100 Greatest Red Sox: Nos. 51-100

Updated: April 17, 2012, 12:18 PM ET
ESPNBoston.com

To help commemorate the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park, ESPNBoston.com commissioned a panel of experts to choose its Greatest 100 Red Sox players. Below are Nos. 51-100.     • Gallery: The Top 50 Photo Gallery     • Rank 'em »

RANK
 PLAYER BIO
51
 Tex Hughson, SP A three-time All-Star, Hughson recorded 96 wins and a 2.94 ERA over his eight-year career with Boston. In 1942, Hughson led the American League in wins (22), complete games (22), innings pitched (281.0) and strikeouts (113) and finished sixth in the AL MVP voting.
52
 Everett Scott, SS The light-hitting shortstop had a career batting average of .249 and never hit better than .280 in Boston, but he was nearly unmatched in the field. The "Deacon" led all AL shortstops in fielding percentage for eight consecutive seasons, from 1916 to 1923.
53
 Wes Ferrell, RHP Ferrell was a menace on the mound and at the plate for the Sox during the 1930s. The versatile righty notched 62 wins in just four years with Boston, and in 1935 he finished second in the AL with a .347 batting average.
54
 Pete Runnels, INF A three-time All-Star, Runnels never batted lower than .314 in his five years with Boston and won the AL batting title twice, in 1960 and 1962. The versatile Runnels played all infield positions for Boston and twice led the AL in fielding at his position.
55
 Ira Flagstead, OF Best Sox player of the 1920s. Flagstead thrived in Boston, playing in right field in 1923 and as the starting center fielder for five straight years, from 1924 to 1928.
56
 Josh Beckett, RHP After being dealt by the Marlins in 2005, Beckett won an AL-best 20 games in 2007 as the Sox went on to win the World Series. Despite injury struggles in 2010, the righty ace bounced back by posting a 2.89 ERA in 2011, the lowest of his career.
57
 Ellis Burks, CF Possessing a potent blend of speed and power, Burks compiled 94 home runs and 95 steals in his seven-year tenure in Boston. During his rookie year in 1987, Burks became just the third Red Sox player ever to record 20 home runs and 20 steals in the same season.
58
 Bruce Hurst, LHP Hurst shone for the Sox in 1986, helping Boston reach the World Series for the first time in 11 years by compiling a 13-8 record with a 2.99 ERA and 167 strikeouts. The 6-foot-4 southpaw recorded double-digit wins in six of his nine seasons at Fenway.
59
 Johnny Damon, CF The bearded leader of Boston's band of "Idiots," Damon entered Sox folklore with his second-inning grand slam in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS, capping the greatest comeback in baseball history. Damon hit .295 and drove in 299 runs in four years with the Sox.
60
 Bill Monbouquette, RHP The three-time All-Star and Medford, Mass., native compiled 96 wins and a 3.69 ERA in eight seasons with the Sox from 1958 to 1965. "Monbo" pitched a no-hitter in 1962 and went on to win 20 games the next season in 1963.
61
 Rick Burleson, SS A four-time All-Star, "The Rooster" played his first seven seasons with Boston after being taken first overall by the Sox in the 1970 MLB draft. The shortstop was named Red Sox MVP in his last two years with the Sox and collected 1,114 hits during his time in Boston.
62
 Derek Lowe, LHP An integral part of Boston's postseason success, Lowe was the winner in the final game of the 2004 ALDS, ALCS and World Series, throwing seven shutout innings against the Cardinals in Game 4 to give the Sox their first World Series title in 86 years.
63
 Dennis Eckersley, RHP Most noted for his exploits as a closer, "Eck" enjoyed success as a starting pitcher in Boston. The righty hurler recorded double digits in wins in four of his first six seasons with the Sox, including a 20-win campaign with a 2.99 ERA in 1978.
64
 Lou Criger, C Defensive maestro behind the plate. A catcher for most of Cy Young's 511 victories, he also caught every inning for eight games with Boston in the first World Series in 1903, helping his team win the championship.
65
 George Scott, 1B Known for his big bat and slick glovework, "Boomer" slugged 27 homers in his rookie year with the Sox in 1966 and was second on the squad with a .303 batting average in 1967. The first baseman also won eight Gold Glove awards in his 14-year career.
66
 Mike Greenwell, LF Greenwell spent his entire 12-year career in Boston as a dependable left-handed bat in the Red Sox lineup. A two-time All-Star and career .303 hitter, Greenwell had his best season in 1988 when he clubbed 22 homers and had 119 RBIs with a .325 batting average.
67
 Dave "Boo" Ferris, RHP Ferris played all six of his Major League seasons with the Red Sox, compiling a 65-30 record and a 3.64 ERA. He set the AL record for scoreless innings to start a career with 22, a record that stood until Brad Ziegler broke it with the A's in 2008.
68
 Mike Lowell, 3B Joining the Sox in 2005 along with Josh Beckett, Lowell quickly became a fan favorite in his five-year stint with Boston and was essential to Boston's 2007 championship run. The hardworking third baseman batted .324 with 21 home runs and 120 RBIs and earned the 2007 World Series MVP.
69
 Keith Foulke, RHP Foulke will always be remembered in Boston for his remarkable performance in the 2004 postseason. After finishing the regular season with a 2.17 ERA and 32 saves, Foulke appeared in 11 of Boston's 14 postseason games and allowed just one earned run while striking out 18 batters.
70
