Cliff Eastham's Red Sox All-Franchise Team

Welcome to installment No. 2 of the All-Franchise teams. I am endeavoring to formulate the All Time Team in each franchise’s history. A few parameters need to be established prior to beginning:

First, no player will appear on more than one team. It is my sole decision which team I place a multi-team player on. As an example, even though Carlton Fisk played a little longer for the White Sox, I placed him here where he was Rookie of the Year.

Another pre-requisite, the player must have been on the Franchise team for a minimum of five years. I know some don’t like that qualifier, but I feel it is only right to have had more than a cup of coffee to justify the face of a franchise.

Tenure is not the only criteria I will use in placing a player with a franchise. His statistics could be higher in the other team’s structure, or he may have won more awards, etc.

This is also not just a “popularity” list or “my favorite Red Sox” list. If it was, rest assured Pedro wouldn’t be on it. It is based on statistics, longevity and performance.

Here is the Red Sox All-Franchise Team:

C – Carlton Fisk (1969-80)

C – Carlton Fisk (1969-80)

Carlton Fisk was always one of my favorite catchers. I have the image etched in my memory when he waved the Home Run fair in the 1975 World Series against the Reds.

He won a Rookie of the Year Award, one Gold Glove, three Silver Sluggers and was on 11 All-Star teams. He was in one World Series and has an average of .240 with two HR and four RBI.

Here are his 13 year statistics with the Red Sox:
BA=.284 H=1097 R=627 HR=162 RBI=568

His 162-game season averages for the Red Sox:
HR=24 RBI=85 H=165 R=94

Fisk was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

1B – Mo Vaughn (1991-98))

1B – Mo Vaughn (1991-98))

Mo Vaughn is an underrated former player. With all the power he possessed, he had 200+ hits on two occasions.

He owns one MVP Award, one Silver Slugger and was on three All-Star teams.

His eight year statistics with the Red Sox are:
BA=.304 H=1165 R=628 HR=230 RBI=752

His 162-game season averages for the Red Sox:
HR=36 RBI=117 H=181 R=97

2B – Bobby Doerr (1937-51)

2B – Bobby Doerr (1937-51)

Bobby Doerr played his entire career with the Red Sox. He led the American League in Slugging Pct. in 1944 with .528.

He knocked in 100+ runs six times. He was third in MVP voting once, was on nine All-Star teams and was in one World Series where he batted .409 with one HR and three RBI.

His 14-year statistics with the Red Sox:
BA=.288 H=2042 R=1094 HR=223 RBI=1247

His 162-game season averages for the Red Sox:
HR=19 RBI=108 H=177 R=95

Doerr was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986 by the Veteran’s Committee.

3B – Wade Boggs (1982-92)

3B – Wade Boggs (1982-92)

Wade Boggs was a hitting machine. He had 200+ hits in seven consecutive seasons and scored over 100 runs in each of them. He batted .300+ every year but one with the Red Sox. He won five batting titles and led the league in hits once and in runs scored twice.

Boggs was named to seven All-Star games while with Boston and won six Silver Slugger Awards.

He was also in the 1986 World Series.

His 11-year statistics with the Red Sox:
BA=.338 H= 2098 R=1067 HR=85 RBI=687

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
HR=9 RBI=69 H=210 R=107

Boggs was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

SS – Nomar Garciaparra (1996-2003)

SS – Nomar Garciaparra (1996-2003)

Nomar Garciaparra started out as though he were destined for Cooperstown. He won the Rookie of the Year Award, and the next year was runner-up in MVP voting.

He won back-to-back batting titles in 1999 and 2000. He led the league in hits with 209 in his rookie year.

While with the Red Sox he was named to five All-Star teams and won one Silver Slugger Award.

His eight year statistics with the Red Sox:
BA=.323 H=1231 R=685 HR=173 RBI=669

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
HR=30 RBI=117 H=215 R=120

LF – Ted Williams (1939-42; 1946-60)

LF – Ted Williams (1939-42; 1946-60)

Ted Williams is recognized by many as the best hitter in the history of baseball. I don’t share that opinion, but he is definitely one of the best. He played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox and earned the nicknames, “Teddy Ballgame” and “The Splendid Splinter”.

