Jason Varitek

From SoSH

Contents 1 Amateur Career 2 Pro Career 3 Moment in the Sun 4 Trivia 5 Awards 6 External Links

Amateur Career

Jason Andrew Varitek was born in Rochester Michigan on April 11, 1972. Varitek's baseball hightlights started early as when he was 12 he was a member of the Altamonte Springs Florida Little League team his team went to the Little League Championship finals before losing to to Seoul South Korea. He went on to play for the Lake Brantley High School team from Altamonte Springs and won the Florida State Championship.

Jason was a member of the 1992 USA Olympic team (with Nomar Garciaparra). Jason attended college at Georgia Tech, where he was drafted in the first round of the 1993 draft by the Minnesota Twins. Varitek demanded $625,000 from the Twins, but the Twins' best offer was about $450,000, so he elected to return for his senior year. In 1994 he played (but lost) in the College World Series championship game. His number was eventually retired after collecting an impressive number of awards and achievements including being being a three time All American, winning the Dick Howser Trophy, and being inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame.

During the summers, Varitek played in the Cape Cod League where he won a league batting championship and MVP for the Hyannis Mets.

In 1994, Varitek was again selected in the first round of the draft, this time by the Seattle Mariners. (Baseball America ranked him the 10th best prospect). With little leverage as a Senior, he and his agent (the infamous Scott Boras) threatened to exploit a loop hole in the draft by signing with an independent Northern League team in order to become a free agent. Ultimately, he signed with the Mariners in 1995.

Pro Career

Upon signing in 1995, he began playing for the Port City Roosters for two seasons until 1997, when he was traded with Derek Lowe to the Red Sox for Heathcliff Slocumb. After only having one at bat in 1997 (he singled), Varitek assumed a platoon roll with Scott Hatteberg before winning the starter roll in 1998.

The Captain had a strong year in 1999 hitting .269 76 RBI's and 20 home runs, however he cooled off signifigantly in 2000 dropping to .248 with just 65 RBI's and 10 homers, while still posting a strong defensive showing. His 2001 one season was the first of a 3 year $14.9 million dollar contract but was cut short with an injured elbow from a diving catch on foul ball behind the plate. With the 2002 season came another slump, until he broke out with his best season in 2003 where he posted .273 85 RBI's and 25 homers. This hot streak continued into the 2004 season where he compile career high numbers batting avg hitting .296 with 73 RBI's and 18 homers. The season was rewarded by a 4 year 40 million dollar contract and being named the third team captain.

Had a supbar 2006, lowlighted by surgery for torn cartilage in his left knee. Although finally injured for good rounding the bases on 7/31/2006, Varitek had been complaining about soreness for a few weeks prior.

Moment in the Sun

• Named Team Captain of the Boston Red Sox on December 23, 2004, after resigning with the team for 4 years and 40 million dollars.
• Voted into the All-Star game by the fans in 2004
• Voted All-Star starter in 2005
• Received Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2005
• Received Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award in 2005

Trivia

• Varitek became only the second first-round pick in 15 years to return to college for his final year of eligibility (Virginia Tech's Brad Duvall, in 1987, was the other).
• Jason Varitek's number 33 is the only jersey retired by Georgia Tech baseball.
• Varitek wore number 47 until Rod Beck came around and decided he wanted it.
• Jason Varitek is the alltime Red Sox leader with most games caught, surpassing Carlton Fisk at 990 on July 18th, 2006.
• Appeared in the Little League World Series in 1984, the College World Series in 1994, and the Major League World Series in 2004.
• Holds the record for most no-hitters caught - 4!!!

Awards

• 2005 American League Gold Glove
• 2005 American League Silver Slugger
• 2006 Red Sox Heart and Hustle Award
• 3-time American League All-Star (2003, 2005, 2008)

External Links

• The Baseball Cube Player Page
• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
• Jason Varitek at ESPN.com