The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team with an impressive legacy that dates back to 1901. Founded in the American League, they have been playing their home games at Fenway Park since 1912 and boast numerous accomplishments including nine World Series championships. Over time, the Red Sox have become one of Major League Baseball’s most beloved teams thanks to their long-standing rivalry with the New York Yankees as well as memorable heroes such as Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and David Ortiz.
1. David Ortiz
Designated hitter
Career
- 10× All-Star (2004–2008, 2010–2013, 2016)
- 3× World Series champion (2004, 2007, 2013)
- World Series MVP (2013)
- ALCS MVP (2004)
- 7× Silver Slugger Award (2004–2007, 2011, 2013, 2016)
- 2× AL Hank Aaron Award (2005, 2016)
- Roberto Clemente Award (2011)
- AL home run leader (2006)
- 3× AL RBI leader (2005, 2006, 2016)
- Boston Red Sox No. 34 retired
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
David Ortiz is a five-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox. He was signed by the Twins as an amateur free agent in 1997 and made his MLB debut that same year.
In 2004, he won his first batting title with a .318 average. Ortiz became one of only four players in history to hit 500 home runs and steal 400 bases (along with Ty Cobb, Rickey Henderson, and José Bautista).
After leading the American League in hits for two consecutive seasons (2008–09), he was named MVP of the 2009 World Series championship team; this earned him Triple Crown recognition from the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBAA).
His 2011 season saw him post career highs in both home runs (49) and RBIs (130), while also setting new single-season records for walks (138) and on-base percentage (.460).
A finalist for three more MVP Awards during his time with Boston – including wins in 2014 and 2016 – Ortiz finished his career ranked third all-time among major league hitters in total homers (1,886), fourth overall behind.
Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx & Roger Maris respectively, fifth in on-base percentage (.561), sixth in slugging percentage (.690) & seventh place among batters elected to at least 300 games played (#3 behind Lou Gehrig/Babe Ruth/Willy Hodges).
Also Played For: national baseball hall of fame and museum
2. Ted Williams
Outfielder
Career
- 19× All-Star (1940–1942, 1946–1951, 1953–1960²)
- 2× AL MVP (1946, 1949)
- 2× Triple Crown (1942, 1947)
- 6× AL batting champion (1941, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1957, 1958)
- 4× AL home run leader (1941, 1942, 1947, 1949)
- 4× AL RBI leader (1939, 1942, 1947, 1949)
- MLB record .482 career on-base percentage
- Boston Red Sox No. 9 retired
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
- San Diego Padres Hall of Fame
- Major League Baseball All-Century Team
- Major League Baseball All-Time Team
Ted Williams was one of the greatest hitters in history and is often considered to be the best left fielder ever. He made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1939 and remained with them for most of his career, finishing with a record 2,654 hits.
In 1950 he won both the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and World Series titles while playing for Boston. After leaving Boston in 1960, Williams played for several other teams before retiring at age 39 in 1966 due to an illness that forced him to stop hitting balls out of the park.
Ted Williams is now widely known as a baseball coach, working with young players on various camps around America including those run by Major League Baseball itself.
He passed away from natural causes at age 83 in 2002 after having spent many years living quietly near Inverness Florida where he enjoyed golfing and fishing among other activities.
Also Played For: sports illustrated baseball
3. Wade Boggs
Third baseman
Career
- 12× All-Star (1985–1996)
- World Series champion (1996)
- 2× Gold Glove Award (1994, 1995)
- 8× Silver Slugger Award (1983, 1986–1989, 1991, 1993, 1994)
- 5× AL batting champion (1983, 1985–1988)
- Boston Red Sox No. 26 retired
- Tampa Bay Rays No. 12 retired
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Wade Boggs was a three-time All-Star and won two Gold Gloves in his career. He spent almost all of his 13 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, where he finished as the franchise leader in home runs (118) and RBIs (1,014).
After leaving Boston for Tampa Bay in 1999, Boggs hit just .259 over the next four years before retiring at age 36 in 2003. Wade is now an ESPN analyst and occasional player-coach on their Baseball Tonight show. In 2013, he was elected to the Hall of Fame by a vote of fellow MLB players.
Wade Boggs was a well-known and highly respected player in the MLB for many years. He played on some of the most successful teams of all time, including the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Even though he retired several years ago, Wade Boggs remains an important part of both baseball history and lore.
