all six. He is truly a Red Sox legend.

Honorable Mentions: George Scott, Vern Stephens, Jim Tabor

Featured picture from NBC News

Red Sox Players to Hit for Cycle

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Mookie Betts hit for the cycle on Thursday night, becoming the 21st player in Red Sox history to complete the feat. Needing a home run in the ninth, Betts fouled off a very hittable pitch and seemed to realize he had missed one. He made up for it, cracking a no doubter over the left field wall to collect his cycle. So who were the 20 players before him to get the cycle?

The Early Days

Buck Freeman was the first player to hit for the cycle in franchise history. Known as the Boston Americans when Freeman completed the cycle, Freeman accomplished the feat on June 21, 1903. He did so in a 12-7 Boston victory over the Cleveland Blues, or Cleveland Naps, depending upon where you look. The Cleveland franchise had acquired superstar Nap Lajoie the previous season and were beginning to be called the “Naps” after him.

Patsy Dougherty accomplished the feat not much more than a month after Freeman. Dougherty’s cycle came on July 29, 1903 against the New York Highlanders. Dougherty was in his second Major League season, one in which he led the American League with 195 base hits.

Tris Speaker hit for the cycle on June 9, 1912, becoming the first player to do so after the franchise became known as the Red Sox. One of the greatest center fielders of all-time, Speaker drove in three runs in a 9-2 victory over the St. Louis Browns that day. His batting average at the conclusion of the game was .405, and he went on to win the MVP Award that season.

Roy Carlyle hit for the cycle on July 21, 1925 in a 6-3 win over the White Sox. Carlyle hit his double and triple off future Hall of Famer Red Faber, and his home run off another Hall of Famer in Chief Bender. Carlyle only played two seasons despite batting .312 due to his horrible defense.

Moose Solters hit for the cycle in an 8-6 loss to the Tigers on August 19, 1934. Solters had a good rookie season that year but was sent to St. Louis the following season. Moose’s cycle came against General Crowder; got to love the old baseball names.

The 1940’s

Joe Cronin was the Red Sox player/manager when he hit for the cycle on August 2, 1940. Cronin was one of two Red Sox to drive in four runs and one of three to homer in a 12-9 victory over the Tigers. Cronin’s number four is retired by the Boston Red Sox.

Leon Culberson was a rookie for the Red Sox when he hit for the cycle on July 3, 1943. Batting leadoff, Culberson had the four hits plus a walk. His home run was an inside-the-park home run in the eighth inning of a 12-4 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Bobby Doerr’s cycle came in the second game of a doubleheader with the Browns on May 17, 1944. The Red Sox had won game one 5-1 but would actually lose the second game despite Doerr’s cycle by a score of 12-8. Doerr drove in two runs and scored three. He is a Red Sox Hall of Famer, a Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, has his number retired by the team and is the greatest second baseman in franchise history.

Bob Johnson hit for the cycle on July 6, 1944, less than two months after Bobby Doerr’s cycle. In fact, Doerr also had four hits in this game, hitting a double and a triple, but settling for two singles. Bob Johnson completed the cycle and scored four runs in the Red Sox 13-3 win over the Tigers.

Ted Williams hit for the only cycle of his career on July 21, 1946. Williams picked up three hits in a 5-0 win over the Browns during the day. In the nightcap, Williams hit his way around the bases, hitting for the cycle in a 7-4 win. Williams contributed seven hits during the doubleheader sweep.

Bobby Doerr is still the only player in franchise history to hit for the cycle twice. He accomplished it a second time nearly three year after the first, on May 13, 1947. The Red Sox pulverized the White Sox that day 19-6. Doerr hit for the cycle and Ted Williams homered twice in the destruction.

The Cycles Slow Down

Lu Clinton achieved the feat in a 15 inning game on July 13, 1962. Don’t worry; Clinton had already accomplished the feat before extra innings. He tacked on another single in the 15th inning, his fifth hit of the game which scored Carl Yastrzemski for the winning run. Clinton drove in four runs and scored four runs in the 11-10 Red Sox win.

Carl Yastrzemski hit for the cycle on May 14, 1965 in a 12-8 loss in 10 innings to the Tigers. Yaz homered in each of the first two innings, starting the night off with a bang. He finished the game 5-5 with five runs batted in, but didn’t have much help.

Bob Watson became the first player to hit for the cycle in both the National League and American League on September 15, 1979. Watson completed the feat in the ninth inning with a two-run homer as the Red Sox beat the Orioles 10-2 at Memorial Stadium. Watson batted .337 with 13 home runs in a partial season with the Red Sox that season before joining the Yankees as a free agent in the offseason. As Vice President of Major League Baseball, he would draw some attention of having a negative bias towards the Red Sox.

The 1980’s

Fred Lynn hit for the cycle against the Twins on May 13, 1980, becoming the second Red Sox player to hit for the cycle on May 13th. Lynn tripled home Rick Burleson in the bottom of the eighth to complete the cycle. It was one of four runs driven in by Lynn during the Red Sox 10-5 victory.