He won two MVP awards, two Triple Crowns (neither time did he win the MVP), he came in second in MVP voting four times and came in third one other time.

He won six batting titles, was the last .400 hitter in the MLB, won four HR titles, and four RBI crowns. He also led the league in runs scored six times. He had the highest OPS+ nine times, over 200 nine times.

Williams was named to 19 All-Star teams (some seasons featured two games) and was in the 1946 World Series.

His 19-year statistics with the Red Sox:
BA=.344 H=2654 R=1798 HR=521 RBI=1839

His 162-gane season averages with the Red Sox:
HR=37 RBI=130 H=188 R=127

Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

CF – Dom DiMaggio (1940-42; 1946-53)

CF – Dom DiMaggio (1940-42; 1946-53)

Dom DiMaggio was one of the best defensive outfielders to have ever played the game. He played his entire career in Boston and as with Ted Williams, his career was interrupted by World War II.

DiMaggio was a seven time All-Star. He led the league in runs scored twice and scored 100+ runs six times, and was in the 1946 World Series.

This DiMaggio had a hitting streak of his own. In 1949 he had a 34 game hitting streak and in 1951 put together 27 straight games.

He and his brother Joe were outfielders together in the All-Star game three times.

His 11-year statistics with the Red Sox:
BA=.298 H=1680 R=1046 HR=87 RBI=618

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
HR=10 RBI=72 H=195 R=121

RF – Dwight Evans (1972-90)

RF – Dwight Evans (1972-90)

Okay, I can hear you in the back row, there. Why is Dewey there instead of Rice. Simple, Rice was a left-fielder and he was no Ted Williams or Carl Yastrzemski.

Dwight Evans played the first 19 years of his 20 year career with the Red Sox. An excellent defensive fielder, Dewey won eight Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers.

He won one HR title during the shortened 1981 season, and was third in MVP voting.

Evans also led the league in runs scored once, while scoring 100+ runs four times. He hit 20+ HR 11 times, topping 30 three times, and knocked in 100+ runs four times.

He was a three time All-Star and was in two World Series, where he batted .300 with three HR and 14 RBI in 50 AB.

His 19-year statistics with the Red Sox:
BA=.272 H=2373 R=1435 HR=379 RBI=1346

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
HR=25 RBI=87 H=154 R=93

DH – Carl Yastrzemski (1961-83)

DH – Carl Yastrzemski (1961-83)

Carl Yastrzemski is the last player to win the Triple Crown, which he accomplished in 1967, along with the MVP award. He played his entire career with the Red Sox.

He also won three batting titles, one HR title, one RBI crown, was the league leader in hits twice, in runs scored three times, in doubles three times and in walks once.

Yaz was named to 18 All-Star teams, won seven Gold Gloves, won the 1967 Hutch Award, and was the MVP of the 1970 All-Star game.

He played in two World Series where he averaged .352 with three HR and 9 RBI in 54 AB.

His 22-year statistics with the Red Sox:
BA=.285 H=3419 R=1816 HR=452 RBI=1844

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
HR=22 RBI=90 H=167 R=89

Yaz was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

SP- Roger Clemens (1984-96)

SP- Roger Clemens (1984-96)

Roger Clemens was with the Red Sox organization for 13 years. His legendary career has become spotted and stained by the drippings of steroids, however the man was fantastic before all those situations developed.

While with Boston he won three Cy Young Awards, one MVP Award. He also led the league in wins three times, going 20+ wins on three occasions. Clemens also led the league in ERA four times, in strikeouts three times, in WHIP twice and in ERA+ five times.

Clemens pitched 38 shutouts with Boston.

He represented the Red Sox in five All-Star games, and pitched in the 1986 World Series.

His 13-year statistics with the Red Sox:
W=192 L= 111 ERA=3.06 K=2590 WHIP=1.158

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
W=17 L=10 K=231

SP – Cy Young (1901-08)

SP – Cy Young (1901-08)

Cy Young is the MLB career leader in wins with 511. It is safe to say that record will survive the Coming of Jesus. He led the league in wins three times with the Red Sox as well as capturing one ERA title.

