Top 100 Red Sox of All Time -- Nominations 91-100 Options

[John Marzano Oly...]

Sorry for the absence last week, folks but it was Thanksgiving week and I didn't think that we'd get a lot of traffic. This is the last one, so you should know the drill by now, folks:

Remember, lurkers are encouraged to vote. Either submit your nominations to me or another Dope or Mod.

A quick refresher: each week we're going to do is nominate 20 of the greatest Red Sox players and then vote on those same players the following week. If there are 25 players nominated, we will only vote on the top 20. Those extra players (also those who didn't make the week's voting cut) will be tossed back into the nomination thread. The 20 players with the most nomination votes will move to the following weeks votes, so even if 15 people have nominated someone, you should nominate that player too; just in case.

Unlike the GOAT thread, you can nominate as many players as you want. But like the GOAT thread the nominees have to be bolded. If they aren't bolded, they won't count. The following week you can vote in the poll (it will be linked in the poll). The nominations and polls close on Sunday morning.

Here are the Top 90 as voted by you, the SoSH members:

1. Ted Williams
2. Pedro Martinez
3. Carl Yastrzemski
4. Cy Young
5. Roger Clemens
6. Manny Ramirez
7. Tris Speaker
8. Wade Boggs
9. Jimmie Foxx
10. Babe Ruth
11. Jim Rice
12. Carlton Fisk
13. Dwight Evans
14. Bobby Doerr
15. David Ortiz
16. Lefty Grove
17. Smokey Joe Wood
18. Nomar Garciaparra
19. Joe Cronin
20. Dom DiMaggio
21. Luis Tiant
22. Mo Vaughn
23. Tim Wakefield
24. Fred Lynn
25. Tony Conigliaro
26. Johnny Pesky
27. Jason Varitek
28. Harry Hooper
29. Curt Schilling
30. Mel Parnell
31. Jimmy Collins
32. Dick Radatz
33. Rico Petrocelli
34. Jonathan Papelbon
35. Mike Greenwell
36. Bob Stanley
37. Bill Lee
38. Vern Stephens
39. Jackie Jensen
40. Dennis Eckersley
41. Derek Lowe
42. Dutch Leonard
43. Reggie Smith
44. Bruce Hurst
45. Pete Runnels
46. Kevin Youkilis
47. Buck Freeman
48. Dustin Pedroia
49. Larry Gardner
50. Ellis Burks
51. Josh Beckett
52. Frank Malzone
53. John Valentin
54. Tex Hughson
55. George Scott
56. Ellis Kinder
57. Duffy Lewis
58. Johnny Damon
59. Billy Goodman
60. Rick Burleson
61. Trot Nixon
62. Jim Lonborg
63. Bill Monbouquette
64. Marty Barrett
65. Jimmy Piersall
66. Mike Timlin
67. Rick Ferrell
68. Carl Mays
69. Joe Dobson
70. Rich Gedman
71. Mike Lowell
72. Bill Mueller
73. Frank Sullivan
74. Troy O'Leary
75. Wes Ferrell
76. Bill Dinneen
77. Chick Stahl
78. Jody Reed
79. Brian Daubach
80. Tom Burgmeier
81. Jon Lester
82. Sparky Lyle
83. JD Drew
84. Bernie Carbo
85. Bill Carrigan
86. Boo Ferriss
87. Mike Andrews
88. Dave Henderson
89. Ernie Shore
90. Everett Scott

Please remember that you have to re-nominate anyone that you think is worthy. And the more nominations, the better.

And that's another thing, feel free to question other choices and be prepared to defend yours. This is supposed to be a fun topic and hopefully, we'll spark some really interesting discussions. And also, any reasons why you think that your Sox player should be in the top 100 will be used. If you want to look at it from a numbers perspective, go for it. If you want to look at it from word-of-mouth POV, awesome. If you want to base it on both, even better.

Here are my seven:
Freddy Parent
Bill Campbell
Lee Smith
Stuffy McInnis
Reggie Jefferson
Tommy Harper
Tom Gordon

[Lose Remerswaal]

From the prior nomination thread:

Jake Stahl Played 6 years for the Sox, briefly in 1903, then back from 1908 to 1912. Had an OPS+ of 134 with the team (and we know how important OPS+ was back around the turn of the century!), no seasons under 112. Of players with at least 400 games played with the Sox, that puts him 9th all time. Of course there's more to a career than OPS+, but #9 all time for 400+ games (behind Ted, Tris, Foxx, Manny, Ortiz, Boggs, Vaughn and Lynn, and ahead of Nomar (barely), Buck Freeman (he should be considered, too), Yaz, Rice and Reggie Smith. Led the league in HR in 1910 (with 10!). Hell, I can give you more stats, or you can look at them yourself here.

Rich Garces El Guapo. Need I say more?