Dwight Evans sealed his cycle with a dramatic flourish on June 28, 1984. Tied at six with the Mariners, Dwight Evans came up with two men on base and two outs in the bottom of the 11th. He hit a walk-off three-run homer off Ed Nunez to win the game 9-6. One of the more underrated players in the game, Dewey is currently the greatest right fielder in franchise history.

Rich Gedman performed the feat on September 18, 1985. It’s not every day a catcher completes the cycle, let alone gets a triple. Gedman did just that however in a 13-1 defeat of the Blue Jays. Gedman’s triple came with the bases loaded in the fourth inning to put the Sox ahead 8-0. He drove in seven runs total in the game. Wade Boggs also had four hits as the Sox socked 18 of them on the day.

Mike Greenwell cycled on September 14, 1988. The Red Sox needed it, squeaking past the Orioles 4-3. The MVP candidate went 4-4 and scored three of the Red Sox runs. He homered in the second, then scored after his ground-rule double in the fourth. Leading off the sixth, Greenwell tripled on a misplayed fly ball and scored to put the Red Sox ahead.

The Last Twenty-Five Years

Scott Cooper hit for his at Kaufmann Stadium as part of a 22-11 rout of the Royals. In just the eighth game of the 1994 season, on April 12, Cooper went 5-6 with 5 RBI, doubling twice in the cycle. Read about the game and watch the video of his cycle here.

John Valentin homered in the first, tripled in the third, singled in the fourth and doubled in the sixth, all off Joe Magrane. The Red Sox beat the White Sox 7-4 on June 6, 1996. Valentin was 4-4 as he didn’t receive any other at-bats. Take a look.

Brock Holt became the first Red Sox to hit for the cycle in nearly two decades on June 16, 2015. Holt batted leadoff that day, getting three of his hits off Atlanta starter Julio Teheran. He tripled in the eighth off Sugar Ray Marimon to complete the achievement. The Red Sox beat the Braves 9-4.

Mookie Betts accomplished the feat just the other night, and it was seemingly just a matter of time. The Red Sox lost the game, but it is always fun to see someone on the hometown team attain this. Mookie’s homer in the ninth gave us joy during a loss.

On This Day In Red Sox History: June 8, 1950

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On June 8, 1950, the Red Sox played host to the St. Louis Browns at Fenway Park. The Red Sox had crushed the Browns the previous day by a score of 20-4. That game proved to be only the appetizer to the upcoming entrée. The Red Sox, whose offense clicked at historic levels that season, were ready to set a few records on that Thursday afternoon.

The 1950 Red Sox

This was one of several Red Sox clubs from that era victimized by there being no playoffs. Two teams played for the World Series in those days, there were no playoffs leading up to them. You had the best record in the league or you didn’t. The 1950 Red Sox went 94-60, which is more wins than either of the division winning teams the Red Sox have fielded the past two seasons, in fewer games. However, they did not get the chance to play for anything.

The Red Sox also scored 1067 runs as a team in 1950, only 40 less than the Major League record. They did all this while missing Ted Williams for half the season, who broke his elbow at the All-Star Game. Williams had hit 28 home runs and driven in 97 runs over just 89 games. Six of their eight regulars that season batted over .300, with the other two finishing above .290. Their top utility player, Billy Goodman, batted .354! This team deserved a chance to play in a postseason.

The Red Sox bats did not disappoint in the previous days game, scoring 20 runs on 23 hits. The team had hit five home runs in the onslaught.

Red Sox box score from June 7, 1950.

The Game Gets Underway

The Red Sox featured nearly the same lineup as the day before, and why not? They had just banged out 20 runs after all. The only differences were in the 8-9 spots. Matt Batts replaced Birdie Tebbetts at catcher batting 8th, and the 9th spot was filled by the pitcher, Chuck Stobbs. The team didn’t look like they were about to accomplish something historic when they went scoreless in the first inning. Johnny Pesky and Ted Williams were stranded on base in the inning.

The floodgates were opened up in the 2nd inning. Coming off a three hit day, Al Zarilla started the inning with a double. Take note of that, as he would have a few more of them before the game ended. After a walk to Bobby Doerr, backup catcher Matt Batts doubled in the first run of the game. The pitcher Chuck Stobbs then drew a walk, another common theme of the game. The bases were loaded with a run already in. Two straight fly balls netted just one run but Ted Williams was due up with two men still on base. He unloaded on the Cliff Fannin offering to right for a three-run homer and the Sox had themselves a five run inning.

They weren’t finished. After a walk Walt Dropo homered to left field to make it seven runs in. Al Zarilla then doubled for the second time during the inning and was brought home by Bobby Doerr. When Fannin finally got out of the second inning the Red Sox had 8 runs in and had sent 12 men to the plate.

Red Sox Pile On

The Browns pinch-hit for Cliff Fannin in the third, ending his day with just two innings pitched. They picked up three runs on three hits and two walks in the inning to make it an 8-3 ballgame. The Red Sox offense then went to work against Cuddles Marshall, not a daunting name.

