Boston Red Sox Dream Team

 

Every sport evolves with each passing generation -- from the size

and athleticism of players to game strategy. 

Baseball’s evolution, however, is both historic and unique given the

pre-integration and dead ball eras. For the former, full segregation

took place from 1887-1947. Full integration, which was a gradual

process, came in 1959. The Deadball Era was a period in the early

20th century when baseball was characterized by low scoring and

emphasis on pitching. 

There was the Steroid Era, which has no definite start time though it

is generally assumed that the era ran from the late 1980s until the

late 2000s. This era was defined by shattered home run records

leading to exorbitant salaries. 

The Boston Red Sox have existed since 1901. They were known as

the Boston Americans from 1901-1907 before being rebranded as

the Boston Red Sox. The franchise has a star-crossed legacy with

nine World Series titles and five coming in a 16 year span (1903-

1918) and four in a 15 year span (2004-2018). In between, there

was an 86 year drought with seven-game World Series losses

coming in 1975 (Cincinnati Reds) and 1986 (New York Mets). That

era became known as “The Curse of the Bambino” with the sale of

Babe Ruth, multiple trades between the Red Sox and Yankees.

That ramifications resulted in a reduced number of wins for the Red

Sox and the inability to win the Work Series despite having some

all-time great players. 

Besides the nine World Series titles, the franchise has won 14

pennants, 10 division titles, and seven postseason appearances as

a wild card team. 

Today, I formed a Red Sox Dream Team in a 26-man roster format.

For openers, to make this roster, four years as a Red Sock are

required. No exceptions. With the free agency era, I’m not going to

cheapen this roster with 1-3 year rentals. 

I’m forming a 12 man pitching staff, five starters, and seven relievers.

For the latter, I want at least one lefthander in the bullpen. For

position players, I am taking what I believe is the best of the best

regardless of era. For the bench players, it’s the best of the rest with

versatility being heavily considered. Merit achievements such as

Hall of Fame, All-Star appearances, and Gold Gloves are considered

but not guaranteed. General impactfulness on the franchise is also

considered.

Generational reminders

If you played on a playoff team, there is no guarantee of landing on

this roster. If you played during a bad season, that does not deter

you from being on this roster. Off-the-field baggage is not a deterrent

to landing on this team, nor is any Steroid Era affiliation. This is

baseball, not the Boys Scouts. We don’t do morality clauses. 

Starting pitchers

Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Cy Young, Lefty Grove, Jon

Lester

Martinez was a Red Sock for seven years and helped the franchise

break the curse in 2004. Buoyed by a tremendous fastball and

change-up, his starts were appointment baseball. On the way to a

Hall of Fame career with five different franchises, he also led Major

League Baseball in ERA five times and the American League in

strikeouts on three occasions. Some people may have their

misgivings about Clemens because of his association with PED

usage, his resume though is undeniable. Clemens pitched in the

Major Leagues for 24 years, 13 for the Red Sox. Clements was

an 11-time All-Star, seven-time Cy Young Award winner,seven-time

ERA leader, five-time American League strikeout leader and two-

time Triple Crown winner. He burst onto the scene in 1986 by

striking out a Major League record 20 batters in a single game and

was the American League MVP that season. Young recorded 26

games or more wins in his first four seasons with the Red Sox

and the best pitcher in baseball has an award named after him.

Enough said. Young led the Major Leagues in wins five times

along with ERA and strikeouts on two occasions. He also helped

the Red Sox to their 1903 World Series championship. 

Grove is best known for his time with the Philadelphia Athletics

because he helped them win two World Series titles. Grove,

however, was a stellar contributor in a Red Sox uniform. Five of his

six All-Star appearances came with the Red Sox on the way to a

Hall of Fame career. Grove also led the American League in ERA

four times while in a Red Sox uniform. Lester was long on clutch

performances as evidenced by his six postseason wins, tied for

first in franchise history with Martinez and Curt Schilling. Lester

was an integral figure in the Red Sox 2007 and 2013 World Series

title teams. Three of five of his All-Star appearances came in Boston.