OK. W-L record of 23-8 (I know, wins are meaningless for relievers). ERA+ of 128 for his 7 years here, including 3 years in a row of 141, 324(!!!) and 156. And so many memories. Stats are here, but Garces transcends the numbers. Especially the "250" listed for weight.

Sparky Lyle 5 seasons of very good relief, at the start of his career. ERA+ overall for the Sox of 129. All 5 seasons over 100, with peaks of 151 and 154. Made "sitting on birthday cakes" famous. Not his fault he was traded for Danny Cater and became a great Yankee. If you voted for Timlin or Burgmeier, you can't not vote for Lyle.

Tony Armas his son helped us to get Pedro Martinez, and he's the only baseball player EVER whose name consists of 4 body parts. Led the league in HR and RBI and Total Bases (and K's) in 1984

I may add more later

Butch Hobson Part of the "Greatest Lineup Ever" in 1978. Adjusted his elbow chips before making throws to first base. 29th all time on Red Sox HR list (ahead of Brian Daubach (Daubach is a Top 100 player?). Starter for 3 and 2 half seasons.

Dick Gernert Starting First Baseman for the Sox from 1952 to 1959 (in minors 1954 & 1955). Cleanup hitter (behind Ted!) for 3 of those seasons as he averaged 18 HR/year his first 5 full years with the team.

Jim Tabor Starting 3B for Sox from 1939 to 1944. 37th all time in Total Bases for the Sox, fought in WWII in 1945.

Hobe Ferris Starting 2B for the Boston team (Americans, Pilgrims, Sox) from 1899 to 1907. 39th all time Total Bases for the Sox, 7th in triples, 35th in RBIs, no record of him ever striking out! 14th in Sacrifices, Top 40 for Plate Appearances and Extra Base Hits.

Sammy White We need more Catchers here, he was the main guy from 1952 to 1959. Most games caught for the team until Fisk broke his record. Only man in MLB history to score 3 runs in one inning. Per Baseball Reference, he was an outstanding defensive catcher. Owned that bowling alley on Soldier's Field Road next to the IHOP. 40th all time in Total Bases, 38th in RBIs.

Still 3rd all time in Games Caught, runs, hits for the Sox, Top 5 in doubles, triples and HR. Pretty much 3rd in every counting stat. Gedman is 4th in most of these stats, FWIW, and Rick Ferrell is in the 6th to 10th range.

I'll add some pitchers later.

This post has been edited by Lose Remerswaal: Nov 30 2009, 04:22 PM

[brs3]

Tommy Harper- Broke a 61 year old team record for most steals in a season, then held that record for another 36 years. He was on the team for 3 seasons and remains in the top 10 for stolen bases in franchise history. If Brian Daubach has a place on this list(not saying he doesn't. I love Daubers), surely Tommy Harper does too.

Ray Culp - It looks like from 1968-1971,he was the workhorse of the team. Maybe someone who remembers him can chime in. He had 47 CGs in his first 4 seasons w/ the Sox, and was the best pitcher on the team in 1970. Probably 2nd best in 68,69, & '71.

and my own selfish choices

Rich Garces - He earned less than 4 million with the Sox, was reliable most of his years in Boston, and was arguable the best option(and most used) in 2000. That, and he gave fat guys everywhere a player to latch onto.

Lee Smith - A big part of the 1988 season, and traded away for Tom Brunansky. Seem like 2 good reasons to squeeze onto the last 10.

Keith Foulke

[Lose Remerswaal]

A couple of pitchers you might want to consider:


Ike Delock 8th all time in Games pitched, 24th in IP, 23rd in wins. Got one of those unforgettable names

Ray Collins From Vermont, won 84 games in 5 and 2 half years (1909 to 1915). 22nd all time in wins, 26th in losses. 21st in IP and Hits allowed. 5th most wins of Sox pitchers in 1901 to 1920, 3rd in innings, 6th in Complete games. 4th in K's, but 8th in Walks for that period.

[Trautwein's ...]

Greg Harris: If SoSH existed in the early 1990s this guy would have been a cult hero. In 1992, he pitched 107 innings and posted an ERA+ of 169. In 1993, he led the AL with 80 appearances. Overall he was 39-43 with an ERA of 3.91 in 651 innings pitched for the Sox from 1989-1993. He started, he closed, and he could throw with both hands. He looked like a nerd, was confused with Greg W. Harris and is the only pitcher in the modern era to pitch with both left and right arms.

Keith Foulke: Shocked he's not higher. History will be kind to Keith Foulke. I know there's not much more than 2004 on his Sox resume but he stabbed the ground ball. Where others had failed - he didn't. The guy was nails in 2004. Wikipedia says it best:

In the 2004 postseason, Foulke appeared in 11 of 14 games, throwing 257 pitches over 14 innings. He would rack up 19 strikeouts and over the entire stretch would only allow exactly one earned run. Foulke was on the mound when the final out was made in the 2004 World Series when he induced Edgar Rentería then of the St. Louis Cardinals to hit a one bounce ground ball back to him which he flipped to first ending the Curse of the Bambino.

