BREAKING: Clemens, Nomar, Pedro a part of Red Sox 2014 Hall of Fame class
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| Photo courtesy of RedSox.com |
Contributing Writer
The Boston Red Sox have announced their 2014 Hall of Fame Class. And this one is quite the class.
Roger Clemens, Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez and Joe Castiglione will be enshrined forever in the Red Sox Hall of Fame.
According to the Red Sox official MLB website:
In 1995 the Red Sox Hall of Fame was instituted to recognize the outstanding careers of former Red Sox players and managers. A 15-member selection committee of Red Sox broadcasters and executives, past and present media personnel, and representatives from The Sports Museum of New England and the BoSox Booster Club is responsible for nominating candidates. The feats of non-uniformed Red Sox personnel are also considered for induction into the Hall. A memorable moment in Red Sox history is regarded as well for its special significance.
To be eligible for nomination, players must have played at least three years with the Red Sox and must also have been out of uniform as an active player at least three years.
The non-uniformed person(s) selected and the memorable moment selected will be chosen only by a unanimous vote of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
Clemens was drafted 19th overall by the Red Sox in 1983 and made his debut in 1984. He stayed in Boston through the 1996 season and tied Cy Young for the most wins in franchise history with 192. He struck out 20 Seattle Mariners batters on April 29, 1986 at Fenway Park, becoming the first pitcher in baseball history to do so in a nine-inning game. He became the first to accomplish the feat twice, striking out 20 Tigers batters on September 18, 1996, in Detroit. Clemens was a five-time All-Star with Boston, while earning three Cy Young Awards and one American League MVP while donning the Red Sox uniform.
Garciaparra quickly rose to stardom in Boston after being taken in the first round by the Sox in 1994. He debuted in 1996 and was named the 1997 American League Rookie of the Year, along with his first All-Star selection and the Silver Slugger award. He batted .306 with 30 home runs and 98 RBIs and set an AL rookie record with a 30-game hitting streak that season. In 1998, he hit 35 homers and drove in 122 runs, finishing second in the AL MVP race. He became the first right-handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio to lead the league in hitting two consecutive seasons when he batted .357 and .372 in 1999 and 2000, respectively. He was a five-time All-Star and two-time batting champ in Boston before being traded as a key piece during the 2004 season, just months prior to the Sox first World Championship in 86 years.
Martinez is revered as perhaps the greatest pitcher of his generation, considering the Steroid Era of baseball in which he pitched. Martinez first came to Boston in the 1997 offseason via trade and immediately made his presence felt in 1998. He went 19-7 and finished second in the AL in ERA, strikeouts and the Cy Young Award. In 1999, Martinez had one of the best seasons for any MLB pitcher, going 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts, earning the pitching “Triple Crown.” He was the unanimous selection for the Cy Young Award and finished second in the MVP ballot. Martinez had a memorable All-Star appearance when he struck out the first four batters and five of the six he faced in front of his home fans at Fenway Park.
In 2004, Martinez helped the Red Sox win their first World Series since 1918, defeating the Yankees along the way and atoning for the 2003 ALCS Game 7. He went to four All-Star Games, won two Cy Youngs, led the AL in wins (in 1999) and ERA (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003) and was a three-time strikeout champ with the Red Sox.
Castiglione has been a staple in the Red Sox broadcast booth since 1983. He’s shared the radio booth with many broadcasters who have come through the Red Sox organization, but his voice is immediately recognizable to all in Red Sox Nation. His call on the radio as the Sox won the 2004 World Series is as memorable as it gets. Take a listen to some of his most memorable calls through the years (courtesy of RedSox.com): Listen Here.
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