Boston Red Sox greatest position players from 2004-Present
Since 2004, the Red Sox have seen a change in fortune. There’ve been many greats to grace the field at Fenway contributing to an exceptional era.
With the Boston Red Sox reaching the ALCS for the fifth time since the beginning of the infamous 2004 season, it’s a good feeling for fans to look back at the talent this city has seen over this much long-awaited period in Red Sox history.
From the days of Ted Williams to the days of Carl Yastrzemski, the Red Sox have always had lots of talent on their teams. Recent years have seen many players who will go down as Boston greats. A couple will get their numbers hanging up with the likes of Williams and co. and many more will enter the coveted Red Sox Hall of Fame.
There have been a number of important names who have contributed to three World Championships. Here are the greatest Red Sox position players during this coveted period in team history.
C – Jason Varitek
‘Tek’ was and remains idolized in the eyes of the Red Sox faithful. The Captain produced some memorable moments in his fourteen-year career, which was solely spent with this organization. From his bout with one of Boston’s top enemies, Alex Rodriguez, to leading the Sox to the first World Series title in eighty-six years.
When it’s all said and done, it will be hard to top Varitek at the catcher spot. His numbers weren’t the greatest, but he was an outstanding catcher and his leadership will be hard to top, which was pivotal in two World Series titles.
The 2005 season saw him claim a Silver Slugger Award and a Golden Glove award – this was his most impressive season, finishing twenty-first in AL MVP voting. He was one of the greatest defensive catchers in the league for a long period and will be remembered fondly by Red Sox fans everywhere.
Varitek will go down as one of the two greatest catchers in franchise history, along with Carlton Fisk. Captains like him don’t come easily, but Boston has been blessed with great leader figures including Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz, and Varitek is certainly one of these greats.
1B – Kevin Youkilis
Youkilis was one of the premier first basemen in the league for a period. ‘Youk’ contributed largely to the 2004 and 2007 World Series wins, the second of which saw him emerge into a great player.
He was named to the AL All-Star team on three separate occasions in 2008, 2009 and 2011, all as a member of the Red Sox. Here he reached his prime, finishing third and sixth in AL MVP voting in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
He was a talented player with a persistence to get on base, which he became known for. His career OBP of .382 reflects the problem he caused for pitchers over his career, bringing a dominant force in the Red Sox line up.
While the Red Sox have been lucky enough to have talent at first base on many occasions – including players of Jimmy Foxx’s caliber, to the Mo Vaughn’s, Youkilis remains the best the Red Sox have seen this century.
His time as a Boston player saw his talent underlined. ‘Youk’ was one of the greater hitters a pitcher could come up against and his defensive ability at first was important for the Sox as they strived towards many successful seasons, during Youkilis’ time in Boston, which he was integral to.
2B – Dustin Pedroia
This one is a lock. Pedroia is one of the Red Sox faithful’s most beloved stars. His 2008 AL MVP season is one of the greatest by any Red Sox player and his contribution both on the field and off it are second to none.
Helping the Red Sox capture the 2007 and 2013 World Series’ Pedroia, now at the age of 35 and battling injuries which have kept him out for most of the last two seasons, still has an enormous effect on the team. He’s now being seen as an extra coach and his backing from the dugout will help push the Sox all the way in this post-season run.
His appreciation, by the league and beyond, was shown in 2012 when he received the Heart and Hustle award, underlining the professionalism shown by Pedroia over his career.
Along with many seasons as one of the most effective hitters, Pedroia’s most defining aspects of his game come in the field. Winning four Golden Glove awards for his efforts from 2B, Pedroia has been one of the best infielders for a long time, and up there with the greats when it comes to making a play and commanding the infield.
3B – Mike Lowell
The 2007 World Series MVP had a tremendous 2007 season, in general. He batted in 120 runners and recorded an astonishing 15 more in postseason play, on the way to the World Series win. He was an excellent fielder at third and a cornerstone of the teams seventh World Championship.
Lowell played out the last years of his career for the Red Sox. But, unlike many players, his last years saw his best game come out. Although Lowell only played for five years in Boston, his efforts earned him an induction into the Red Sox Hall of Fame. He can definitely be considered a clutch player, due to his World Series performance in 2007, which saw him go six for fifteen with four RBI’s and 6 runs.
Lowell’s career saw him appear as an All-Star on four separate occasions, and although only the last came in Boston, the Red Sox fans got to see him in his prime, which will be how he’ll be remembered in the big leagues. That 2007 season saw him finish fifth in MVP voting – a season which stands out, in recent memory. Lowell was a large part of the Red Sox success stories following his landing in Boston, which will define his career.
SS – Nomar Garciaparra
‘Nomah’ is another player close to many Bostonian’s hearts. He spent the best part of his career in Boston, receiving four of his six All-Star appearances as a Red Sox player.
