Red Sox: Top 5 home run hitters in franchise history
By Sean Penney
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