Boston Red Sox: 50 greatest players of all-time
By Phil Watson
Jimmie Foxx was a three-time American League home run champ, including topping the circuit in 1935, when the Red Sox acquired the slugger along with Johnny Marcum in December 1935, sending Gordon Rhodes, George Savino and $150,000 to the perennially cash-strapped Philadelphia Athletics.
Foxx was just entering his prime years and continued to mash in Boston, making six straight All-Star appearances. In 1938, Foxx was the AL MVP, missing out on a Triple Crown despite hitting 50 homers and leading the league with 175 RBI and a .349 average.
Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers spoiled Foxx’s bid for a second Triple Crown by hitting 58 home runs.
Foxx was also second in the MVP race the following year behind Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees while leading the AL with 35 homers.
Foxx also led the AL in walks in 1938, as well as twice in slugging, on-base percentage and OPS. But age was catching up to the slugger and after starting the season slowly in 1942, he was waived in late May and claimed by the Chicago Cubs.
In parts of seven seasons with the Red Sox, Foxx hit .320/.429/1.034, an OPS+ of 156, with 222 homers, 788 RBI and 721 runs scored.
He retired in 1945 after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies and was inducted to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1951.
Foxx died from choking on July 21, 1967 at the age of 59. He struggled to find a successful career after baseball, spending a year managing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1952 and serving as hitting coach for the Triple-A Minneapolis Mllers in 1958.