Boston Red Sox: Best pitchers who could hit in franchise history

Red Sox – Second Base

I actually discover a Red Sox pitcher who saw duty at second base, only not with the Red Sox, and that is 34 game-winner Smoky Joe Wood. As mentioned, those 34 kills (wins) was the deciding factor in another Red Sox World Series championship. The WS became the frosting on the cake with a 3-1 record and from there it was downhill for the right-handed Wood.

Hitting .290 for the Red Sox in 1912 certainly was impressive as was Wood’s .244 career average with Boston that also included five home runs and 50 RBI, but that ability to hit became a career saver for Wood.

In 1913, Wood suffered a thumb injury that would plague him for the next three seasons although in 1915, Wood went 15-5 and led the AL with a 1.49 ERA and recovery time between starts and pain index forced Wood into early retirement – maybe. Wood resurfaced briefly with the Indians as a position player in 1917 and a full-time outfielder in 1918.

Wood played six seasons for the Trible hitting .297 before finally bringing down the curtain and going on to Yale University as a baseball coach. Wood’s record as a pitcher was exceptional with a 117-57 record and minuscule 2.03 ERA. One of the best ever who today would have been quickly repaired and returned to the mound.