He led the league twice in complete games, three times in shutouts, once in saves, twice in innings pitched, and once in strikeouts. He also led the league in ERA+ once, and in WHIP four times.

He pitched in the 1903 World Series where he went 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA.

His eight-year statistics with the Red Sox:
W=192 L= 112 ERA=2.00 K=1341 WHIP=0.970

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
W=21 L=12 K=146

Young was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937.

SP – Smoky Joe Wood (1908-15)

SP – Smoky Joe Wood (1908-15)

Smoky Joe Wood gets as little respect as anyone in the sport considering his talent.

As with Cy Young, Joe Wood pitched eight years with the Red Sox. He led the league in wins once, in ERA once, in complete games once, and in shutouts once.

He has the lowest career ERA in Red Sox history.

Wood won three games in the 1912 World Series against the New York Giants.

His eight-year statistics with the Red Sox:
W=117 L= 56 ERA=1.99 K=986 WHIP=1.078

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
W=21 L=10 K=178

SP – Pedro Martinez (1998-2004)

SP – Pedro Martinez (1998-2004)

Pedro Martinez career has seen highs and lows. Highs from two Cy Young Awards with the Red Sox, to punching old timer Don Zimmer, to viewing Cockfights with Juan Marichal.

He pitched for seven seasons with Boston. In addition to his two Cy Young Awards, he came in second twice and in third once. He also finished second in MVP voting once.

Martinez led the league in wins once, ERA four times, in shutouts once, in strikeouts three times and in ERA+ four times.

He was named to four All-Star teams while at Boston and pitched in the 2004 World Series where he was 1-0 with an ERA of 0.00 giving up three hits in seven innings.

His seven-year statistics with the Red Sox:
W=117 L= 37 ERA=2.52 K=1683 WHIP=0.978

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
W=20 L=6 K=283

SP – Tim Wakefield (1995-2009)

SP – Tim Wakefield (1995-2009)

Tim Wakefield is right behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens (both tied for first) in career Red Sox wins with 174.

Wakefield is currently in his 15th year with the Red Sox. At the time of this writing he is the American League leader in 2009 with 10 wins.

He finished third in Cy Young Award voting in 1995 when he was 16-8 with a 2.95 ERA.

Wakefield has been named to the American League All-Star for the first time this season, and he was in the 2004 World Series.

His 15-year statistics with the Red Sox:
W=174 L= 148 ERA=4.33 K=1850 WHIP=1.333

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
W=13 L=11 K=139

Closer – John Papelbon (2005-09)

Closer – John Papelbon (2005-09)

John Papelbon is now in his fifth season for the Red Sox which does qualify him for this list. I know he is very good, but I cannot stand his gestures when things go his way. ‘Nuff said.

He came in second in Rookie of the Year voting and has been an All-Star for three consecutive seasons.

All personal feelings aside, the man is a “lights out” closer and is who you would want to finish a game for you.

Papelbon pitched in the 2007 World Series, appearing in three games and earning three saves. He is already the career Red Sox leader in saves.

His five-year statistics with the Red Sox:
W=14 L= 11 ERA=1.82 SV=134 WHIP=0.985

His 162-game season averages with the Red Sox:
W=4 L=3 SV=38

Setup – Dick Radatz (1962-66)

Setup – Dick Radatz (1962-66)

Dick Radatz ranks third in career saves with Boston, behind Papelbon and Bob Stanley.

He was one of the most feared pitchers in the sixties, with a fastball that looked like an aspirin to opposing batters.

Radatz came in third in Rookie of the Year voting, and was considered in MVP voting three times, once finishing as high as fifth.

He was the league leader in games once, games finished twice, and in saves twice. Keep in mind that the specialty relief pitching of today was not yet born in his day.

During his first three years with Boston his 162-game averages were:
W=13 L=7 ERA=2.17 G=68 S=26

His five-year statistics with the Red Sox:
W=49 L= 34 ERA=2.65 SV=104 WHIP=1.136

View the other All-Franchise teams that I have already completed:

Orioles

Yankees

Orioles

Reds

Rays

Braves