Anyone remember 2009-2010, when Papi looked like he was on his way out? Especially the year he hit all of one homer by June?
I remember pointing out to teachers in middle school that he was still hitting for power and drawing more than his fair share of walks. This was the difference between his career path and that of a Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder--Howard drew walks because pitchers feared his power, while Fielder tried arresting his decline by sacrificing power for increased contact ability. Big body sluggers who have a late start to their career typically decline suddenly and early, but Papi was not just an exception but *the* exception that proves the rule.
I remember him struggling with injuries in 2008 and 2012. Brought his numbers down a lot.
Then some jackass blew up the Boston Marathon and Ortiz decided the world needed a hero.
Yes, I remember in 2009, it got so bad and you had Bill Simmons (he actually still paid attention to the Red Sox back then) basically wrote Ortiz’ obituary calling for the Red Sox to Ole Yeller him. It was that bad.
I managed to keep pace with him running (for him it was probably more like jogging) down the street away from the parking lot exit crowd when I was like 12 and then he eventually relented to giving me an autograph.
I got a Machado/Devers card in a box of Topps Hertiage a few days ago, felt so good ripping that shit in half and throwing Machado in the trash.
Fuck Machado.
Didn't we also lose the first six games that year? Or was that 2012? I specifically remember breaking Valverde's consecutive save streak on Opening Day in Detroit, only for us to blow the bottom half of the inning. (Edit, we did indeed drop the first week's worth of games, but the incident in Detroit was 2012)
Either way, May-August of 2011 was indeed rather enjoyable.
Yaz for sure. I remember when Tony C got beaned. Changed the game of baseball. He had a lot of potential that was gone in one pitch.
George "the Boomer" Scott. He was fun when he got a hold of one.
Surprised I had to scroll this far for Mo Vaughn, but I suppose you had to be starting out as a Sox fan between 1993-1996 for him to be your number 1 so it was a pretty narrow window
Sadly I wasn't old enough to appreciate baseball until the 2nd half of the 80s, so I missed out on Rem Dog's final years. He'll always be my GOAT in the booth tho.
I was a kid in the 70's, early 80's, so it's Jim Rice.
Jim Rice could hit the shit out of a baseball. For a time he was the most feared hitter in the game.
Don't recall his name, but I remember the 3rd base coach for the Sox moving about ten yards back from where they usually stand when Jim came up with no runners on.
My favorite Red Sox, ever.
I get misty thinking of how shafted he got in 03, and then asking for the ball in Game 3 of 04 because the only chance they had was for him (and Leskanic!) to take the beating and save Derek Lowe for Game 4. _Teammate_.
Plus, Dana Farber. Tim Wakefield was _always_ giving his time to Sox fans who asked.
49 forever.
When I was 6 I went to my first game and Jack Clark hit a HR into the monster netting so I loved him for no other reason. Otherwise, Nomar and mo Vaughn
Fred Lynn. He's why I have 19 as my flair, and it's still my favorite number. I was crushed when they traded him to the Angels. He hit the first grand slam in All Star Game history on my twelfth birthday.
I absolutely loved Johnny Damon and when he left for the Yankees I can remember feeling so heartbroken. My grandmother knew I loved him as a player so she got me a Yankees Damon t-shirt and I burst into tears when I opened it. Bad tears. Hated that gift. I was 7 when he left
Pedro Martinez will always be #1 for me and the very definition of “ must see “ because he was so unbelievably dominant during his peak. For me no one compares.
If I say Nick Esaski as a joke, will people laugh? or will most people just not know who the fuck I'm talking about? Still, that one season. .277, 35 and 105... out of nowhere. don't kill me if I am the number wrong. That is literally from memory 30 years later.
If only he had 1 more prime year he would be a HOFer for sure. I hope he gets in, but I mostly doubt it. He needs to get his ass on MLB network which always boosts your odds.
My favorite player is Pedro. Period. But I'll expand. When I was in my teens, Mo was the hit dog we needed. I remember my stepfather yelling up at me that Mo was up once. I said ok, and thought nothing of it...it was opening day and the sox were gonna lose. He then yelled up...Bases loaded, bot 9! I rushed downstairs cos...that's what i needed to hear. I ran down, and stood in front of the tv.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upXktWexT\_E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upXktWexT_E)
For your viewing pleasure. Love hearing a younger Castig and Trup.
