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Boston Red Sox best rookies in franchise history at each position

By Rick McNair

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 05: The sun sets behind Fenway Park during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins on September 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 05: The sun sets behind Fenway Park during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins on September 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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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)
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.

More from Red Sox History

Frank Sullivan may have been the best Red Sox pitcher of the 1950s and it started in 1954 with a 15-12 season. Sullivan went 90-80 in his Boston years with two All-Star selections.

The left-handers start out with possibly the best lefty in the American League for three seasons – Babe Ruth. Ruth joined the Red Sox in 1915 and dished out an 18-8 season with a 2.44 ERA. Ruth later became somewhat notable for his hitting abilities and it showed in 1915 with a .315 average and four home runs. Ruth did that blasting in just 92 PA’s and led the team in dingers.

Mel Parnell started his career and finished it in Boston.  The start was 1948 and 15-8 with a 3.14 ERA. The next season Parnell led the AL in wins (25) and ERA (2.77). After that Parnell never matched that season but did finish up his last season with a no-hitter.

Dutch Leonard lost more than he won (14-17) for the 1913 Red Sox but showed what was to come with a 2.39 ERA  in 259.1 innings. The following season that ERA dropped to 0.96.

Closer

There is only one real choice and that is the towering righty, Dick Radatz. In 1962, Radatz led the AL in saves (24) and in games (62). This was all in relief that makes the 124.2 innings even more outstanding, but Radatz topped that IP figures the next two seasons before burning out.

Next. Best free agents in Red Sox history. dark

Honorable Mention:  Statistically you can make a cognizant argument for Jonathan Papelbon over Radatz.  Papelbon had a remarkable 0.92 ERA and 35 saves in 2006 with a second-place finish in ROY.

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