The Red Sox Hall of Fame…
With questions of ‘The Best’ or ‘Top 5’, ‘Top 10’ and so on I figured I’d take a moment to look over the hallowed halls of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
These are the basics…
The Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame was instituted in 1995 to recognize the careers of former Boston Red Sox baseball players. A 15-member selection committee of Red Sox broadcasters and executives, past and present media personnel, and representatives from The Sports Museum of New England and the BoSox Club are responsible for nominating candidates.
The criteria for selection into the Hall is as follows:
- Player to be eligible for nomination must have played a minimum of three years with the Boston Red Sox and must also have been out of uniform as an active player a minimum of three years.
- Non-uniformed honorees such as broadcasters and front office execs are inducted by a unanimous vote of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame selection committee. The memorable moment will be chosen by the committee as well.
- Former Boston Red Sox players and personnel in the National Baseball Hall of Fame (NBHOF) in Cooperstown, New York will be automatically enshrined in the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
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Memorable moments
- 1995: Roger Clemens’ first 20-strikeout game in 1986
- 1995: Carlton Fisk’s game-winning home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series
- 2000: Dave Henderson’s game-winning home run in Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series
- 2002: Earl Wilson’s no-hitter on June 26, 1962
- 2004: Bernie Carbo’s pinch-hit home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series
- 2006: Dave Roberts’ steal of second base in Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series
- 2008: Ted Williams’ home run in his final Major League at-bat on September 28, 1960, versus the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park
- 2010: Tom Brunansky’s diving catch of Ozzie Guillén’s line drive in the ninth inning of the season ending game that preserved the Red Sox victory sending them to the 1990 playoffs
And all of this information, sadly, still doesn’t lend itself to the easy selection of ‘Top Something Red Sox of all-time’. So I guess we’ll have to do it the hard way and look at the facts, stat for stat, player by player… oh boy. Now, to weave through the enormous bulk of the statistics and the lesser players who exist in the higher end of all-time numbers through the merit of less time served, I’m planning on setting a minimum of 800 games played in a Red Sox uniform.
Batting Average: Home Runs:
1. Ted Williams .344 Ted Williams 521
2. Wade Boggs .338 C. Yastrzemski 452
3. Tris Speaker .337 Jim Rice 382
4. N. Garciaparra .323 Dwight Evans 379
5. Jimmie Foxx .320 David Ortiz* 310
6. Johnny Pesky .313 Manny Ramirez 274
7. Manny Ramirez .312 Mo Vaughn 230
8. Fred Lynn .308 Bobby Doerr 223
9. Billy Goodman .306 Jimmie Foxx 222
10. Mo Vaughn .304 Rico Petrocelli 210
Runs Batted In: Games:
C. Yastrzemski 1844 C. Yastrzemski 3308
Ted Williams 1839 Dwight Evans 2505
Jim Rice 1451 Ted Williams 2292
Dwight Evans 1346 Jim Rice 2089
Bobby Doerr 1247 Bobby Doerr 1865
David Ortiz* 987 Harry Hooper 1647
Manny Ramirez 868 Wade Boggs 1625
Jimmie Foxx 788 Rico Petrocelli 1553
Rico Petrocelli 773 Jason Varitek* 1520
Mo Vaughn 752 Dom DiMaggio 1399
Doubles: Triples:
1. C. Yastrzemski 646 Harry Hooper 130
2. Ted Williams 525 Tris Speaker 106
3. Dwight Evans 474 Buck Freeman 90
4. Wade Boggs 422 Bobby Doerr 89
5. Bobby Doerr 381 Larry Gardner 87
6. Jim Rice 373 Jim Rice 79
7. David Ortiz* 331 ‘Hobe’ Ferris 77
8. Dom DiMaggio 308 Dwight Evans 72
9. Jason Varitek* 305 Ted Williams 71
10. N. Garciaparra 279 Freddy Parent 63
Bases on Balls: Runs Scored:
Ted Williams 2019 C. Yastrzemski 1816
C. Yastrzemski 1845 Ted Williams 1798
Dwight Evans 1337 Dwight Evans 1435
Wade Boggs 1004 Jim Rice 1249
Harry Hooper 826 Bobby Doerr 1094
Bobby Doerr 809 Wade Boggs 1067
Dom DiMaggio 750 Dom DiMaggio 1046
David Ortiz* 734 Harry Hooper 988
Jim Rice 670 David Ortiz* 812
Rico Petrocelli 661 Johnny Pesky 776
For the same reason of wading through the massive amount of statistics, I limited my selections of pitchers to a minimum 200 appearances in a Red Sox uniform.