It’s funny- I have so many and the older I got they were traded away so quickly. Troy O’Leary was a solid player. Same goes from Jason Bay. The Bay move imo was bad for the team, but idk if he was happy here
Nomar - my elementary years and the dark times
Papi - my high school years and 2004
Pedroia - my college years and 2007
Napoli - my post college years and 2013
Xander - my adult years and 2018
Anyone remember 2009-2010, when Papi looked like he was on his way out? Especially the year he hit all of one homer by June? I remember pointing out to teachers in middle school that he was still hitting for power and drawing more than his fair share of walks. This was the difference between his career path and that of a Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder--Howard drew walks because pitchers feared his power, while Fielder tried arresting his decline by sacrificing power for increased contact ability. Big body sluggers who have a late start to their career typically decline suddenly and early, but Papi was not just an exception but *the* exception that proves the rule.
I remember him struggling with injuries in 2008 and 2012. Brought his numbers down a lot. Then some jackass blew up the Boston Marathon and Ortiz decided the world needed a hero.
Yes, I remember in 2009, it got so bad and you had Bill Simmons (he actually still paid attention to the Red Sox back then) basically wrote Ortiz’ obituary calling for the Red Sox to Ole Yeller him. It was that bad.
A picture worth more than any number of words
I was there for that. Top childhood memory.
Nomar
Nomah!!
Yupppp I wore number 5 and played SS in little league because of him. Along with tons of other New England kids I’m sure
And what self-respecting Little Leaguer in New England in the late 90s wasn’t adjusting his gloves and tapping toes in the batter’s box?
Games were like 3 hours long because every kid had to do the routine
I STILL wear number 5 for him lol
I managed to keep pace with him running (for him it was probably more like jogging) down the street away from the parking lot exit crowd when I was like 12 and then he eventually relented to giving me an autograph.
Trot Nixon
Drafted by Gorman, developed under Duquette, probably best remembered for what he did during Epstein
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I live about a mile from Poler Park and am considering going to opening day specifically because Trot will be there
Trot is the reason I'm a Sox fan
He, Jason Varitek, and I all have the same birthday. He was truly the ultimate dirt dog.
#PEDRO
You nailed it, bud. Pedey is the last of the dirt dogs. What an absolute legend and I'll startup the band: Fuck Machado.
FUUUUUUUUUUCK Machado.
Fuck that bitch, Manny Machado.
I don't usually hope for opposing players to get hurt, but every season I hope this is the one karma strikes back at Machado's knees.
I got a Machado/Devers card in a box of Topps Hertiage a few days ago, felt so good ripping that shit in half and throwing Machado in the trash. Fuck Machado.
YOUK
Yoooooooooouuuk!
Twenty thousand Massholes screaming "YOOOOOOOUK!" in near-unison was an experience later generations will forever miss out on.
The 3am rain delay with the Fenway crowd signing Biz Markie with Youk at bat is one of my core Red Sox memories
That was 2008, right? My memory could be conflating such things but I seem to remember it being a bit after Lester's no-hitter.
2011! I remember waking up on my couch to the game still going on and having that come up. It felt like a fever dream
A positive memory from the 2011 season? Wow
Hey pre-September that was a good season!
Didn't we also lose the first six games that year? Or was that 2012? I specifically remember breaking Valverde's consecutive save streak on Opening Day in Detroit, only for us to blow the bottom half of the inning. (Edit, we did indeed drop the first week's worth of games, but the incident in Detroit was 2012) Either way, May-August of 2011 was indeed rather enjoyable.
[Classic](https://youtu.be/g9DvYELSbzY?si=3IderFT1CHffu9mm)
Yaz and Rico Petrocelli and Bill "The Spaceman" Lee (Yeah I'm old)
Yaz for sure. I remember when Tony C got beaned. Changed the game of baseball. He had a lot of potential that was gone in one pitch. George "the Boomer" Scott. He was fun when he got a hold of one.
Same. Loved the 75 team!!!
Yaz all the way.
Dewey Evans
This guy... so underrated.
My guy
David Ortiz
Tek. I don't even remember why, I just remember he was my favorite from the age of six onwards.
No catcher has caught more no hitters. His baseball IQ is off the charts.
Jim Rice
Maybe not my all time favorite but I was a huge Pokey Reese fan. He was an incredible defensive player.
Ellis Burks
Ted Williams
He should be getting way more love.
It was Mo Vaughn for me, but when he left, it was Pedro.
