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Boston Red Sox Memories: My all decade 1950’s Red Sox team

By Rick McNair

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 26: A general view of the Fenway Park faced after the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays was postponed due to rain at Fenway Park on April 26, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 26: A general view of the Fenway Park faced after the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays was postponed due to rain at Fenway Park on April 26, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – APRIL 20, 1956: Firstbaseman Mickey Vernon of the Boston Red Sox poses for a portrait prior to the Opening Day game on April 20, 1956 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. 56-720096 (Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – APRIL 20, 1956: Firstbaseman Mickey Vernon of the Boston Red Sox poses for a portrait prior to the Opening Day game on April 20, 1956 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. 56-720096 (Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

First Base

He played just two seasons for the Red Sox (1957-58) but left-hand hitting Mickey Vernon already had an extensive MLB resume.  A two-time batting champion, three times leading the AL in doubles, several All-Star appearances, and a very smooth swing.

Vernon came to Boston via an extensive multiplayer trade with Washington and stepped right in hitting .310 in 1956 when Vernon was 38-years-old. An excellent fielder and positive clubhouse guy. In 1957 Vernon slumped to .241 and was gone.

In 1946 Vernon won a batting title and beat out Williams for that title. Later Vernon went on to coach many seasons and toss in was a managerial job in 1961 with the new Washington team. Later Vernon moved on to several seasons of minor league managing. I loved his swing.

Honorable Mention:  The eternal search for a right-handed power bat came up with Dick Gernert, but Gernert never materialized as expected.  In eight seasons Gernert hit 101 home runs and hit .252. Vic Wertz survived polio and 17 years in MLB hitting a career .277.  With the Red Sox, the lefty-hitting Wertz drove in 103 RBI in 1960. Wertz could flat-out hammer the ball.

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