Wins: Earned Run Average:
1. Roger Clemens 192 Joe Wood 1.99
2. Cy Young 192 Cy Young 2.00
3. Tim Wakefield* 184 Dutch Leonard 2.13
4. Mel Parnell 123 Pedro Martinez 2.52
5. Luis Tiant 122 George Winter 2.91
6. Pedro Martinez 117 Tex Huson 2.94
7. Joe Wood 117 Roger Clemens 3.06
8. Bob Stanley 115 Ellis Kinder 3.28
9. Joe Dobson 106 Lefty Grove 3.34
10. Lefty Grove 105 Luis Tiant 3.36
Strikeouts: Complete Games:
Roger Clemens 2590 Cy Young 275
Tim Wakefield* 1993 George Winter 141
Pedro Martinez 1683 Joe Wood 121
Cy Young 1341 Lefty Grove 119
Luis Tiant 1075 Mel Parnell 113
Bruce Hurst 1043 Luis Tiant 113
Joe Wood 986 Roger Clemens 100
B. Monbouquette 969 Tex Huson 99
Frank Sullivan 821 Dutch Leonard 96
Jim Lonborg 784 Joe Dobson 90
Innings Pitched: Shutouts:
1. Tim Wakefield* 2933.0 Roger Clemens 38
2. Roger Clemens 2776.0 Cy Young 38
3. Cy Young 2728.1 Joe Wood 28
4. Luis Tiant 1774.2 Luis Tiant 26
5. Mel Parnell 1752.2 Dutch Leonard 25
6. Bob Stanley 1707.0 Mel Parnell 20
7. B. Monbouquette 1622.0 Tex Huson 19
8. George Winter 1599.2 Joe Dobson 17
9. Joe Dobson 1544.0 B. Monbouquette 16
10. Lefty Grove 1539.2 Lefty Grove 15
Saves have been included simply for historical significance. I’m listing the full top ten, but lowering the minimum to 100 appearances in a Red Sox uniform.
Saves:
1. Jon Papelbon* 208
2. Bob Stanley 132
3. Dick Radatz 104
4. Ellis Kinder 91
5. Jeff Reardon 88
6. Derek Lowe* 85
7. Sparky Lyle 69
8. Tom Gordon 68
9. Lee Smith 58
10. Bill Campbell 51
Now a lot of names repeat themselves in these lists of all-time stats, while a few names were omitted for lack of appearances, such as Pete Runnels for a few hitting categories and pitchers Jon Lester and Josh Beckett for strikeouts as well as Babe Ruth for a number of pitching categories including ERA (4th with 2.19), complete games (8th with 105) and shutouts (11th with 17). I left out stats such as Extra Base Hits, Slugging and On-Base percentages as they were simply more of the same names in different order. You can view them yourself here: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/history/all_time_leaders.jsp
Okay, there are the stats for the most part (no, I’m not including fielding stats because a few of the categories are geared towards infielders, particularly first basemen and catchers), so lets take a look at award winners.
Most Valuable Player: This is the BBWAA MVP award created in 1931, and does not include the Chalmers Award (1911–1914) or the League Awards (1922–1929).
Dustin Pedroia* (2008), Mo Vaughn (1995), Roger Clemens (1986), Jim Rice (1978), Fred Lynn (1975), Yaz (1967), Jackie Jensen (1958), Ted Williams (1949 & 1946) and Jimmie Foxx (1938).
Rookie of the Year:
Dustin Pedroia (2007), Nomar Garciaparra (1997), Fred Lynn (1975), Carlton Fisk (1972), Don Schwall (1961) and Walt Dropo (1950).
Now lets take a look at a few more historical league leaders…
… We’ll cover hitting first…
| Batting Champions | ||
| Year | Player | Average |
| 2003 | Bill Mueller | .326 |
| 2002 | Manny Ramirez | .349 |
| 2000 | Nomar Garciaparra | .372 |
| 1999 | Nomar Garciaparra | .357 |
| 1988 | Wade Boggs | .366 |
| 1987 | Wade Boggs | .363 |
| 1986 | Wade Boggs | .357 |
| 1985 | Wade Boggs | .368 |
| 1983 | Wade Boggs | .361 |
| 1981 | Carney Lansford | .336 |
| 1979 | Fred Lynn | .333 |
| 1968 | Carl Yastrzemski | .301 |
| 1967 | Carl Yastrzemski | .326 |
| 1963 | Carl Yastrzemski | .321 |
| 1962 | Pete Runnels | .326 |
| 1960 | Pete Runnels | .320 |
| 1958 | Ted Williams | .328 |
| 1957 | Ted Williams | .388 |
| 1950 | Billy Goodman | .354 |
| 1948 | Ted Williams | .369 |
| 1947 | Ted Williams | .343 |
| 1942 | Ted Williams | .356 |
| 1941 | Ted Williams | .406 |
| 1938 | Jimmie Foxx | .349 |
| 1932 | Dale Alexander | .367 |
| Home Run Champions | ||
| Year | Player | HR |
| 1984 | Tony Armas | 43 |
| 1983 | Jim Rice | 39 |
| 1981 | Dwight Evans | 22 |
| 1978 | Jim Rice | 46 |
| 1977 | Jim Rice | 39 |
| 1967 | Carl Yastrzemski | 44 |
| 1965 | Tony Conigliaro | 32 |
| 1949 | Ted Williams | 43 |
| 1947 | Ted Williams | 32 |
