Red Sox: Worst outfielders in franchise history
By Rick McNair
Dishonorable Mention
When Tony Conigliaro was beaned in 1967 the Red Sox struck gold – really Ken Harrelson did. Hawk was essentially “fired” by the A’s owner Charlie Finley and became a free agent. Harrelson could hit with power and did, but not until the following season when he paced the American League in RBI. Hawk in the field was not a ballhawk.
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Harrelson would play right field and it was an adventure. A career dWAR of -8.5. Harrelson had no instinctive abilities in the outfield and played first base for the bulk of his career games.
Israel Alcantara, just lacked any hustle. With Boston, his indifference had him quickly benched despite his hitting potential. Manager Jimy Williams refused to play Izzy despite the pleadings of GM Dan Duquette.
Izzy’s temper and dysfunction were well-known. A suspension at Pawtucket for an on-field brawl and later being dismissed by a Korean team as a locker room problem despite his thunderous bat.
Lenny Green played only two seasons in Boston and I am quite thankful for that. This, however, was the Red Sox of the mid-1960s and just about anyone was given a chance – even Green. The few games I saw him clearly demonstrated equal deficiencies in left and center field.
Jim Rice was a DH for a reason and that reason was a combination glove and arm. Still, Rice put in over 1,500 games in the outfield – mostly in left. Rice was amazing – an extremely athletic person, but it never translated to the outfield. Jump on the ball was minimal and his arm resulted in a high number of assists as teams would challenge his arm strength and accuracy.
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I have Carl Everett listed and in all honesty, Everett was an average fielder. A power hitting switch hitter, but a personality that who make a viper seem like a household pet. Carl had a knack for alienating just about everyone and was dubbed “The mouth from the South Side” when he played for the White Sox. From gay bashing to moon landing denials. You will never find “Mouth” at a MENSA meeting.