Boston Red Sox top 25-man roster in franchise history
By Sean Penney
First Base
Jimmie Foxx
(1925-1945)
Career Stats: .325/.428/.609, 534 HR, 1922 RBI, 87 SB, 101.8 WAR
With Red Sox: .320/.429/.605, 222 HR, 788 RBI, 38 SB, 37.6 WAR
In even the darkest of times there are certain opportunities that become available and that was the circumstances that brought Foxx to Boston for the 1936 season. Foxx, a cornerstone of the Philadelphia Athletics, became available due to the Great Depression, when A’s owner-manager Connie Mack was forced to sell off star players from his team. Tom Yawkey, the then young and wealthy owner of the Red Sox, sent $150,000 to the A’s for “The Beast.”
Foxx was in his prime at 28-years-old and was a two-time MVP while in Philadelphia. Foxx had already led the American League three times in home runs and was now to be power central and playing first base for the Red Sox. He did not disappoint.
Foxx established a team home run record – since topped by David Ortiz – by swatting out 50 in 1938. He also won his second batting title and established a team record that season with 175 RBI, capturing his third MVP Award with his dynamic season. In his seven Boston seasons, Foxx was an All-Star on six occasions and narrowly missed a second Boston MVP Award with a second place finish in 1939.
Defensively Foxx was more than capable as a first baseman and also saw major league duty at third base, the outfield and as a catcher. “Double X” was regarded as a smart base runner who could occasionally swipe a bag, having reached double digits in steals three times in his career.
Foxx’s career in Boston ended with a multitude of negative issues from a chronic drinking problem, sinus issues, turbulence with manager Joe Cronin and both failing eyesight and marriage.
Foxx was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951.
Next: Second Base