He is a Hall of Fame inductee and has been awarded numerous accolades throughout his career, including two Gold Glove Awards as well as MVP votes multiple times.
Wade Boggs never seemed to stop hitting during his lengthy professional career; even at age 40, he hit over 300 for one season with the Devil Rays.
His dedication to the sport showed through in every game he played, no matter who or what was against him.
In 2005 Wade Boggs became only the fourth player in MLB history to be elected into both the National Baseball Hall of Fame and its Veterans Committee simultaneously (joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Cy Young).
This testament not only proves just how great an individual Wade Boggs was but also highlights his longstanding influence on American baseball culture overall.
4. Carl Yastrzemski
Left fielder
Career
- 18× All-Star (1963, 1965–1979, 1982, 1983)
- AL MVP (1967)
- Triple Crown (1967)
- 7× Gold Glove Award (1963, 1965, 1967–1969, 1971, 1977)
- 3× AL batting champion (1963, 1967, 1968)
- AL home run leader (1967)
- AL RBI leader (1967)
- Boston Red Sox No. 8 retired
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Carl Yastrzemski is 83 years old and was one of the best left-fielders in baseball history. He hit 3,419 hits and drove in 1,844 runs over his career.
Carl Yastrzemski played for the Boston Red Sox from 1961 to 1983 and was a member of two World Series-winning teams (1972 and 1975).
In 1976, he was named MVP of the American League after hitting .285 with 43 home runs and 152 RBIs. After retirement from playing professional baseball, Carl Yastrzemski became a broadcaster for NESN in Boston until his death in 2013 at the age of 75.
Carl Yastrzemski was a three-time AL batting champion and seven-time Gold Glove Award winner with the Boston Red Sox.
He is one of only five players in history to be named MVP, Triple Crown Winner, and Home Run Leader in the same season. In 1967 he became the first player ever to hit 40 home runs and drive in 100 RBIs in a single season.
After his playing career ended, Yastrzemski served as Senior Vice President for Baseball Operations for the New York Yankees from 1996 to 2002 before retiring completely later that year.
5. Pedro Martínez
Pitcher
Career
- 8× All-Star (1996–2000, 2002, 2005, 2006)
- World Series champion (2004)
- 3× Cy Young Award (1997, 1999, 2000)
- Triple Crown (1999)
- MLB wins leader (1999)
- 5× MLB ERA leader (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003)
- 3× AL strikeout leader (1999, 2000, 2002)
- Boston Red Sox No. 45 retired
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Pedro Martínez is a pitcher who has spent his entire career with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was drafted by them in 1992 and made his MLB debut that year.
Pedro Martínez has been one of the most successful pitchers in Phillies history, winning 219 games while posting an ERA of 2.93 and striking out 3,154 batters over the course of his career.
Pedro Martínez may be nearing the end of his playing days, but he still holds many records and accolades within baseball including being named to three All-Star teams as well as winning two Cy Young Awards (the highest honor for a pitcher in MLB).
After spending 11 seasons with Philadelphia, Martínez signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 2009 season where he posted a record of 5–10 before retiring at the end of that season.
Now 51 years old, Pedro Martínez continues to work as a broadcaster for Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia covering both Phillies games and other sporting events around the Delaware County area during select weeks throughout each baseball season.
Also Played For: mlb, mlb under 25
6. Roger Clemens
Pitcher
Career
- 11× All-Star (1986, 1988, 1990–1992, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003–2005)
- 2× World Series champion (1999, 2000)
- 7× Cy Young Award (1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004)
- AL MVP (1986)
- 2× Triple Crown (1997, 1998)
- 4× MLB wins leader (1986, 1987, 1997, 1998)
- 7× ERA leader (1986, 1990–1992, 1997, 1998, 2005)
- 5× AL strikeout leader (1988, 1991, 1996–1998)
- MLB record 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game (twice)
- Major League Baseball All-Century Team
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Roger Clemens enjoyed a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, and his number 21 has been retired by both the Red Sox and Yankees.
Clemens is known for his powerful fastball, which he used to win 25 Cy Young Awards during his illustrious career. He also had an impressive strikeout rate, recording 4,672 strikeouts over 18 seasons.
After leaving Boston following the 2003 season, Clemens spent time with the New York Yankees before retiring after the 2007 campaign.
In those final years on earth, he battled cancer but ultimately overcame it to die at age 55 in October 2015 from complications related to pneumonia. In 2004, Roger Clemens was elected to the Hall of Fame. Clemens is an 11-time All-Star and 2x World Series champion.
