The Birthday Boy
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park, ESPN Boston just released its list of the 50 Greatest Red Sox. It’s an interesting list and frankly not a bad one, although I would disagree with some of the selections. Here’s a list of their top 10 in order: Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Tris Speaker, Pedro Martinez, Cy Young, Roger Clemens, Jimmie Foxx, Babe Ruth, Lefty Grove, and Bobby Doerr. Before you ask, Jim Rice is 11th.
Again, not a bad list but I wonder how much Clemens rancorous departure and the subsequent steroid controversy contributed to his rank below both Martinez and Young. I’m a little surprised Grove is a top 10 over Wade Boggs or Rice, but why not. You got to admit, that’s one heck of an outfield, isn’t it?
In case you’re interested it takes all the way to 30th to get a full team. According to this listing, the best Red Sox team is:
Infield: Foxx, Doerr, Joe Cronin (18th), and Wade Boggs (13th)
Outfield: Williams, Yastrzemski, Speaker
Catcher: Carlton Fisk (14th)
DH: Rice (11th and the first position player who would not have a regular spot in the field, hence he’s the DH)
Left Handed Starters: Ruth and Grove
Right Handed Starters: Martinez, Young, and Clemens
Closer: Dick Radatz (30th)
Agree? Disagree? Fine, but compliment or complain to ESPN: Boston, it’s their list.
Tags: Babe Ruth, Bobbie Doerr, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, Cy Young, Dick Radatz, Jim Rice, Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin, Lefty Grove, Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Ted Williams, Tris Speaker, Wade Boggs
Verdun2's Blog 
April 20, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Wow, that’s one hell of an All-Star team. Still hard to believe that they went so many decades without winning a World Series. Interesting that no current Red Sox are on the list, nor are there any that I think should be.
Too bad there’s not a way to squeeze Dwight Evans onto the list.