RSL Poll: Greatest Boston Sports Star of All-Time
The Guru
Contributing Writer
After David Ortiz's historic night Wednesday, the questions have started: Is David Ortiz a Hall of Famer? Does Big Papi belong in the pantheon of Boston sports stars?
Boston has been blessed with its share of stars over the years. The list could be 25 names long.
The Mount Rushmore of Boston sports includes names like Russell, Bird, Brady, Flutie, Marciano, Orr, Esposito, Yaz and Williams.
Does David Ortiz belong in that select club?
Measuring greatness is a very subjective thing. For our purposes today we will use the barometer of championships in the modern era (post 1970), played 10 years or more in Boston and dominance at their position.
Today, Red Sox Life asks: Who's the greatest Boston sports star of all-time?
Larry Bird: Bird was 3-time NBA champion, 2-time NBA Finals MVP, a 12-time NBA All-Star and was named the league's Most Valuable Player three times. He was also member of the Dream Team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Bird was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. Bird played his entire professional career for Boston.
Tom Brady: In Brady's eleven seasons as a starter, the Patriots have played Super Bowl in five of them, winning three. He has also won two Super Bowl MVP awards, has been selected to eight Pro Bowls, and holds the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a single regular season. His career postseason record is 17–7; his playoff win total is the highest in NFL history. Brady has the third highest career passer rating of all time (96.6).
Bobby Orr: Orr played 10 seasons in Boston, won two Stanley Cups and is arguably one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Orr remains the only defenseman to have won the league scoring title and holds the record for most points and assists in a single season by a defenseman. Orr won a record eight consecutive Norris Trophies as the NHL's best defenseman and three consecutive Hart Trophies as the league's most valuable player. Orr was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 at age 31, the youngest to be inducted into the Hall at that time.
David Ortiz: Big Papi is a 2-time World Series champion, 9-time All-Star and 5-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Ortiz is the all time hits, home runs and RBI leader for designated hitters. Ortiz holds the Red Sox single season record for home runs in a regular season with 54. Ortiz has 427 career home runs and 2001 hits. Ortiz is one of just 51 MLB players in history to hit at least 400 career home runs.
What say you Red Sox Lifer's? Let the arguments begin.
Follow The Guru on Twitter @TheGuruGS
More musings from The Guru.
Contributing Writer
Boston has been blessed with its share of stars over the years. The list could be 25 names long.
The Mount Rushmore of Boston sports includes names like Russell, Bird, Brady, Flutie, Marciano, Orr, Esposito, Yaz and Williams.
Does David Ortiz belong in that select club?
Measuring greatness is a very subjective thing. For our purposes today we will use the barometer of championships in the modern era (post 1970), played 10 years or more in Boston and dominance at their position.
Today, Red Sox Life asks: Who's the greatest Boston sports star of all-time?
David Ortiz: Big Papi is a 2-time World Series champion, 9-time All-Star and 5-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Ortiz is the all time hits, home runs and RBI leader for designated hitters. Ortiz holds the Red Sox single season record for home runs in a regular season with 54. Ortiz has 427 career home runs and 2001 hits. Ortiz is one of just 51 MLB players in history to hit at least 400 career home runs.
What say you Red Sox Lifer's? Let the arguments begin.
Follow The Guru on Twitter @TheGuruGS
More musings from The Guru.