This post has been edited by Trautwein's Degree: Nov 30 2009, 05:15 PM

[BigMike]

I'll add to the Keith Foulke nomination. I tried to nominate him last time, but must have made a mistake as he didn't make the list.

To me he put the team on his shoulders and carried them in the 2004 postseason

[Lose Remerswaal]

I'll add to the Keith Foulke nomination. I tried to nominate him last time, but must have made a mistake as he didn't make the list.

To me he put the team on his shoulders and carried them in the 2004 postseason

All the nominations don't make the list. It seems if someone has multiple nominations they get on the list, if they only have one nomination, it's a crapshoot if they get on.

So renominate anyone you see elsewhere if you think they are worthy of consideration

[TheBoomah]

My seven:

1) Ray Culp, for reasons previously stated;

2) Sonny Siebert: pitched for the Sox between 69-72 and averaged 14 wins a season and completed 28 games. Made the All-Star team in '71 and also in '71 hit 6 HR and drove in 15 RBIs for a .266 avg in 90 plate appearances;

3) Tommy Harper;

4) Bill Campbell: pitched for the Sox between '77-81. Won 13 games and saved 31 others his first year in Boston, and would have had a good career if Don Zimmer didn't nearly destroy his arm that first year (60 games, 140.0 innings);

5) Jim Tabor: I seconded Lose's nomination of Tabor. He played 3B for the Sox between '38-'44 and in those seven years averaged 27 HR and 90 RBIs. The guy was also a fucking wildman off the field, as he drank way past excess and once tried to strangle Dave "The Colonel" Egan (the supposed Dean of Boston sportswriters during that time period) in the pressbox during a game at Fenway. Tabor blew his liver out in 1953 and died at the age of 36;

6) Butch Hobson; and

7) Lee Smith.


Edited for boldness.

This post has been edited by TheBoomah: Dec 1 2009, 11:32 PM

[John Marzano Oly...]

Boom, bold your picks please.

Edit: from lurker rmayor

How about the guy who should have been MVP in 2004, Keith Foulke?

[Fishercat]

Has it officially been decided that the list excludes managers and owners? Just so I know before I nominate anyone...

[John Marzano Oly...]

From lurker Frank Malzonerating:

Three names from the Lost Years from the mid-‘50s to the mid-‘60s that seem worth a mention:

Earl Wilson
A great hitting pitcher. Along with league-average pitching he provided an OPS+ of 100 in his peak-hitting seasons with Boston. After he was traded to Detroit he was used as a PH 25 times in the next 3.5 seasons. He’s Boo Ferriss with more power, a longer career, and historical significance as the first African-American pitcher for the Red Sox.

Cool fact: On June 26, 1962, he pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against LAA in which his solo HR was the game’s only ER.

Mike Fornieles

The team’s prime reliever just before Dick Radatz. He had two strong seasons in 1959-60, then went into decline thanks in part to being worked like a rented mule (119 IP in 57 G in 1961). His two best seasons with Boston are similar to John Wyatt’s, but he logged more time with the Red Sox and no time with the mfy.

Tom Brewer

Roughly similar to Ray Culp except that he spent his entire career with Boston on much worse teams.

Seconding nominations to

Sparky Lyle

Keith Foulke (the people’s WS MVP)

Sammy White

Rich Garces

Tommy Harper

and Ike Delock, both for his name and for the fact that, beginning in the final year of the Eisenhower Administration, his catcher was occasionally Russ Nixon.

And Cat, there are no GMs, owners or managers in this poll.

[Buckner's Boots]

Butch Hobson
Rich Garces
Bill Campbell
Jake Stahl
Greg Harris
Sparky Lyle
Sammy White

(Edit: I'm gonna add John Tudor, too. He had a pretty nice career, and his time with the Red Sox was very promising.)


The guys who played in my lifetime (Lyle, Hobson, Garces, Harris, Campbell, Tudor) because they were personal favorites of mine. Stahl and White because others have convinced me.

This post has been edited by Buckner's Boots: Dec 1 2009, 11:46 AM

[Trautwein's ...]

Greg Harris

From 1993 to 2005, Greg Harris held the single season record for appearances by a pitcher in a season with 80. His record was broken by Mike Timlin who had 81 appearances in 2005.

[Razor Shines]

Sammy White - Jason Varitek is #27 on the list, and Sammy White's career isn't too far off from Tek's.

