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Boston Red Sox top five home run hitters in franchise history

By Sean Penney

Boston Red Sox David Ortiz (R) is congratulated his solo homer by teammate Manny Ramirez in the top of the first innings against Japan's Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition game in the Tokyo Dome on March 22, 2008.The Boston Red Sox managed a narrow 6-5 victory against Tigers in an exhibition game here, days ahead of the official season opening games against the Oakland Athletics. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox David Ortiz (R) is congratulated his solo homer by teammate Manny Ramirez in the top of the first innings against Japan's Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition game in the Tokyo Dome on March 22, 2008.The Boston Red Sox managed a narrow 6-5 victory against Tigers in an exhibition game here, days ahead of the official season opening games against the Oakland Athletics. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Ted Williams

It might be easier to count the offensive categories that Ted Williams doesn’t lead in but let’s give this a shot. Williams is the Red Sox all-time leader with 521 home runs, a .344 AVG, .482 OBP, .634 SLG, .493 wOBA, 188 wRC+, 20.6 BB% and .289 ISO.

The Splendid Splinter is undoubtedly the best hitter in Red Sox history, if not the best in MLB history. But the best home run hitter? Close, but not quite.

Williams burst onto the scene with 31 home runs as a 20-year-old rookie in 1939. He led the majors in homers in 1941 and won his first Triple Crown the following season before shipping off to fight in World War II.

He didn’t miss a beat after his three years of military service, earning his first MVP award when he returned in 1946.

More from Red Sox History

Williams was remarkably consistent throughout his career, topping 30 homers in seven of his first ten seasons. He fell short of 20 only three times in his career, during a pair seasons when he was limited to a total of 43 games while serving in the Korean War (1952-53) and in his age 40 season.

That level of consistency over 19 seasons is why Williams is 20th on the all-time home run list but he lacks dominant single-season home run totals. He led the league four times in the category but his career-high of 43 is the only time he ever reached 40+ home runs in a season. Williams was one of the best power hitters of his generation but those season totals are rather pedestrian by today’s standards.

Teddy Ballgame did have a knack for memorable home runs though. The red seat located in Fenway Par’s right field marks the landing spot of a 502-foot home run launched by Williams that still stands as the further ball hit in the history of the ballpark.

He sure knew how to go out in style. Williams hit a home run in the final at-bat of his career at the age of 41.

How do you top all that? Well, maybe one person can…

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