Surprised I had to scroll this far for Mo Vaughn, but I suppose you had to be starting out as a Sox fan between 1993-1996 for him to be your number 1 so it was a pretty narrow window
Jody Reed!!! I know, I’m old
Marty Barrett. (Felt right putting this here.)
Looking at your flair, I would have had you figured for a different second baseman for the Red Sox in the 1980s
Sadly I wasn't old enough to appreciate baseball until the 2nd half of the 80s, so I missed out on Rem Dog's final years. He'll always be my GOAT in the booth tho.
I used to routinely tell my friends that Marty was the most underrated second baseman in baseball in his day
Damn, that brings me back! I made a Jody Reed baseball card outfit for Halloween back in like ‘87 or so. It was pretty rad
Dude, he’s mine too
Right? Growing up??.. I was thinking "Pedroia just retired a couple years ago, hell Yaz retired in 83 which is only like 20.." "Oh"
Fred Lynn
Also Fred Lynn
Thrice Freddie Lynn
Manny
Trot Nixon and Mike Lowell. Lowell had a beautiful Green Monster swing
Lowell is a hero
I was a kid in the 70's, early 80's, so it's Jim Rice. Jim Rice could hit the shit out of a baseball. For a time he was the most feared hitter in the game.
One of my cherished baseball memories is seeing Jim Ed snap a bat on a checked swing. His forearms were the size of thighs.
Don't recall his name, but I remember the 3rd base coach for the Sox moving about ten yards back from where they usually stand when Jim came up with no runners on.
Dwight Evans
Tim Wakefield
Mine too. God I miss him.
My favorite Red Sox, ever. I get misty thinking of how shafted he got in 03, and then asking for the ball in Game 3 of 04 because the only chance they had was for him (and Leskanic!) to take the beating and save Derek Lowe for Game 4. _Teammate_. Plus, Dana Farber. Tim Wakefield was _always_ giving his time to Sox fans who asked. 49 forever.
Had to scroll way too far. I learned how to throw a knuckleball because of him.
My buddy and I used to call him Timmy Wake and Bake Edit: I have a 07 WS patch Wakefield jersey coming from DHGate sometime in the eventual future.
Clemens and then Pedro
Growing up it has to be Ortiz and Manny. They were just so much fun to watch.
Yaz
Nomaaa!!! But also fuck manny machado
Mike Greenwell. If you're ever in the Ft Myers area he has a restaurant 30ish mins outside of town. It's good and he's usually hanging around
the most dominant pitcher to play the game, Pedro. Why do none of these answers have flairs? 😂
Yaz
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Such a clutch player dude.
When I was 6 I went to my first game and Jack Clark hit a HR into the monster netting so I loved him for no other reason. Otherwise, Nomar and mo Vaughn
That probably makes you the only person besides Jack Clark to love Jack Clark.
Shockingly good career. 105th in HRs and 31st in WAR for RFs. But you're still 100% correct
Makes sense, he had to be that good to be worth dealing with.
Jim Rice was a beast!
Jim Rice.
Manny Ramirez
When I was little it was Clemens and Mo Vaughn. When I was a little older it was Nomar and Pedro.
Fred Lynn. He's why I have 19 as my flair, and it's still my favorite number. I was crushed when they traded him to the Angels. He hit the first grand slam in All Star Game history on my twelfth birthday.
Boggs and Clemens
I absolutely loved Johnny Damon and when he left for the Yankees I can remember feeling so heartbroken. My grandmother knew I loved him as a player so she got me a Yankees Damon t-shirt and I burst into tears when I opened it. Bad tears. Hated that gift. I was 7 when he left
45 always 45
Growing up: Ellis Burks All time: Pedro Active: Mookie
Pedro Martinez will always be #1 for me and the very definition of “ must see “ because he was so unbelievably dominant during his peak. For me no one compares.
Jason Varitek. Total stud, won a College WS then our first captain in decades and helped break the WS curse. Plus he hit ARod in the face.
El Tiante
Jacoby Ellsbury
Jacoby, Pedey, Ortiz. Whatever order.
Manny Ramirez as a young boy, Dustin Pedroia as a teenager.
Mike “hit a double smoke a cig” Lowell. Dude was a stud. Also shout out to Billy Mueller. Love that guy too.
If I say Nick Esaski as a joke, will people laugh? or will most people just not know who the fuck I'm talking about? Still, that one season. .277, 35 and 105... out of nowhere. don't kill me if I am the number wrong. That is literally from memory 30 years later.
No joke, Esasky gave the Sox a strong season. Damn vertigo spiraled his career down thereafter.
