Red Sox: Which Boston player’s career would you choose?

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 14: A Rawlings leather baseball glove and a hat sit on the bench in the dugout before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 14, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Red Sox won 2-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 14: A Rawlings leather baseball glove and a hat sit on the bench in the dugout before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 14, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Red Sox won 2-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
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ST. LOUIS – OCTOBER 27: Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek, Doug Mirabelli and Gabe Kapler of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after winning game four of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 27, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 3-0 to win their first World Series in 86 years. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS – OCTOBER 27: Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek, Doug Mirabelli and Gabe Kapler of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after winning game four of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 27, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 3-0 to win their first World Series in 86 years. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Option C – 5x All-Star, 0x MVP, 9 Playoff Appearances, 2 Championship Titles

Player Comparison: Jason Varitek

Option C illustrates someone who was a good player on an excellent team over a long period of time but never made the jump to MVP status.

There were a couple of decent options to fit this description: Kevin YoukilisJon Lester, Josh Beckett, but I had to go with the captain on this one. Jason Varitek spent the most time with the Red Sox and unlike Lester and Beckett, earned all his accolades in Boston.

Varitek was never the best player on the team, overshadowed by the likes of Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, and Dustin Pedroia during his 15 seasons with the Red Sox, but he was a fan favorite and an integral part of both the ’04 and ’07 championship teams.

He was a solid player in his own right, making 3 trips to the All-Star game. He also holds the distinction of having caught the most no-hitters, with 4 (Hideo Nomo, Derek Lowe, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester).

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