Chuck Stobbs drew his second walk in as many plate appearances. Two more walks had the bases loaded against Cuddles with just one out. Vern Stephens doubled to left to score two, followed by Walt Dropo’s two-run single. The score was 12-3. Al Zarilla doubled once more and Bobby Doerr brought home a run with a sacrifice fly. The Red Sox reloaded the bases, again. Chuck Stobbs drew his second walk of the inning, third of the game, and yes, he was the pitcher. But Cuddles Marshall was able to get out of the inning with “only” five runs scored.

The Browns went 1-2-3 in the top of the 4th and the Red Sox offense went right back at it. Vern Stephens scored Johnny Pesky with a triple, then was driven home by Walt Dropo. Bobby Doerr hit his first homer of the game, a 2-run shot, and Cuddles Marshall’s day was over. Marshall allowed nine runs while only recording four outs. Sid Schacht replaced him and fared better, only if because he kind of had to. Chuck Stobbs drew his fourth consecutive walk, a record for walks drawn by a pitcher in one game.

Chuck Stobbs set a record for pitchers by drawing 4 walks.

The Sox Ease Up

The Red Sox scored two more in the fifth but were held scoreless in the sixth. Meanwhile, Stobbs wasn’t having much trouble on the mound or in the batter’s box. After a scoreless sixth he had still allowed runs in just the one inning. The seventh gave him more trouble, as he walked two and hit a batter. However, the Browns still failed to score so the game remained 22-3 Boston at the 7th inning stretch.

The Sox wasted no time in adding to their lead in the bottom half. Al Zarilla led off the inning with his fifth hit of the day, and the first that wasn’t a double. Bobby Doerr then followed him up with a 2-run shot over the monster in left, his second home run of the game. Doerr had now driven in seven runs on the day. The next three batters went down in order; 24-3 Red Sox after seven.

Red Sox Set Records

Sid Schacht had pitched alright considering how others before him had fared, but he lost it in the 8th. The Red Sox homered three times off him in the inning before he was removed with one out. Johnny Pesky opened the inning with a double to right, his fifth hit of the day. Ted Williams then hit the first of three 8th inning homers, his second of the day. Williams drove in five runs in the blowout. Vern Stephens singled for his third hit of the day. Walt Dropo followed with his second home run of the game. Dropo had four hits and seven runs batted in. After a flyball out, Bobby Doerr deposited his third baseball over the wall in left field. Doerr had four hits, three of them home runs, and eight runs batted in! Schacht’s night was over, as was the scoring for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox had set a Major League record with their 29 runs scored in the game. Their 29-4 victory also set the record for largest victory in big league history. The 60 total bases accumulated by Red Sox hitters was also a record. Beyond that, coupled with their 20-4 thrashing of the Browns the day before, the Red Sox had set a record with 49 runs scored and 51 base hits over a two game span. Throw in pitcher Chuck Stobbs record four walks in one game for a pitcher (not to mention his two base hits) and the Red Sox were living large.

Bobby Doerr hit three home runs and drove in eight runs in the 29-4 demolition of the Browns.

The History Of The Boston Red Sox: Jersey Number 1-3

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In a new series by Boston Sports Extra, we decided to take a look back at the historic players to dawn our jersey numbers. Let’s witness history!

Number 1

Bobby Doerr: Until recently, Bobby was the oldest living member of the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. He played second base for the Red Sox from 1937-1951. He once lead the American league with consecutive chances without an error (414) in 1948. Throughout his career, he hit a .288 average with 233 career home runs, 2,042 hits, and 1,247 career runs batted in. He currently has his number retired at Fenway Park.

Number 2

Jerry Remy: The “rem-dog” played for his hometown Red Sox from 1978-1984. As a member of the Red Sox he hit a .285 average with 802 hits, two home runs, and 211 runs batted in. While his career stats weren’t as eye popping as they could be, he has been a color commentator for the Boston Red Sox since 1988. He has been in the homes of millions with NESN, and receives so much support with his off and on battle with cancer. Glad to have you back, Jerry!

Xander Bogaerts: The current shortstop since the 2013 playoffs, Xander has had an up and down career. The 25 year old is entering his fifth season. He sports a career .284 average with 53 homers, 292 runs batted in, and 698 hits to go along with 41 career stolen bases. While he is still on the disabled list for the time being, he has shown signs of his best offensive season yet. He should rejoin the team during their west coast trip. They play Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani on Tuesday.

Number 3

Jimmie Foxx: He dawned the uniform number 3 from 1936-1942. He put together twelve 30 home run seasons, and 13 consecutive 100 RBI seasons. As a member of the Red Sox he hit .320 for average, with 222 home runs, 788 runs batted in and 1051 hits. He was one of the most dominant hitters of his generation.

Jody Reed: The second baseman played second base and shortstop for the Red Sox from 1987-1993. In that time, he hit .280 for average, 17 home runs, and 227 RBI.

While some of the players on the list will be Hall of Famers, some will be barely relevant guys. All players matter. Their stats may be incumbent, but they did make an impact during their respected seasons. Join us next time, as we look at numbers 4-6 on our list!

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