Red Sox: Top 5 home run hitters in franchise history
A look at five of the greatest power hitters to ever put on a Boston Red Sox uniform.
The MLB All-Star festivities begin Monday night with the Home Run Derby, where some of the game’s greatest mashers will take turns attempting to out-slug one another in a glorified batting practice session.
The event builds excitement on the eve of the Midsummer Classic, proving that nothing catches the attention of baseball fans more than a majestic moonshot sent deep over the outfield walls. It’s not just chicks that dig the long ball, we’re all guilty to some extent of watching in awe as these powerful sluggers send baseballs flying into the seats.
The Boston Red Sox will send six All-Stars to San Diego, none of whom will participate in the Home Run Derby. At least a couple of the selected Red Sox hitters would be capable of putting on quite a show, but declined for one reason or another.
While Boston won’t be represented in this year’s Home Run Derby, the storied history of the franchise has had its fair share of power hitters. In honor of tonight’s event, let’s take a look back at the top power hitters in team history.
One disclaimer is that this list includes the most fearsome power threats to wear a Red Sox uniform, not necessarily those that rank highest on the all-time list. Carl Yastrzemski is third in franchise history with 452 career home runs, in part due to playing 23 seasons in the big leagues. He topped 40 homers three times, but averaged less than 20 per season. Yaz was an all-time great hitter, but wasn’t considered a big time power threat for most of his career.
Another example of the type of player you won’t find on this list is Adrian Beltre, who ranks inside the top 50 all-time and seems poised to make a run at 500 home runs before he calls it a career. Yet he only spent one season in Boston, so he doesn’t make the cut.
Who does make the list? Let’s find out.
Next: Mo Vaughn
You won’t find the Hit Dog anywhere near the top of baseball’s all-time home run list, as his 328 career homers puts him outside the top 100. The reason wasn’t for a lack of power, but rather a lack of longevity.
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Vaughn’s career began to spiral downward almost immediately after he left Boston following the 1998 season. He severely sprained his ankle falling down the dugout steps chasing a pop up in his first game with the Anaheim Angels, limiting his first post-Red Sox season to 139 games. He still managed to top 30 homers in each of his two years with the Angels, before missing the entire 2001 season with a knee injury.
He was traded to the New York Mets in 2002, but played a total of only 166 games over two seasons. In January 2004 he announced that he would miss the upcoming season, collecting the $15 million remaining on his contract while spending the year on the disabled list, before officially retiring when doctors told him that he’d require knee replacement surgery in order to continue playing.
His career ended on a down note, but he was one of the game’s most feared power hitters during the first eight years that he spent with the Red Sox. The 270 home runs Vaughn hit in Boston rank 7th in franchise history. In the four year stretch that wrapped up his tenure with the Red Sox, Vaughn averaged a tick under 40 home runs per season, made three All-Star appearances, won the MVP award in 1995 and finished in the top 5 on the ballot two other times.
Vaughn didn’t have a long career, but during his prime years in Boston he was one of the most feared power hitters in the game, producing a .936 OPS as a member of the Red Sox.
Next: Jim Rice
There were some that questioned Rice’s induction into the baseball Hall of Fame because they felt that his peak didn’t last long enough. That’s a load of rubbish.
Rice spent his entire 16 year career with the Red Sox. At least a dozen of those seasons were played at an elite level, starting with his first full season in 1975 when he finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting and third in the MVP race.
He would go on to make 8 All-Star appearances in a 10 year span from 1977-1986, winning an MVP and finishing in the top 5 four other times.
Rice hit at least 20 homers 11 times during his career, leading the league in that category in three of those seasons. That includes a career-high 46 that he smashed during his MVP campaign in ’78, when he also led the league in triples, RBI, slugging, OPS and total bases.
The 382 home runs Rice finished with puts him fourth on the Red Sox all-time list, just ahead of teammate Dwight Evans (379), despite that Evans played in over 400 more games with the Red Sox. If Rice’s career lasted anywhere near as long as the outfielders he shared the outfield with in Boston, he likely would have made a run at 500 home runs.