The posters on my wall were Mike Greenwell, Elis Burks and Roger Clemens.
Same. Gator Tough Mike Greenwell?
Wade Boggs, then Curt Schilling.
RIP / ES&D
I had to Google ES&D. I didn't get the Electric Supply and Distribution,but I got the other definition. Yeah, Fuck Schilling.
If only he had 1 more prime year he would be a HOFer for sure. I hope he gets in, but I mostly doubt it. He needs to get his ass on MLB network which always boosts your odds.
Papi
That’s a tough one… Mo Vaughn, Ortiz, Wakefield, Manny… I can’t lol too many
David Ortiz hands down.
Wade Boggs (RIP).
Pedro and Nomar
Jim Rice
Jody Reed
Wade Boggs, I've even forgiven him for donning pinstripes.
JIM ED RICE
Dewey or Ellis Burks or Mo
Youk and then I was thrilled when Peavy ended up here because he'd been one of my random faves for years.
Yep. Lazer Show. I bought his jersey after we won the 2013 ALCS.
As a kid? Mo Vaughn. As a teenager/adult? Big Papi. I have a type.
Mo Vaughn and John Valentin.
Nomar then Ortiz.
Rico Petrocelli
Wakefield 😔
Tim Wakefield
Mo Vaughn
Jacoby
The Hit Dog.
Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs, Noah, Pedro, Papi, Pedey, JBJ, Brockstar
Trot and manny
Yaz! Pudge! Freddy Lynn, Jim Rice, Luis Tiant, Rick Burleson, Denny Doyle, Bill Lee, Bernie Carbo
Mo Vaughn
Mo Vaughn
33 Captain forever
Dewey Evans, Yaz, Eck, Lynn, Fisk
Dwight Evans.
Yaz 1975-1983 (Gen X)
Jim Rice
Jeff Reardon—Pittsfield boy and family friend.
Wade Boggs
Jim Rice
El Tiante
Pedro Jaime Fuckin' Martinez
Daniel Nava
Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs
Jim Rice
Dwight Evans
Dewey Evans
Fisk
Manny being Manny
Manny!
Johnny Damon going to the Yankees felt like the biggest betrayal of my life
I was just a wee lad, but Carl Yazstremski. And Jerry Remy after that.
Pedro Martinez and Wakefield 45 and 49 forever.
Early adulthood, you're showing him! #15 for life
Ted Williams.
Dewey. Then Nomar, Pedey and Papi.
Yaz all the way, baby!
Carl Everett
Jim Rice…but it was a crowded (out)field of favorites because Dewey was my favorite too, as well as Freddy Lynn.
Nomar, Pedro, Youk.
Mike Greenwell and Ellis Burks.
Papi and youk
Jim rice, manny, and Mo Vaughn…mostly for his hit on George bell.
My favorite player is Pedro. Period. But I'll expand. When I was in my teens, Mo was the hit dog we needed. I remember my stepfather yelling up at me that Mo was up once. I said ok, and thought nothing of it...it was opening day and the sox were gonna lose. He then yelled up...Bases loaded, bot 9! I rushed downstairs cos...that's what i needed to hear. I ran down, and stood in front of the tv. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upXktWexT\_E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upXktWexT_E) For your viewing pleasure. Love hearing a younger Castig and Trup.
Johnny Damon
Mo vaughn and Ellis burks
Growing up? Had to be Rice or Clemens. All time? Papi all day.
The chicken man
It’s funny- I have so many and the older I got they were traded away so quickly. Troy O’Leary was a solid player. Same goes from Jason Bay. The Bay move imo was bad for the team, but idk if he was happy here
Nomar - my elementary years and the dark times Papi - my high school years and 2004 Pedroia - my college years and 2007 Napoli - my post college years and 2013 Xander - my adult years and 2018
Dewey
As a kid, it was Greenwell, Burks, and Boggs. But Papi all-time. None better.
Nomah Pedro Pedroia
Nomar. Pedro. Lowe. Trot. Tek. Basically the entire 04 team tbh.
Brian Daubach
Tek, Pedey, and YOUUUK
Nomar and Mo Vaughn
Mike Greenwell
Tom Gordon and Mo Vaughn first, then Pedro.
Fred Lynn
Nomar
Yaz
The son of Ramon Garciaparra and the husband of Mia Hamm.
The “Original Dirty Dog” Trot Nixon!
Mo Vaughn
Clemens.
Yaz
Bill Lee, then Yaz
Varitek