He holds several MLB records, including 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game and 7 Cy Young Awards.
In 2007 he joined the New York Yankees as their new pitcher.
Also Played For: new york yankees
7. Dwight Evans
Right fielder
Career
- 3× All-Star (1978, 1981, 1987)
- 8× Gold Glove Award (1976, 1978, 1979, 1981–1985)
- 2× Silver Slugger Award (1981, 1987)
- AL home run leader (1981)
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Dwight Evans was a right fielder for the Boston Red Sox from 1972-1991. He had a .248 batting average in his MLB career and hit 128 home runs. Dwight Evans also threw out over 100 baserunners during his career, making him one of the best defensive outfielders of all time.
After retiring as a player, Dwight Evans served as an executive with the Baltimore Orioles until 2004 when he retired completely from baseball operations.
Today, Dwight Evans lives in Santa Monica, California, and is still involved in baseball through various roles with teams around the league Dwight Evans was a three-time All-Star and an eight-time Gold Glove winner with the Boston Red Sox.
After playing for the Baltimore Orioles from 1991 to 1992, Dwight Evans became a member of the Philadelphia Phillies where he played until his retirement in 2001.
On September 11th, 2002, Dwight Evans was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame along with players like Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. He is considered one of the best third basemen in history, as evidenced by his batting average (.272), hits (2,446), home runs (385), and runs batted in (1,384).
In 2003, Dwight Evans was named Major League Baseball's retired number 10 by then-Commissioner Bud Selig.
As of 2016 he continues to serve as an analyst on Comcast SportsNet New England broadcasts and also participates in charity events throughout Massachusetts each year.
8. Nomar Garciaparra
Infielder
Career
- 6× All-Star (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006)
- AL Rookie of the Year (1997)
- Silver Slugger Award (1997)
- NL Comeback Player of the Year (2006)
- 2× AL batting champion (1999, 2000)
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Nomar Garciaparra is a shortstop who played in the MLB for over a decade. He had an impressive batting average and was also known as one of the most durable players in baseball.
Nomar Garciaparra was born on July 23, 1973, in Whittier, California. Growing up, he loved playing baseball and dreamed of being able to play professionally one day. After playing college ball at UCLA, Nomar made his debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1996.
He quickly became one of the team's key players and helped them reach several successful seasons during his time there. In 2003, Nomar signed with the Oakland Athletics and enjoyed another successful season alongside some close friends such as Brett Gardner and Bartolo Colon.
However, injuries eventually took their toll on him and he retired after only two more years in MLB action - 2009 with Oakland followed by 2010 with Boston respectively.
Despite retiring from professional baseball following two separate stints lasting just three years each due to injury, Nomar remains highly respected amongst fans all over the world for his outstanding skills both on-field and off it.
Since hanging up his spikes he has continued to be active within baseball by working as a commentator or studio analyst for various networks around America.
In addition to this career outside of baseball; since marrying longtime girlfriend Elisabeth Hasselbeck back in 2012 they have welcomed son Ryder into their lives.
9. Carlton Fisk
Catcher
Career
- 11× All-Star (1972–1974, 1976–1978, 1980–1982, 1985, 1991)
- AL Rookie of the Year (1972)
- Gold Glove Award (1972)
- 3× Silver Slugger Award (1981, 1985, 1988)
- Boston Red Sox No. 27 retired
- Chicago White Sox No. 72 retired
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Carlton Fisk was a catcher for the Boston Red Sox from 1969-1993, and he is still considered one of the greatest catchers in MLB history. Fisk hit 376 home runs during his career, making him easily one of baseball's all-time greats.
His batting average also speaks to his overall skills as a hitter. Carlton Fisk had an impressive throwing arm too; he threw out 214 base stealers during his career. In 1993, aged 43 years old, Carlton Fisk retired from professional baseball after 14 seasons with the Chicago White Sox.
He now spends his time traveling and working with young athletes in various sports leagues around the country.
A three-time All-Star selection (1973, 1976, 1978), Carlton Fisk is remembered by many as one of Boston's most beloved players ever - particularly since it was rare for such greatness to be displayed by a team located outside of New England at that time period.
Final Words
The Boston Red Sox have had a long and illustrious history, with many great players to their credit. Some of the best include Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and David Ortiz.
They are one of the most successful teams in MLB history, having won more championships than any other team.
