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Red Sox History: Ranking the biggest ‘What Ifs’ in franchise history

By Daniel Fox

BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 16: Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning during game 7 of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2003 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 16: Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning during game 7 of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2003 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – CIRCA 1987: Cecil Cooper #15 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during a Major League Baseball game circa 1987 at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cooper played for the Brewers from 1977-87. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – CIRCA 1987: Cecil Cooper #15 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during a Major League Baseball game circa 1987 at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cooper played for the Brewers from 1977-87. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

6: What if the Red Sox didn’t make terrible trades in the ’70s?

Three short-sighted trades by Red Sox general manager Dick O’Connell in the 1970s still sting all these years later. After the 1971 season, Red Sox management got tired of the eccentric Sparky Lyle, trading him to the rival Yankees for weak-hitting first baseman Danny Cater. Lyle would go on to make three All-Star teams, lead the league in saves twice and win the 1977 AL Cy Young, while Cater hit just 14 home runs in three forgettable seasons with the Red Sox.

Two years later, the Red Sox shipped temperamental outfielder Reggie Smith to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bernie Carbo and Rick Wise. Though Carbo had some big hits for the Red Sox, including the game-tying home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, and Wise won 19 games in that pennant-winning season, neither could replace Smith. Reggie averaged more than 4.0 WAR over the next seven years, making five All-Star teams in the process.

In 1976, first baseman Cecil Cooper was traded to the Brewers for slugger George Scott, who had only one good season left in the tank after a productive career. Cooper, meanwhile, was just getting started. He made five All-Star teams, hit over .300, and led the league in doubles and RBIs twice in 11 years in Milwaukee.

For a team that came within one game of winning the World Series and finished within two games of the pennant three times in the decade, keeping these players could have made all the difference.

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