Bruce was going to be named world series MVP until the roof caved in in game 6.
Red Sox player that you cared most about
- Thread starter John Marzano Olympic Hero
- Start date
I haven't scrolled over the entire thread but appreciated the references to Ike Delock, and Earl Wilson who I also liked. I think my favorite was Frank Malzone though. I remember him coming up with Don Buddin from Louisville as a young rookie, anchoring third base for years, hitting a home run in one of the All-Star games, and leaving as a grizzled veteran. He always played the game the right way through the years and deserves a mention here.
Nomar.
I mowed lawns in high school. I'd try to line them up while the Sox were on the radio & blast my headphones over the motor.
I fell in love with Nomar during those summers & still sad, like Laker's fans must be with Elgin Baylor, that he wasn't on the Championship roster when their teams finally won.
I mowed lawns in high school. I'd try to line them up while the Sox were on the radio & blast my headphones over the motor.
I fell in love with Nomar during those summers & still sad, like Laker's fans must be with Elgin Baylor, that he wasn't on the Championship roster when their teams finally won.
Literally the first sentence in literally the first post of this thread offered guidance on how to do better than this.
Easy choice for me - Jon Lester. I started getting back into baseball thanks to Pedro in 1999 and a few years later dove deep into the draft process. He was drafted in the first year I did a bit of research to familiarize myself with players (as well as one could in 2002).
For whatever reason, I was drawn to him and in 2005 when we moved to PA was so excited to get to watch Portland games around the area. We'd go see him pitch if he was anywhere within a few hours drive. When he got called up in 2006 I was incredibly excited. From there on, he was a must-watch pitcher. We'd plan trips to Baltimore or wherever when hw as pitching. We timed our Boston visits so we could see him (as best as one can do so).
2007 is my favorite Sox team of all time. I loved that team, it's perfection and drive, and Lester played such a dominant role in one of the more heart-tugging stories in sports.
For whatever reason, I was drawn to him and in 2005 when we moved to PA was so excited to get to watch Portland games around the area. We'd go see him pitch if he was anywhere within a few hours drive. When he got called up in 2006 I was incredibly excited. From there on, he was a must-watch pitcher. We'd plan trips to Baltimore or wherever when hw as pitching. We timed our Boston visits so we could see him (as best as one can do so).
2007 is my favorite Sox team of all time. I loved that team, it's perfection and drive, and Lester played such a dominant role in one of the more heart-tugging stories in sports.
Pedro Castellanos. You happy?
In all seriousness. It was Daniel Bard. Following that kid through the minors I had a Bard on every morning.
Ok, to make up for originally not scrolling the entire thread before posting, here is a name which would not be mentioned otherwise. As a 10- year- old kid, this was the guy who originally got me interested in the Red Sox until I later found out he was only a temporary replacement for a better player. I am, of course, speaking of Walter, "Hoot" Evers.
Jerry Adair aka Mr. Clutch for the Impossible Dream team of '67.
And did you know - a 3-sport star who in college played against Wilt Chamberlain's Jayhawks and Oscar Robertson's Cinci Bearcats. Versus the latter he led Oklahoma State to a 4 point victory helping to seal the win with a bucket and two free throws down the stretch.
There is lots of good info here about this Cherokee descendant. Really a fascinating life, and tragic at the end. Hi died at 50.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jerry-adair/
And did you know - a 3-sport star who in college played against Wilt Chamberlain's Jayhawks and Oscar Robertson's Cinci Bearcats. Versus the latter he led Oklahoma State to a 4 point victory helping to seal the win with a bucket and two free throws down the stretch.
There is lots of good info here about this Cherokee descendant. Really a fascinating life, and tragic at the end. Hi died at 50.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jerry-adair/
I have an old warmup jacket of his that can be yours . . .if the Price is Right
I cared quite a bit about Remy the player. On lineups filled with offensive Goliaths, here was our very own table-setter-small-ball-sneaky-fast-always-dirty local kid who may not have possessed the natural tools, but he more than made up for it with his mental and physical quickness. For someone who looked and played like he belonged in the NL East, he'd get hot for a stretch and seemingly the Sox would just annihilate opponents. And then to have him in the booth for 30+ years... one of the best decisions NESN ever made. Remy's an absolute legend in my book and I will most certainly miss him.