Bullpen

Closer -- Jonathan Papelbon

Dick Radatz, Bob Stanley, Koji Uehara, Ellis Kinder, Sparky Lyle,

Tom Burgmeier

Papelbon was an entertaining personality and is the franchise's all-

time leader with 219 career saves. Papelbon was an All-Star six

times in his career, four as a member of the Red Sox. Papelbon was

an integral part of the 2007 World Series team. Radatz was the

franchise's first true closer and compiled 102 career saves during

his career. Arm injuries limited the apex of his career to four seasons

but he put together enough of a body of work to earn a spot on this

roster. Radatz was a two-time All-Star and led the American League

in saves twice. Stanley, nicknamed “The Steamer,” pitched all 13 of

his Major League seasons with the Red Sox being either a capable

setup man or closer, compiling 132 career saves and he was a

two-time All-Star. 

Uehara pitched just four seasons with the Red Sox but he was very

impactful with only one of his seasons seeing an ERA above 3.00.

Uehara was the ALCS MVP and he was a key part of the 2013

World Series championship team and was an All-Star in 2014.

Kinder's versatility alone earned him a spot on this roster. Kinder

pitched eight seasons with the Red Sox and was both an able

performer as a starter and reliever. In 276 relief appearances,

however, Kinder compiled a 2.80 ERA with 93 saves. Lyle pitched

for the Red Sox for five seasons after coming over in a trade from

the Yankees. Lyle compiled a 2.85 ERA and 69 saves in that span.

Burgmeier was a dependable left-hander out of the bullpen for five

seasons with the Red Sox, in that span he compiled a 2.72 ERA. 

Infield

Catcher -- Carlton Fisk; First base -- Jimmie Foxx; Second base --

Dustin Pedroia; Third base -- Wade Boggs; Shortstop -- Nomar

Garciaparra

Fisk is remembered for his iconic Game 6 home run in the 1975

World Series but aside from Johnny Bench, one would be hard-

pressed to find a more well-rounded catcher than Fisk. In his 24-

year Hall of Fame career with both the Red Sox and Chicago White

Sox, Fisk was an 11-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger Award,

American League Rookie of the Year and Gold Glove Award

winner in 1972. Foxx came to the Red Sox in a trade from the

Philadelphia Athletics. His 50 home runs in 1938 was a franchise-

record until David Ortiz passed it in 2006. Foxx spent seven years

with the Red Sox with six of them being All-Star campaigns and

one being an American League MVP season in 1938. Foxx

accomplished this on the way to a Hall of Fame career. Pedroia

is the only player in Major League history to win an MVP, Rookie

of the Year, World Series title and Gold Glove in his first two Major

League seasons. Injuries curtailed the last few years of Pedroia's

career but he left behind an incredible legacy. He was a four-time

All-Star, four-time Gold Glove Award winner and vital cog in two

World Series championships, 2007 and 2013.

You would be hard-pressed to find a left-handed header that fit

Fenway Park better than Boggs. Though Boggs also played for two

other franchises, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, his

success is most synonymous with the Red Sox. Boggs won all five

of his batting titles while in Boston. On the way to a Hall of Fame

career, Boggs was a 12-time All-Star, eight-time Silver Slugger

Award winner and two-time Gold Glove Award winner. Garciaparra

did not have the Hall of Fame career that he appeared that he

would have in the early going but there is still not a better shortstop

in franchise history. Garciaparra's .372 batting average in 2000 is

fourth-best in franchise history and best among right-handed hitters.

Five of Garciaparra's six All-Star appearances came with the Red

Sox. He was also the American League Rookie of the Year in 1997. 

Outfield

Leftfield -- Ted Williams; Centerfield -- Tris Speaker; Rightfield --

Dwight Evans

Left field is an embarrassment of riches for the Red Sox. One would

be hard-pressed to find a better pure header in the history of the

games and Williams. He hit for average, .344 for his career and

power, 521 career home runs. Williams remains the last Major

League player to compile a .400 batting average in a single season.

