BoSox Injection
Fansided

Red Sox: A look back at Boston’s designated hitters legacy

By Rick McNair

Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) salutes the fans after the loss against the Cleveland Indians in game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) salutes the fans after the loss against the Cleveland Indians in game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics former player Jose Canseco throws out the first pitch of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics former player Jose Canseco throws out the first pitch of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

In December of 1995, the Red Sox dipped into the free agent pool and caught a fish – a very big fish – in fact, a very enhanced fish in 30-year-old Jose Canseco. Canseco had not yet surfaced as one of the poster boys for PED’s, but there were certainly suspensions. Canseco also offered up a much-needed right-handed power boost and he did.

For his two years in Boston Canseco hit – hit as well as expected. That first season Jose played in 102 games and hit .306 with 24 home runs and 81 RBI, while posting an fWAR of 2.5. That was a warm up for a spectacular half-season that followed that was one of the best power displays by a Boston hitter – at least for half a season.

By the All-Star break in 1996, Canseco had swatted 26 home runs, had 63 RBI and was hitting .305 in 70 games. Then Canseco’s chronic bad back gave out and six weeks disappeared for Jose while he recovered before returning and doing little. The last 21 games witnessed only two more home runs and Canseco was traded back to the A’s in the off-season for John Wasdin.

Wasdin and Canseco had something in common – Wasdin gave up home runs and Canseco hit them. My most vivid memory of Canseco in Boston was the ALDS against Cleveland in 1995. Canseco was a nightmare as he took a 0-13 as the Indians dispensed with Boston 3-0.

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