Red Sox legend Mike Lowell celebrated the ALDS victory with a sweet video
From one Boston Red Sox postseason legend to the next generation!
On Monday night, as the Red Sox clinched the ALDS to move on to the ALCS, a franchise legend was watching from afar.
When Kiké Hernández walked it off in the bottom of the ninth, Mike Lowell and his son were freaking out just like the everyday member of Red Sox Nation.
When your son loves the Sox as much as you do! #walkoff @RedSox @kikehndez @ac13alex pic.twitter.com/uPfpWR08LZ
— Mike Lowell (@mikelowell25) October 12, 2021
As a fellow unexpected hero, Lowell knows how the current squad is feeling. The 2021 Red Sox were projected to be a fourth-place 80-win team, and he was a 32-year-old player the Florida Marlins wanted to get rid of. They packaged him with star pitcher Josh Beckett to dump his salary ahead of the 2006 season (not unlike the Red Sox trading Mookie and dumping David Price’s contract).
Except Lowell had a lot left in the tank, and set personal career-highs in batting average (.324), OBP (.378), hits (191), and RBI (120) in 2007, and was an All-Star for the fourth and final time in his career. He hit 42 home runs across his first two seasons in Boston and was a key figure on the Red Sox’ 2007 championship. He also finished fifth in AL MVP voting, right behind teammate David Ortiz.
In helping the Sox to their second championship in four seasons after an 86-year drought, the 33-year-old Lowell slashed .353/.410/.608 with a 1.018 OPS, 18 hits (including seven doubles and a pair of home runs), 10 runs scored, 15 RBI, six walks, and only four strikeouts in 14 postseason games. He was named World Series MVP, becoming the second Puerto Rican player in MLB history to win the honor, and the first since Roberto Clemente.
Lowell also showed love for the squad’s current Puerto Rican players:
Boston pride of Puerto Rico ! Kike And Christian on fire!!!!! @RedSox @kikehndez
— Mike Lowell (@mikelowell25) October 11, 2021
One of the best things about the Red Sox is that so many players who come through the organization remain part of it and go from being players on the team to being fans themselves. David Ortiz is still here and live-tweeting games, as are Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, and so many others. A decade before he was hired to manage the Sox, Alex Cora was Lowell’s teammate. Maybe it’s hometown bias, but it feels like the Red Sox are more like a family than the typical sports franchise.
Speaking of family, a Sox fan replied with a photo of Lowell and his son that appears to be from the 2007 parade. Lowell’s response was incredibly sweet:
Wow. Crazy but yes same boy. Not sure I can put him on my shoulders anymore. Maybe he can carry me. Thanks for sharing!!
— Mike Lowell (@mikelowell25) October 12, 2021