Next: Ted Williams
Teddy Ballgame may be the best pure hitter this game has ever seen. He was a career .344 hitter with a .482 OBP that still stands as the best career mark in history. Most players that hit for such a high average don’t produce lofty home run totals, but the Splendid Splinter did.
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Williams was a two-time MVP who finished as the runner-up four other times, while appearing on the ballot 18 times. The one season that he played where he wasn’t considered was in 1952 when injury limited him to 6 games.
Williams led the league in home runs four times, including a career-high 43 that he hit in 1949. He finished with 521, which is tied for 20th on the all-time list and the most in franchise history. Others that have played in Boston may be higher on the list, but none of them hit this many while wearing a Red Sox uniform.
Just imagine what his resume would look like if he hadn’t spent three years away from the league while serving in the military during World War II. Tack on three additional years of his prime (age 24-26) and we could be talking about Williams being in the top 10 on the all-time list, possibly even top 5!
He left for the war after leading the league with 36 home runs and finishing second in MVP voting. The fact that Williams didn’t miss a beat upon his return, smashing 38 homers and winning the MVP in his first season back in 1946, may be the most extraordinary accomplishment of his prolific career.
Next: Manny Ramirez
Ramirez ranks 15th all time with 555 home runs, more than any other player to ever put on a Red Sox uniform – with the exception of Babe Ruth, who was primarily a pitcher in Boston and did most of his damage at the plate while playing for some other team.
The Great Bambino may be one of the best power hitters ever, but he collected only 49 of his 714 career home runs during his six seasons in Boston. That’s not the case for Manny, who hit 274 home runs with the Red Sox, 6th most in franchise history.
Fans may remember Manny most for his goofy antics on and off the field, but there is no doubting that he was the best right-handed hitter in baseball during the seven and half seasons he spent here.
Ramirez was an All-Star in every season that he spent in Boston, hitting .312/.411/.588 over that span. He finished in the top 10 in MVP voting during his first five seasons in Boston, yet shockingly never finished higher than third. His atrocious defense in left field and unpredictable personality may have had something to do with that, but few could match Manny’s contributions at the plate.
Manny also added 11 postseason home runs during his tenure in Boston and was named MVP of the 2004 World Series.
No wonder Red Sox fans were willing to put up with “Manny being Manny” for so many years.
Next: David Ortiz
The man at the top of our list is also the only active player, although one winding down the final season of his epic career.
Ortiz may be ready to ride off into the sunset, but you’d hardly know it from the way he’s still hitting at the age of 40. He enters the All-Star break tied for 6th in the American League with 22 home runs, while leading the league with a 1.107 OPS and 57 extra-base hits.
Earlier this season we saw Ortiz surpass Red Sox legend Ted Williams on the all-time home run list. He currently sits in 19th place with 525 and still has the second half of this season to try to climb further up the ladder. Hall of Fame hitters such as Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle and Mike Schmidt are all potentially within reach if Ortiz can replicate anywhere near his first half production.
Manny’s 555 career home runs seems to be out of reach, barring a monster 30-homer second half, but Ortiz could end up right behind his former teammate when it’s all said and done. The bulk of Ortiz’s work has come in Boston, placing him second behind Williams on the Red Sox all time list with 467 (and counting).
Next: Ortiz's legacy
Ortiz will be remembered not only for the number of home runs he hit for the Red Sox, but for the many memorable ones that highlight his career. There was the walk-off homer to win Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS, clinching the series for the Red Sox over the Angels. Nine days later he would hit another walk-off home run in Game 4 of the ALCS that helped spark an unfathomable comeback against the rival Yankees. Who could forget the game-tying grand slam in Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS against Detroit that sent Torii Hunter tumbling head over heels into the bullpen. Plus many more unforgettable moments.
His 17 postseason home runs are 7th most all time, adding to his legacy as one of the most clutch hitters of this era.
He may not have the most career home runs on this list or even the most hit in a Red Sox uniform, but when factoring in the magnitude of many of his clutch performances as the anchor of a lineup that has won three World Series titles, we have to put Big Papi at the top of this list.
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Ortiz is the greatest home run hitter that I have ever seen wear a Red Sox uniform and I’ll cherish each of his remaining plate appearances as his Hall of Fame worthy career winds to a close.