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Boston Red Sox: Ranking the top 10 players from the 1990s

By Drew Athans

16 Oct 1999: Boston Red Sox celebrate during the ALCS game three against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 13-1. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
16 Oct 1999: Boston Red Sox celebrate during the ALCS game three against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 13-1. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /
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Boston Red Sox third baseman John Valentin makes an unsuccessful dive at a Kenny Lofton foul ball in the eighth inning in the Indians 4-3 victory 02 October at Fenway Park. The Indians are leading the series 2 games to 1. AFP PHOTO Bill POLO (Photo by BILL POLO / AFP) (Photo by BILL POLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox third baseman John Valentin makes an unsuccessful dive at a Kenny Lofton foul ball in the eighth inning in the Indians 4-3 victory 02 October at Fenway Park. The Indians are leading the series 2 games to 1. AFP PHOTO Bill POLO (Photo by BILL POLO / AFP) (Photo by BILL POLO/AFP via Getty Images) /

John Valentin

John Valentin is one of the more overlooked former Red Sox players, but he was a very good player for a long time. He wasn’t a superstar, but he was a solid contributor to the 90s Red Sox teams and spent all but the final season of his eleven year career, which spanned 1992-2002, in Boston.

Prior to Nomar debuting with the Red Sox in 1996, Valentin was the team’s starting shortstop. In order to make room for Garciaparra, he shifted over to third base for the remainder of his career. He was a solid defender and hitter who put up nice numbers in Boston. During the 1990s in Boston (1992-2000), he put up the following:

.281 BA, 120 HR, 523 RBI, 432 BB, 588 R, .355 OBP, .815 OPS

He had his best season in 1995 when he hit .298 with 27 home runs and 102 RBI and remained productive until injuries caught up to him in 2000. He ended up leaving Boston after the 2001 season and finished his career with the Mets in 2002. From 1992 to 1999, though, Valentin was a durable, productive, and ever-present fixture on the left side of the infield for the Red Sox.

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