In the six full healthy seasons he played in Boston, he recorded high-90’s to triple digits in RBI’s. He was a key figure in Boston for his tenure, which resulted in the heart-breaking trade. The trade landed Garciaparra in Chicago, to play for the Cubs and Red Sox fans in pain. His career was then effected largely by injury – not playing over half a season for four straight years. This trade came just before the 2004 World Championship.
In the 2002 season, Nomar recorded an American League-leading fifty-six doubles, capping another tremendous season for the star.
The effects of his injuries might have limited the length of Nomar’s career, but his time in Boston cemented him as one of the Red Sox greats. Many would like to see his number retired along with the other Boston greats, however, this remains unlikely due to policies. For the many, number 5 will remain Nomar’s number and his impact on a generation in Boston won’t be forgotten any time in the future. Garciaparra’s game was an exciting prospect to witness and the absence of a World Series ring, from his part, is a disappointment to Sox fans everywhere.
LF – Manny Ramirez
Manny dominated in Boston for the seven and a half years he spent here. He featured as an All-Star every season and also won a six silver slugger awards with the Red Sox.
The 2004 postseason saw Manny lead the Sox to the World Series title, on the back of the WS MVP award, where he hit .412 and drove in four. His three-run walk-off home run in Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS will be remembered fondly by all Sox fans as one of the most iconic moments in the history of the team.
Along with David Ortiz, the Red Sox offense was a scary presence for the opposing teams, through this period. The 2004 season saw Manny hit 43 homers and record 130 RBI’s, which was pivotal in the journey to the 2004 World Series title. He record eleven and sixteen RBI’s in the 2004 and 2007 postseason campaigns, respectively.
Ramirez has been one of the most important players for the Red Sox, this century and was pivotal in the turnaround. His career in Boston, was one of the most dominant tenures, in recent memory, and Manny joins the likes of Red Sox outfield greats, such as Jim Rice and Dwight Evans as everlasting legends in Boston.
CF – Jackie Bradley Jr.
The Center Field spot has seen many accomplished players feature for Boston over the last decade or so. Johnny Damon and Jacoby Ellsbury were both parts of winning teams, before both ending up playing for the New York Yankees. However, nobody has played Center Field as well as Jackie Bradley Jr. on his day. Jackie doesn’t the bat of Damon or Ellsbury, but his superman-like performances put him as the best defensive CF of this era.
Since his emergence in 2013, his efforts on the field have reflected his talents. However, after easily being considered one the greatest fielders in baseball, today, he still hasn’t won a Gold Glove award, as of yet. While this looks set to change this year, after his many emphatic catches, he’s still regarded very highly by the Red Sox.
Although there have been spots where he hasn’t batted as well as he could, he still brings a presence at bat, at the bottom of the order, and is the most important player, defensively. He has played a huge role in the Red Sox’s success, including this postseason campaign, where he adds to the talent which can go all the way.
RF – Mookie Betts
Betts is the greatest five-tool player in baseball today. He brings a firepower like no other to the plate and to that Right Field spot. Since he came up to the majors in 2014, he’s been a special player, this year like no other.
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The 2018 season saw Betts hit 32 home runs and steal 30 bases as well as clinching the batting title from the leadoff spot with a .346 BA. His abilities in the field don’t go unnoticed either, as he is as good as any when it comes to fielding and he has a cannon as an arm, which no runner is safe when coming up against. He is the favorite for AL MVP this year and will remain the center of the Red Sox’s plans for the rest of the post-season. Fans will be anxious to see a long-term deal to secure Mookie’s services in Boston completed soon.
Mookie is set to be one of the best players in the game for a long time, and let’s hope that he stays in Boston for that time. For Mookie, the sky is the limit, and he’ll be a hero figure to a whole generation if he keeps doing what he’s doing. It wouldn’t be a surprise if someday number 50 was up there with the other greats of Red Sox franchise history.
DH – David Ortiz
‘Big Papi’ is considered one of the greatest Red Sox players to ever play the game of baseball. Ortiz is talked about in the same conversations as the great Ted Williams when comparing Red Sox greats.
Ortiz changed the DH position as he dominated teams from that spot for years. The superstar won all three of Boston’s World Series titles in this century, picking up the ALCS MVP in 2004 and the World Series MVP in 2013.
Ortiz’s role in Boston was far more than a baseball star. Along with his momentous moments on the diamond, which included the 2004 ALDS Game 4 home run against the Yankees that changed the fate of the Red Sox franchise, Ortiz has been a huge figure in the community of Boston. His speech after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing was one of the most iconic in the history of sports. This inspired so many, the Red Sox included, and was a large factor in going on to secure the eighth World Championship in franchise history.
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His number has recently joined the likes of Williams, Pedro Martinez and Bobby Doerr in the class of retired numbers by the Red Sox organization, which is an honor like no other.