It's always so bizarre to me when people talk about pre-2000s internet as if it was some sort of information wasteland or something. There was a huge amount of great information out there, message boards to discuss it, etc.
Jerry Adair, key Red Sox player in a game that made you feel the 1967 team might really go to the World Series. Sunday, August 20, 1967, at home to the Angels. The Angels jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but the Sox chipped away, well, Yaz's 3 run homer in the fifth to make it 8-4 was more than a chip. That guy. Adair singled in the sixth to score Dalton Jones to tie it, and Adair homered in the eight for the game winner. Game of Adair's life, I feel confident in saying.
Sox came all the way back to win 9-8
Was a day-night doubleheader. Sox also won the day game 12-2.
Took it in as an eight year old kid high above third base. Incredible day in a string of incredible days.
I attended 10 games at Fenway in 1967. The Sox lost the first four (is it me?) then won the next six. That game you went to (and I listened to on the radio) was rad.
I've been thinking about this question since JMOH posted it. My seat of the pants answer was JBJ. But that was his answer and I sort of thought in the back of my mind that maybe it wasn't my actual answer.
I am ready now to answer the question. It's Ellis Burks. I don't know why.
I am ready now to answer the question. It's Ellis Burks. I don't know why.
It's probably Manny, but, the more interesting answer is Mark Bellhorn. That was the era in which I was (largely due to this board) becoming enlightened on modern ways to consider player value. As a pimply-faced-teen I defended Mark Bellhorn and his pile of K's to every other pimply-faced-teen in the region. That home run was the booming justification I'd been waiting months for. I can still hear it!
Met him at Olive Garden in Ft. Myers in '05.....nice guy. He was at the table with his agent, talking about clubhouse fees
For me the first player I identified with and cared about as a child was George Scott. Beyond that, and I don't know why, I've always rooted for our second basemen especially Mike Andrews, Marty Barrett, Jody Reed, Denny Doyle, Jerry Remy, and of course, my all-time favorite and guy I cared most about (especially as he attempted to comeback from his knee problems) Dustin Pedroia.
For reasons I can't explain, this guy during my childhood was Tim Naehring. During my teen years, it was probably Derek Lowe. He had a knack for the spot light and his '03 ALDS performance is permanently imprinted on my brain. More recently, Danny Nava and Brock Holt for similar reasons. They're both compelling stories and are easy to root for.
I almost said Hector Velázquez for similar reasons. Absolutely nothing expected of him, an emergency starter plucked from Mexican league obscurity... and he stuck around for three years, pitched to a 118 ERA+ (much higher the first two years, around 145 over 100 innings!) and got a ring.
As a child? Sam Horn. My dad used to take me to a lot of Pawtucket games. Pre call up in 87 we left a game towards the end , and Sam and another player were on the 3rd base side by the chain link fence playing catch (before the McCoy renovations) ball dropped and rolled over to the fence , I reached under and grabbed it. My dad told me to toss it back to Sam, but he said it was okay I could keep it. Still have it.
Once I really started following baseball,Wakefield. When he first got here I had just turned 13. He went on a ridiculous Pedro like stretch in 1995. By the time he retired I was 30 and had a family and kids of my own. The thing with the knuckleball he could be 92 or 95 all over again regardless of age or what happened the year before. I wish he hung on another year. And given it a shot. He had offers from other teams. But he tied clemens and young and got the 200. Was such a joy to see him there year after year after year. Like my dad had Yaz and my grandpa Williams.
Once I really started following baseball,Wakefield. When he first got here I had just turned 13. He went on a ridiculous Pedro like stretch in 1995. By the time he retired I was 30 and had a family and kids of my own. The thing with the knuckleball he could be 92 or 95 all over again regardless of age or what happened the year before. I wish he hung on another year. And given it a shot. He had offers from other teams. But he tied clemens and young and got the 200. Was such a joy to see him there year after year after year. Like my dad had Yaz and my grandpa Williams.