Jacoby Ellsbury - Too soon? Maybe. But, he already shattered the single season SB record, and has nearly as many PAs in a Sox uniform as a few other OF nominees here (Harper, Jefferson). Much more valuable defensively than Jefferson or Harper. A key contributor in the 2007 WS.

[Trautwein's ...]

Dave Roberts: Because I can't see this image or clip without smiling.

[Cuzittt]

Freddy Parent

Reggie Jefferson - I write his name and even I'm unsure if he belongs. BUT... he is 7th in Career Batting Average and 8th in Slugging all time for the Red Sox. In 5 seasons, batted .316/.363/.505 with 100 doubles and 50 HRs.

Tony Armas - I am purposely not bolding him... because I don't think I can honestly vote for a player who had an OBP of .288 with the Red Sox. But... in 4 seasons, he hit 90 doubles, 16 triples and 113 HRs. He would certainly be MUCH MUCH MUCH more deserving than Dave Henderson. Or Dave Roberts.

Ira Flagstead - Someone has to represent the sad period of the Mid 20s-early 30s for this list... and Flagstead was probably the best regular player. In 7 seasons, Flagstead batted .295/.374/.411 with 196 doubles, 32 doubles and 27 HRs. Flagstead walked 335 times and only struck out 168 times in his time with the Sox.

Tim Naehring - Who knows where Tim could have landed on this list if he ever stayed healthy. Had only 2 seasons (of 8) where he played more than 100 games. However... when he played, he was pretty good... batting .282/.365/.420 with 104 doubles and 49 HRs.

Jake Stahl - Jake is not Chick and vice versa. But... Jake is just as worthy as Chick. Jake played in 6 seasons with the Sox, batting .277/.350/.419.

Jesse Tannehill - In 5 seasons (1904-1908), went 62-38 with a 2.50 ERA and a 1.118 WHIP.

Ray Collins - Went 84-62 with a 2.51 ERA in 7 seasons (1909-1915). Put up a 1.134 WHIP in 1336 innings.

Ray Culp - 6 seasons (68-73), going 71-58 with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.247 WHIP in 1092 innings.

Howard Ehmke - Like Flagstead, someone should represent the pitching from the lost period of Sox history. That person, I think, is Ehmke who went only 51-64 with a 3.83 ERA and 8 saves. He had MVP votes in 3 of his 4 seasons with Boston, including his '25 season where he went 9-20 but led the league with 22 Complete Games.

Tom Brewer - From another era where the team was meh, Brewer went 91-82 with a 4.00 ERA in his 8 seasons ('54-61). Had a 104 OPS+ with the Sox.

Heinie Wagner - Played 11 seasons between 1906-1918 for the Sox, batting .251/.321/.327 with 127 doubles, 47 triples and 141 SBs.

Sammy White
Roy Johnson

Flagstead, I think, really deserves at least a couple of more nominations. Considering the voting thus far, he likely won't get it... but I'd like to get him on the ballot. [I think he is very deserving of being in the Top 100 however.]

[sheamonu]

Keith Foulke - Following a year in which the defining moment resulted from an (improper) failure to trust the bullpen, Foulke provided a bullpen we could trust.

Rogelio Moret - Does mental injury count as much as physical injury in the "what if" category? Led the league in winning percentage in 1975, a crucial, if forgotten, element in that year's pennant.

Sonny Seibert - The duel with Vida Blue when both were undefeated was one of the greatest regular season matchups ever.

Tom Brunansky - Was obtained to get hot and carry the team through certain stretches in order to win a division title, while providing solid defense. He did this - once you get down to No. 99/100 "top" performers doesn't mean statistically the greatest - just the player who fulfilled their role best, leading to the greatest success for the team. On this criteria I think Bruno's in, as is the next guy.

Gary Bell - 1967 is so critically important to the history of this franchise that someone who contributed mightily to the team's success that year deserves mention when you get down to this level. Bell gets my vote over Elston Howard, who was given more credit than I think he was due for his contribution. Bell, on the other hand, switched teams in the early part of the season, fit in well, won 12 games while saving three, and was an all-star in 1968 before getting hurt. Ding Dong was a better in season acquisition than any other I can think of, including any part of the Nomar trade.

Edit to bold

This post has been edited by sheamonu: Dec 4 2009, 02:07 PM

[jacklamabe65]

Here are my seven:

1) Keith Foulke

2) Ray Culp

3) Sonny Siebert

4) Tommy Harper

5) Garry Peters

6) Sammy White

7) Soup Campbell

This post has been edited by jacklamabe65: Dec 1 2009, 03:54 PM

[Buckner's Boots]

Jesse Tannehill. Forgot about him, but I'll second that.


Don't forget to bold your nominations, guys.

This post has been edited by Buckner's Boots: Dec 1 2009, 03:53 PM

[John Marzano Oly...]

Guys, please BOLD your nominations otherwise they won't count.