Boston Red Sox best rookies in franchise history at each position

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 29: A general view of the Fenway Park sign and grandstand during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Who were the best rookies in the history of the Boston Red Sox? Here is a breakdown of the best rookies in franchise history at each position.

Who were the greatest rookie players in Boston Red Sox history? A few actually won the Rookie of the Year Award (ROY) and many others didn’t for the simple fact there was no award.

To determine who had that best introductory season, I’ll abide by the current rules that have fewer than 130 at-bats and for pitchers less than 50 innings. That reduces the competition by eliminating players such as Mookie Betts who put in half a season.

Certain positions have an abundance of players who deserve and a few positions are rather barren such as catcher. In other situations, a player may have played well under the number of games on the schedule, but made enough of an impact to get the notoriety.

Some of the rookies used the beginning as a springboard to incredible careers with a few being fortunate enough to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Others were traded or saw careers shortened with injuries or fading performances.

Walt Dropo (right) of American baseball team the Boston Red Sox, in Sarasota, Florida, 8th March 1949. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) /

First Base

A voted ROY in 1950 and a huge right-handed power hitter who swatted 34 home runs and led the American League with 144 RBI. That was Walt Dropo.

Dropo also hit .322 and the Red Sox had the new Jimmie Foxx or did they? After that season, Dropo never hit .300 again, or notched a 100 RBI or topped 30 home runs. And was soon gone from Boston. What happened to “Moose” from Moosup, Connecticut?

In 1951, Dropo fractured his right wrist and that was it. A gifted gloveman despite his size, I never saw Dropo in a Red Sox uniform but did when he played against Boston while with the Tigers, White Sox, and Baltimore. But Dropo had chances other than baseball.

The Chicago Bears wanted to sign Dropo as did the ill-fated Providence Steamrollers for professional basketball, but Dropo had an easy decision once Tom Yawkey opened up his checkbook. Dropo becomes another Red Sox and baseball “what if?” based on that one injury that dulled his bat.

Honorable Mention: In 1966 George Scott became an All-Star hitting 27 home runs and carting 90 RBI while batting .245. Scott played as good a first base as one could imagine.

PORTLAND, ME – MAY 04: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox prepares for the game between the Portland Sea Dogs and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies while on a rehab assignment at Hadlock Field on May 4, 2019 in Portland, Maine. (Photo by Zachary Roy/Getty Images) /

Second Base

Another player who became an official ROY in Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia became instrumental in the 2007 quest for a World Series with his .317 average and that was just the beginning of a 14 year Red Sox career that may be at an end or maybe not? Never count Pedroia out.

As with Dropo, the impact of injuries has scuttled Pedroia’s late stages of his career and possibly cost the effervescent second baseball and noted trash talker the possibility of going to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Pedroia the player had all the components one looks for – hitting and defense at a top-level.

Honorable Mention: Where is Bobby Doerr? Doerr’s first season was just 147 at-bats and a .224 batting average. If this was the greatest second baseman in team history that would be a different outcome so I go to a player whose first season was similar to Pedroia’s – Marty Barrett. Barrett hit .303, but what stands out is just 25 whiffs in 139 games.

BOSTON, MA – CIRCA 1963: Frank Malzone #11 of the Boston Red Sox bats during an Major League Baseball game circa 1963 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Malzone played for the Red Sox from 1955-65. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Third Base

The Red Sox found a nugget in Frank Malzone who signed for pocket change. The right-handed hitting Malzone finished second in ROY ballot in 1957 but won a Gold Glove, became an All-Star, cranked out 15 home runs, and platted 103 RBI. That was just the beginning of a career that showed remarkable consistency in the field and hitting.

Malzone played 11 seasons for the Red Sox hitting .276 and making the Red Sox HOF in the process. Post-career, Malzone became a staple in the organization in multiple roles. From my own memories, Malzone was a clutch hitter and had a rocket launcher for an arm. Very similar in style to Mike Lowell.

Honorable Mention: In 1982 Wade Boggs played just 103 games but hit .349 and only 39 of those games were starts at third base. Boggs defensively was ugly until later in his career but he’ll get the nod.

