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Red Sox: Top five third basemen in franchise history

By Sean Penney

May 26, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Former Red Sox player Wade Boggs is honored with the retiring of his uniform number 26 before the start of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Former Red Sox player Wade Boggs is honored with the retiring of his uniform number 26 before the start of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox former pitcher Pedro Martinez (45) shakes the hand of another former teammate Mike Lowell as part of pregame ceremonies for designated hitter David Ortiz (34) before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox former pitcher Pedro Martinez (45) shakes the hand of another former teammate Mike Lowell as part of pregame ceremonies for designated hitter David Ortiz (34) before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Lowell

Josh Beckett may have been the headliner of the blockbuster deal with the Marlins in 2006, but Mike Lowell proved to be equally as important to the championship they would help bring a year later.

While Beckett struggled to adjust in his first year in Boston, Lowell delivered a respectable .284/.339/.475 line in his Red Sox debut season, along with his usual solid defensive play at third base.

Lowell was already a known commodity after making three All-Star appearances with the Marlins, but his 2007 season with the Red Sox was the best performance of his career. He set career highs with a .324 average and 120 RBI, earning him a fifth place finish on the AL MVP ballot.

The veteran third baseman had an impressive season, but the postseason was where he truly shined. After going 12-for-26 (.333) through the opening two rounds of the playoffs, Lowell followed by hitting a blistering .400 with a 1.300 OPS in the sweep over the Colorado Rockies to earn World Series MVP honors.

Lowell spent five seasons in Boston, compiling a .290/.346/.468 slash line with 80 home runs and an 8.6 fWAR that ranks 13th in franchise history at the position (in fairness, many of the names ahead of him on that list spent significant time at other positions as well).

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