Boston Red Sox Memories:All-decade 1960’s Red Sox team

General view of Boston's Fenway Park, home of the American League baseball team the Boston Red Sox shows the fans packed in the bleachers in the outfield by the Gruen clock, 1960s. Beyond the stadium walls we can see the John Hancock Building at right. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
General view of Boston's Fenway Park, home of the American League baseball team the Boston Red Sox shows the fans packed in the bleachers in the outfield by the Gruen clock, 1960s. Beyond the stadium walls we can see the John Hancock Building at right. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran /Allsport
Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran /Allsport

Catcher

The 1960s had many who served and I can say that most would be ideal backup catchers and not first-string guys. That said I’ll go with defense and Mike Ryan who twice led the NL in CS% after he left Boston.  Ryan would make Sandy Leon look like a hitter since Ryan hit just .193 in an eleven-year career. With Boston, Ryan was just above the Mendoza Line with a feeble .201 in four seasons.

In 1967, Ryan split catching duties with Elston Howard as the long time Yankee was brought in to provide veteran leadership in the pennant race. Howard hit just .147 so the Red Sox did not get much generated on offense from their catching corp. But defense they had.

Honorable Mention: Bob Tillman played 30 games for the 1967 Red Sox and hit (no surprise) just .188.  A right-handed hitter that was once considered a power prospect that never materialized. Tillman still slammed 49 home runs in eight Boston seasons.

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