Red Sox Recall: The Red Sox All-Time All-Star Team
The Guru
Contributing Writer
Red Sox Recall is a weekly feature focusing on the vast array of colorful characters that have played for and against the Red Sox, poignant moments in Sox lore and other, perhaps forgotten, memories that make up the rich history of the Olde Town Team.
With the All-Star break here and the Red Sox in first place with the best record in the American League, let’s take a break ourselves, shall we Red Sox Lifer’s. One of the cool things about being an RSL contributor is the chance to write stories that have absolutely nothing to do with the day-to-day grind of a 162 game season (and hopefully more this year).
In this weeks Red Sox Recall let’s assemble a dream team of sorts of the greatest players ever to don those red socks.
Here’s the Red Sox All-Time All-Star team. Enjoy and let the arguments commence!
Catcher: Carlton Fisk, 1969-80. The image of Pudge waving his game winning home run fair in the 1975 World Series is forever etched in the minds of Red Sox Nation. In his 11-year Red Sox career, Fisk was a seven-time All-Star, hit .285 with 162 home runs and over 1000 hits. While Fisk went on to play another 13 years in Chicago, he will always be remembered as a Red Sox. Boston retired his number 27 in 2000.
Runner-up: Jason Varitek, 1997-2011, three-time All-Star.
First Base: Jimmie Foxx, 1936-42. While “The Beast” only played six of his 20 seasons in Boston, he was one of the greatest power hitters Fenway has ever seen. Foxx hit 217 home runs in Boston, was a six-time All-Star and won the MVP in 1938 hitting .339 with 50 home runs and 175 runs batted in. Foxx was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1951.
Runner-up: Mo Vaughn, 1991-98, three-time All-Star.
Second Base: Dustin Pedroia, 2006-. While a strong case can be made for Bobby Doer, the slight edge goes to Pedroia. The former rookie of the year, 2008 AL MVP and four-time All-Star has a career .304 batting average, 96 home runs, 464 RBI and two gold gloves. The "Muddy Chicken" remains the unquestioned heart and soul of this Red Sox team. If Pedroia’s production continues for another eight seasons he will be a surefire Hall of Famer.
Runner-up: Bobby Doer, 1937-51, nine-time All-Star.
Third Base: Wade Boggs, 1982-92. During his 11 years in Boston, Boggs won five batting titles, was a seven-time All-Star and won six Silver Slugger awards. For his career Boggs had a .328 batting average, 3010 hits and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005. Sure he played five seasons with the Yankees, but come on Red Sox, retire his number already.
Runner-up: Jimmy Collins, 1901-1907. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1945.
Shortstop: Nomar Garciaparra, 1996-04. In seven seasons in Boston, Nomar posted a .325 batting average, was the 1997 rookie of the year, won batting titles in 1999 and 2000, was a five-time All-Star and finished in the top 10 in the MVP vote five times. Despite being a fan favorite, Nomar was part of the trade to the Cubs in 2004 that helped the Red Sox win their first World Series in 86 years. Injuries cut short his career at the age of 35 and he retired in 2009.
Runner-up: Joe Cronin, 1935-1945, five-time All-Star
Left Field: Ted Williams, 1939-60. The "Splendid Splinter" spent all 19 years of his career with the Red Sox. Williams finished his career with a .344 average, 521 home runs and a career.482 on-base percentage which remains the MLB record. Williams was a 19-time All-Star, won six batting titles, two Triple Crowns and two MVP awards. Ted was the last player to hit over .400 when he hit .406 in 1941. Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966 and his number 9 was retired in 1984.
Runner-up: Carl Yastrzemski, 1961-1983, 18-time All-Star.
Centerfield: Dom DiMaggio, 1940-53. Centerfield was a tough one to choose. Plenty of worthy contenders spanning a century of players. From Tris Speaker who hit .383 in 1912, to Fred Lynn the rookie of the year and the MVP in 1975, and there’s also the bearded one, Johnny Damon, who played an integral part in ‘04’s championship. With all that said, the "Little Professor" gets the nod. DiMaggio was a career .298 hitter, a seven-time All-Star, led the league twice in runs scored, stolen bases once and spent his entire career in Boston. Very good, completely underrated and 100% class.
Runner-up: Tris Speaker, 1907-15. 1912 MVP when he hit .383.
