Red Sox: Worst outfielders in franchise history
By Rick McNair
Jimmy’s replacement
When you are brought to town for Jim Piersall you better bring your glove to match. Gary Geiger played left and center for Boston and I remember him best in center. Geiger happened to be one of my favorite players and I am still of the opinion if he was not so injury prone he may have had a more respectable career. Geiger also matched teammate Jensen with a fear of flying.
Geiger actually led the team in home runs in 1961 with 18. Geiger also hit an anemic .232. That was an awful post-Ted Williams Red Sox collection. Even newcomer Carl Yastrzemski was somewhat of a bust. Geiger played seven seasons with Boston hitting .253 and providing limited power.
Examining the dWAR for Geiger’s career it is -1.8, but the true story is what I saw far too often in center field. Geiger was a “hesitant.” – a term I once heard a scout describe as a player who stalls on a ball instead of instinctively getting a jump on it. Geiger’s arm was also one that matches up with Jacoby Ellsbury or Johnny Damon.
Being a favorite of mine I hate to place Geiger on this list, but he was just not that good of an outfielder.