Jason Varitek
One of the most popular Red Sox players of the last twenty years, Jason Varitek was part of one of the greatest trades the team ever made. Acquired in 1997 along with Derek Lowe in return for Heathcliff Slocumb, the Sox swindled the Seattle Mariners out of two players who would help them win the 2004 World Series. While Lowe would leave the team after that victory, Varitek stayed for his entire career, retiring after the 2011 season.
During the years 2001-2010, Varitek held down the catcher position and took on the additional official title of captain beginning in 2005. He was a very good, not great defensive catcher who was well liked and respected by the team’s pitching staff for how he called a game. He also set a major league record by catching four no hitters in his career.
As for his batting statistics, Varitek was one of the better hitting catchers in the league and gave the team added versatility by being a switch hitter. During the decade (2001-2010), he hit .256 with 145 home runs and 547 RBI. He was remarkably durable, too, playing 110-140 games per season between 2002 and 2009.
Jason Varitek wasn’t a catcher in the same mold as Johnny Bench or Carlton Fisk, but he was a solid, reliable presence both behind the plate and at it…and anyone who gets in front of Alex Rodriguez and shoves their glove in his face is destined to be a Red Sox hero.