BALTIMORE – JULY 26: Nomar Garciaparra #5 of the Boston Red Sox lunges for a ball during the 3rd inning against the Baltimore Orioles July 26, 2004 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Shortstop

This is the domain of Nomar Garciaparra who was also a legit ROY in 1997. Nomar was outstanding that first season hitting 30 home runs, hitting .303, and gathering in 98 RBI. Garciaparra only got better winning a pair of batting titles and providing a power bat at a position usually reserved for quick hands and a slow bat.

Garciaparra and the Red Sox finally blew up in 2004 with contract issues and a subtext of Nomar’s lack of intensity. A parting of the ways that resulted in an upgrade defensively at short and the end of “The Curse.”

As for Garciaparra, who had suffered a significant wrist injury with Boston, it was a slow retreat until retirement. Nomar certainly had the credentials to be an eventual HOF player.

Honorable Mention: A solid case could be made for Johnny Pesky and his 1942 season. Pesky hit .331 and led the AL in hits with 205. A favorite player of mine was “The Rooster” Rick Burleson who hit .284 in his first year with a solid play at short.

Catcher

This is one that every reasonable Red Sox fan would know right off – Carlton Fisk. Fisk was all you wanted in a backstop – hitting for average, power, defense, leadership, and handling the pitching staff. Fisk had it all right out of the gate and was the 1972 ROY, an All-Star, and Gold Glove winner. The .293 batting average also produced a league-leading nine triples, 22 home runs, and 61 RBI.

Fisk managed to survive a devastating knee injury in 1974 that required reconstructive surgery. Then came the 1975 World Series and that notable Game Six and his famous home run.

Then it came to an end thanks to a former Red Sox catcher, Haywood Sullivan, who had taken charge of the team. Sullivan mailed out a contract too late and Fisk was on the open market and signed with the White Sox for whom he played more games than with the Red Sox. A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Either Rich Gedman (.288/5/26) or Jason Varitek (.252/7/33) who both played solid defense and contributed offensively. Both went on to have a solid Boston career.

COOPERSTOWN, NY – JULY 26: 2009 inductee Jim Rice looks on at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 26, 2009 in Cooperstown, New York. Rice played his entire sixteen year career with the Boston Red Sox, was the 1978 American League most valuable player and was a eight time All-Star. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Outfield

The easy one is Ted Williams who in 1939 led the AL in RBI (145) and total bases (344) while hitting 31 home runs and .327. You may think of Teddy Ballgame as a left fielder but he was strictly a right-fielder that season and the following. After 1939, Williams really started to hit.

When you break in with a ROY Award and an MVP there is no denying Fred Lynn deserves a spot. The mercurial center fielder hit .331 and knocked in 105 RBI. The defense was exceptional as was the clutch hitting. Lynn led the AL in runs (103), doubles (47), slugging (.566), and OPS (.967).

The second gold-dust Twin of 1975 was Jim Rice. Rice hit .309 with 22 home runs and 102 RBI. A late-season broken wrist kept the right-handed slugger out of the World Series and that curse may have been busted if the wrist was not.

Honorable mention:

Gator or Mike Greenwell looked like a batting champion in waiting hitting .328 in 1987 with 19 home runs and 89 RBI. Jacoby Ellsbury led the AL in steals (50) in 2008 and hit .280 and scored 98 runs. Tony Conigliaro was only 19-years-old slamming 24 home runs and hitting .290 in 1964.

BOSTON – 1918. Babe Ruth, Boston Red Sox pitcher, warms up in Fenway Park before a contest in the 1918 season. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

Pitching

Rotation

The right-handers lead off and that is Smoky Joe Wood who started his full-service Boston career and a 2.18 ERA in 1909. The best was yet to come with Wood’s remarkable 1912 season going 34-5 with ten shutouts.

A real ROY was a tall righty named Don Schwall, a sinkerball specialist who finished 15-7 for the 1961 Red Sox. Schwall certainly kept the ball down with a 0.4 HR/9, but the real issue was with the following pair of stats: A 5.5 BB/9 and 4.6 K/9. In a few seasons, Schwall was gone.

The best start is probably reserved for Dave Ferriss who went 21-10 in 1945 with a 2.96 ERA. Ferriss followed that up with a 25-6 season before arm issues and asthma finished off his career after just six seasons.