Part of Williams’ Hall of Fame career was interrupted due to serving

in World War II. He was a 19 time All Star, six-time American League

batting champion. He also led the American League in home runs

and RBIs twice and was a two-time American League MVP Award

winner. Speaker gets forgotten because of the era in which he

played but along with Ty Cobb was probably the best dead ball

era player ever on the way to a Hall of Fame career. Speaker led

the Red Sox to two World Series titles and was the American

League MVP in 1912 and also led the American League in home

runs that season. Speaker compiled 792 career doubles which is

a Major League record along with 449 outfield assists, also a

Major League record. Evans gradually developed into an

accomplished hitter but was a defensive stalwart from day one as

a Major League player. What he lacked in athleticism, he made up

for in positioning and had a howitzer for an arm. Evans was an

eight-time Gold Glove Award winner, three-time All-Star and two-

time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Bench

Jason Varitek, David Ortiz, Jimmy Collins, Bobby Doerr, Carl

Yastremski, Mookie Betts

Varitek was masterful at leading a pitching staff. Varitek spent all 15

years of his Major League career with the Red Sox and was a three-

time All-Star. he was also a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award

winner in 2005. Varitek was a key component in the Red Sox 2004

and 2007 World Series.  Ortiz was known as “Big Papi” and you

would be hard-pressed to find a better clutch hitter in franchise

history. In the 2004 playoffs, Ortiz delivered three walk off hits with

two of them being home runs. Ortiz's 541 career home runs put

him 17th in Major League history. He was a 10-time All-Star, seven-

time Silver Slugger Award winner, three-time American League RBI

leader and a significant member of three World Series

Championships. Doerr was nicknamed “The Silent Captain.” He

was part of some memorable Red Sox teams in the 1940s and

batted at .409 in the 1946 World Series. On the way to a Hall of

Fame career, Doerr was a nine-time All-Star. 

Collins was one of the first third baseman that brought athleticism

and range to the position on the way to a Hall of Fame career.

Collins was one of the best third baseman in his generation and

helped lead the Red Sox to their 1903 World Series title as the

Boston Americans. Yastrzemski stepped into one of the toughest

acts to follow in the history of sports, following Williams. Yastremski,

however, established his own legend and Hall of Fame career in

his 23 years with the Red Sox. Yastremski was an 18-time All-Star,

seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, three-time American

League batting champion and American League MVP in 1967.

Betts may lack the lengthy resume of many greats in franchise

history but he had an accomplished six-year career with the Red

Sox before being traded to the Dodgers. Betts was a four-time All-

Star and helped the Red Sox to their 2018 World Series

championship. That season he was also the American League

MVP. Betts was a four-time gold glove Award winner in a Red Sox

uniform. Also in 2018 he was the American League batting

champion and member of the 30/30 club (30 home runs, 30 stolen

bases). 

Manager

Terry Francona

After a subpar four-year stint with the Philadelphia Phillies, Francona,

who is now the Cleveland Indians manager, guided the Red Sox to

744 career wins, which is second in franchise history. Even more

impressive was the fact that he guided the franchise to its first World

Series championship in 86 years in 2004. The Red Sox overcame

a 3-0 deficit to the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Boston then

swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Four years later

in 2007, Francona led the Red Sox back to the mountaintop once

more. That team overcame a 3-1 deficit to the Cleveland Indians in

the ALCS and swept the Colorado Rockies in the World Series.

Beyond the wins and titles, Francona’s steady hand and calm

demeanor in a pressure-filled market were keys to the Red Sox

success. 

Team

2004

You can debate whether this was the best team in Red Sox history

but it was the most influential. One year after losing to the Yankees

in seven games in the ALCS, the Red Sox won 98 games and

finished second in the American League East to the Yankees.

The Red Sox swept the Anaheim Angels in the ALDS and became

the first team in Major League history to overcome a 3-0 deficit to

win a series, rallying past the Yankees with three walk off wins,

defeating the best closer (Mariano Rivera) in Major League history

in the process. The Red Sox went on to sweep the Cardinals in

the World Series, the franchise's first since 1918. The pitching

staff was anchored by Schilling and Martinez while the offense was

anchored by Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.