| 1942 | Ted Williams | 36 |
| 1941 | Ted Williams | 37 |
| 1939 | Jimmie Foxx | 35 |
| 1919 | Babe Ruth | 29 |
| 1918 | Babe Ruth | 11 |
| 1912 | Tris Speaker | 10 |
| 1910 | Jake Stahl | 10 |
| 1903 | Buck Freeman | 13 |
| Triple Crown: Batting | ||
| Year | Player | Avg., HR, RBIs |
| 1967 | Carl Yastrzemski | .326, 44, 121 |
| 1947 | Ted Williams | .343, 32, 114 |
| 1942 | Ted Williams | .356, 36, 137 |
… And now the Pitching…
| ERA Champions | ||
| Year | Player | ERA |
| 2003 | Pedro Martinez | 2.22 |
| 2002 | Pedro Martinez | 2.26 |
| 2000 | Pedro Martinez | 1.74 |
| 1999 | Pedro Martinez | 2.07 |
| 1992 | Roger Clemens | 2.41 |
| 1991 | Roger Clemens | 2.62 |
| 1990 | Roger Clemens | 1.93 |
| 1986 | Roger Clemens | 2.48 |
| 1972 | Luis Tiant | 1.91 |
| 1949 | Mel Parnell | 2.78 |
| 1939 | Lefty Grove | 2.54 |
| 1938 | Lefty Grove | 3.08 |
| 1936 | Lefty Grove | 2.81 |
| 1935 | Lefty Grove | 2.70 |
| 1916 | Babe Ruth | 1.75 |
| 1915 | Joe Wood | 1.49 |
| 1914 | Dutch Leonard | 0.96 |
| 1901 | Cy Young | 1.62 |
| Strikeout Champions | ||
| Year | Player | Strikeouts |
| 2002 | Pedro Martinez | 239 |
| 2001 | Hideo Nomo | 220 |
| 2000 | Pedro Martinez | 284 |
| 1999 | Pedro Martinez | 313 |
| 1996 | Roger Clemens | 257 |
| 1991 | Roger Clemens | 241 |
| 1988 | Roger Clemens | 291 |
| 1967 | Jim Lonborg | 246 |
| 1942 | Tex Hughson | 113 |
| 1901 | Cy Young | 158 |
| Triple Crown: Pitching | ||
| Year | Player | Wins, ERA, Ks |
| 1999 | Pedro Martinez | 23, 2.07, 313 |
| 1901 | Cy Young | 33, 1.62, 158 |
| Cy Young | |
| Pedro Martinez | 2000 |
| Pedro Martinez | 1999 |
| Roger Clemens | 1991 |
| Roger Clemens | 1987 |
| Roger Clemens | 1986 |
| Jim Lonborg | 1967 |
Now, for the sake of being fairly thorough and not wanting to completely leave the legendary defensive efforts in limbo, here are the list of Gold Glove Winners…
| Gold Gloves | ||
| Player | Pos | Year |
| Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 2008 |
| Jason Varitek | C | 2005 |
| Tony Peña | C | 1991 |
| Ellis Burks | OF | 1990 |
| Dwight Evans | OF | 1985 |
| Dwight Evans | OF | 1984 |
| Dwight Evans | OF | 1983 |
| Dwight Evans | OF | 1982 |
| Dwight Evans | OF | 1981 |
| Fred Lynn | OF | 1980 |
| Fred Lynn | OF | 1979 |
| Dwight Evans | OF | 1979 |
| Rick Burleson | SS | 1979 |
| Fred Lynn | OF | 1978 |
| Dwight Evans | OF | 1978 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | OF | 1977 |
| Dwight Evans | OF | 1976 |
| Fred Lynn | OF | 1975 |
| Doug Griffin | 2B | 1972 |
| Carlton Fisk | C | 1972 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | OF | 1971 |
| George Scott | 1B | 1971 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | OF | 1969 |
| Reggie Smith | OF | 1968 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | OF | 1968 |
| George Scott | 1B | 1968 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | OF | 1967 |
| George Scott | 1B | 1967 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | OF | 1965 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | OF | 1963 |
| Jackie Jensen | OF | 1959 |
| Frank Malzone | 3B | 1959 |
| Jim Piersall | CF | 1958 |
| Frank Malzone | 3B | 1958 |
| Frank Malzone | 3B | 1957 |
So, has any of this cemented anything? No… but it has provided a little bit more depth into the varied history of the players who have worn the Red, White and Blue of the Boston Americans across the many decades. Looking at a few of these league leading categories, it also sheds some light on periods where offense seemed to overshadow pitching and how both seemed to dwarf defense… but then again, the Yawkey regime was always known for the sizzle of the home run show over the actual steak of baseball.
Okay, for the next installment I’ll be looking at those who are inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and probably a few players who should have been but weren’t. Hey, you can’t make an omelete without breaking some eggs and sure as hell can’t have any sort of ‘Best of…’ or ‘Top (insert number here)..’ list without a little controversy.
Call me wind because I am albsoutley blown away.