Boston Red Sox top 25-man roster in franchise history
By Sean Penney
Bench – Infielder
Bobby Doerr
(1937-1951)
Career Stats: .288/.362/.461, 223 HR, 1247 RBI, 54 SB, 53.3 WAR
With Red Sox: Played entire career in Boston
Old time Boston Red Sox fans will say: “Dustin, who?” For many fans, the flagship of second basemen in Boston is Hall of Fame member Bobby Doerr. A nine-time All-Star, six times surpassing 100 RBI, and the oldest living member of the HOF. A quality performer on offense and defense who Ted Williams called “Our silent captain.”
Doerr retired with a career fielding record of double plays by a second baseman that has since been broken. Doerr was routinely among the league leaders in DP’s, assists and putouts that were all representative fielding prowess before metrics measuring guides, but it was his bat that sets Doerr apart.
A powerful right-handed hitter who was built for Fenway Park, where Doerr hit a career .315 with 145 home runs. A career K% of 7.6 demonstrates Doerr’s ability as a contact hitter and a career ISO of .173 gives a view of his power. Doerr made one post season appearance with the Red Sox in 1946 and hit .409 to lead the team in a seven-game loss to the Cardinals. At 33-years-old Doerr was done.
Doerr had a history of back ailments and finished up in 1951 by playing only 105 games, yet still managed to hit .289 with 13 home runs and 73 RBI. Risking further back injury forced Doerr to return to his farm in Oregon where fate intervened and within a few years the back healed. Eventually, Doerr returned to baseball as a coach and scout including three years as a coach with Dick Williams becoming part of the magical 1967 “Impossible Dream” squad.
Next: Starting Pitcher 1