Right Field: Dwight Evans, 1972-90. The Red Sox have had some good right fielders from Buck Freeman and Harry Hooper in the 1900’s to MVP Jackie Jenson in 1958, Tony Conigliaro in the 60’s and the original dirt dog, Trot Nixon. But it’s Dwight Evan’s that deserves the spot and arguably a place in Cooperstown. Dewey hit 385 career home runs, was a three-time All-Star, won eight Gold Glove Awards and was a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
Runner-up: Jackie Jensen, 1954-61, two-time All-Star.
Designated Hitter: David Ortiz, 2003-. David Ortiz is not just the Red Sox greatest designated hitter, but the greatest DH of all-time period. Big Papi leads all DH’s all-time in hits, runs scored, doubles, home runs, extra-base hits and RBI. He’s a two-time World Series champion, an eight-time All-Star, has five Silver Slugger awards and 420 career home runs. Quick, name the runner up. There is no second place. Clutch.
Starting Pitcher: Pedro Martinez, 1998-04. Worthy candidates include names like Ruth, Young, Lonborg, Tiant and Clemens, but there was nothing quite like the appointment viewing when Pedro took the ball. In seven seasons in Boston, Martinez won four ERA titles, led the league in strikeouts three times and earned two Cy Young awards. In the three year stretch from ’98-2000, Martinez went 60- 17 with an ERA just over 2.00. Martinez has 219 wins and 3154 strike outs in his 17 year career. Pedro's performance in the '99 All-Star Game was something to watch.
Runner-up: Cy Young, 1901-1909. Red Sox all-time leader in wins.
Relief Pitcher: Jonathan Papelbon, 2005-10. Jonathan Papelbon is the Red Sox all-time saves leader at 219. While in Boston, Cinco Ocho was a four-time All-Star, runner-up for Rookie of the Year, a World Series champion and one of the Red Sox all-time personalities. Think the Sox would like to have him now?
Runner-up: Dick Radatz, 1962-66, two-time All-Star.
Manager: Terry Francono, 2004-11. Baseball lifer Terry Francona led Boston to two World Series Championships and is second only to Joe Cronin in wins by a Red Sox manager with 744. Tito got a raw deal on the way out of town, but will be remembered well by fans and players for his hard work, loyalty and sense of humor. Still seems strange to see Francona in the visitors dugout wearing an Indians uniform.
Runner-up: Joe Cronin, 1935-47, most wins all-time by a Red Sox manager with 1,071.
A lot of great players have graced the Fenway field over the years from Ruth and Rice to Pesky and Petrocelli. The possibilities are endless when putting together a list of the best. Agree, disagree? Who did we miss? What's your all-time team? Comment below.
Follow The Guru on Twitter @TheGuruGS
More musings from The Guru.
Contributing Writer
Red Sox Recall is a weekly feature focusing on the vast array of colorful characters that have played for and against the Red Sox, poignant moments in Sox lore and other, perhaps forgotten, memories that make up the rich history of the Olde Town Team.
With the All-Star break here and the Red Sox in first place with the best record in the American League, let’s take a break ourselves, shall we Red Sox Lifer’s. One of the cool things about being an RSL contributor is the chance to write stories that have absolutely nothing to do with the day-to-day grind of a 162 game season (and hopefully more this year).
In this weeks Red Sox Recall let’s assemble a dream team of sorts of the greatest players ever to don those red socks.
Here’s the Red Sox All-Time All-Star team. Enjoy and let the arguments commence!
Runner-up: Jason Varitek, 1997-2011, three-time All-Star.
Runner-up: Mo Vaughn, 1991-98, three-time All-Star.
Runner-up: Bobby Doer, 1937-51, nine-time All-Star.
Runner-up: Jimmy Collins, 1901-1907. Inducted into Hall of Fame 1945.
Runner-up: Joe Cronin, 1935-1945, five-time All-Star
Runner-up: Carl Yastrzemski, 1961-1983, 18-time All-Star.
Runner-up: Tris Speaker, 1907-15. 1912 MVP when he hit .383.
Runner-up: Jackie Jensen, 1954-61, two-time All-Star.
Runner-up: Cy Young, 1901-1909. Red Sox all-time leader in wins.
Runner-up: Dick Radatz, 1962-66, two-time All-Star.
Runner-up: Joe Cronin, 1935-47, most wins all-time by a Red Sox manager with 1,071.
A lot of great players have graced the Fenway field over the years from Ruth and Rice to Pesky and Petrocelli. The possibilities are endless when putting together a list of the best. Agree, disagree? Who did we miss? What's your all-time team? Comment below.
Follow The Guru on Twitter @TheGuruGS
More musings from The Guru.