 Jimmy Piersall, CF Despite his personal problems off the field, the righty outfielder had considerable success on the field during his eight-year stint with Boston. He was named to the AL All-Star team in 1954 and 1956 and led the league in doubles in 1956 with 40.
71
 Joe Dobson, RHP Dobson played the best nine seasons of his 14-year career in Boston, notching 106 wins as a starting pitcher from 1941 to 1950. The 6-foot-2 righty won 10 or more games in all but one season during that span, including an 18-win campaign in 1947.
72
 John "Stuffy" McInnis, 1B A native of Gloucester, Mass., McInnis sported a lifetime .307 batting average and hit .296 in four seasons with Boston from 1918 to 1921. He held the Sox record for consecutive games at first base without an error with 119 until Kevin Youkilis broke it in 2007.
73
 Billy Goodman, INF A two-time All-Star and career .300 hitter, Boston's versatile utility man became the last player to lead the league in batting average while playing at least 20 games at three different positions, accomplishing the feat in 1950 with a .354 average.
74
 George "Rube" Foster, RHP Foster helped the Sox win the 1915 World Series by notching two complete-game wins, giving up only four earned runs and striking out 13 in 18 innings pitched. In 1914, Foster finished second in the AL with a minuscule 1.70 ERA.
75
 Charles "Heine" Wagner, SS Played for four Boston championship teams from 1906 to 1918. Played in a total of 966 games for Boston.
76
 Pumpsie Green, INF First black player to play for the Red Sox, the last major league club to integrate. Was with the Sox from 1959 to 1962, appearing in 327 games and hitting a combined .244.
77
 Jacoby Ellsbury, OF The speedy center fielder won 2011 AL Comeback Player of the Year with a monster season, hitting .321 with 32 homers, 105 RBIs and 39 steals. Ellsbury led the AL in stolen bases in 2008 and 2009 and broke the Red Sox single-season record for steals in 2009 with 70.
78
 Trot Nixon, RF Well-liked in Boston for his tremendous hustle and scrappy play, the original Dirt Dog batted .315 in 2004 and helped the Sox win their first championship in 86 years by batting .357 in the World Series with three doubles and three RBIs.
79
 Ray Culp, RHP In his six-year stint in Boston from 1968 to 1973, Culp sported a 3.50 ERA and notched 794 strikeouts. He won at least 14 games in four consecutive seasons with the Sox and was named to the AL All-Star team in 1969.
80
 Tommy Harper, CF The fleet-footed center fielder was a productive leadoff hitter for the Sox from 1972 to 1974, scoring 250 runs during his three-year tenure at Fenway. In 1973, he set a Red Sox record with 54 stolen bases that would stand until Jacoby Ellsbury swiped 70 bags in 2009.
81
 Roger "Doc" Cramer, RF A lifetime .296 hitter, Cramer hit better than .300 in all but one of his five seasons with the Sox from 1936 to 1940. "Doc" was named to the All-Star team four years in a row while in Boston and led the majors in hits in 1940 with 200.
82
 Ernie Shore, RHP Shore won two World Series rings in four years with the Sox from 1914 to 1917 before enlisting in the military in 1918. Shore had his best year in 1915 when he posted a 19-8 record and a 1.94 ERA with 102 strikeouts.
83
 Bill Dinneen, RHP The 6-foot-1 righty delivered Boston's first series title in 1903. Had four 20-win seasons for Boston.
84
 Earl Wilson, RHP Wilson made his debut as the first black pitcher in Sox history on July 31, 1959. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound righty won 54 games in seven seasons in Boston and had a five-year stretch with 11 or more wins for the Sox.
85
 Bill Carrigan, C Played 10 seasons with the Red Sox. He was player/manager for some of them, leading the team to two championships (in 1915 and 1916).
86
 John Valentin, 3B In 1995, the third baseman helped the Sox win the AL East for the first time since 1990 by hitting 27 homers and collecting 102 RBIs with a .298 batting average. On July 8, 1994, Valentin became the 10th player in MLB history to turn an unassisted triple play.
87
 Frank Sullivan, RHP The 6-foot-6 right-hander played his first eight years with the Sox, notching 13 or more wins in five consecutive seasons from 1954 to 1958. His best season came in 1955, when he led the AL in wins (18) and innings pitched (260).
88
 Chick Stahl, CF Five-tool star in the dead ball era. He played in Boston from 1896 to 1906 with a .305 career batting average. Became player/manager in 1906. Committed suicide at age 34 in 1907.
89
 Albert "Sparky" Lyle, LHP Lyle had 69 saves for the Red Sox between 1967 and 1971.
90
 Tony Armas, OF Playing alongside Jim Rice and Dwight Evans, the righty slugger launched 113 home runs in just four seasons at Fenway from 1983 to 1986. In 1983, he led the AL with 43 HRs and 123 RBIs and was named Boston's co-MVP.
91
 Bill Buckner, 1B He'll always be remembered for his infamous error in the 1986 World Series, but the first baseman had a solid five years in Boston. A career .289 hitter, Buckner had back-to-back seasons with 100-plus RBIs and drove in 324 runs in just five seasons at Fenway.
92
 Jerry Remy, 2B Before he was president of Red Sox Nation and a beloved announcer, Remy played seven seasons in Boston with a .286 batting average and 98 stolen bases over that span.
93
 Tom Gordon, RHP After struggling as a starting pitcher in Kansas City, "Flash" found success at Fenway as a closer in the late 1990s. In 1998, Gordon set the Sox' single-season record for saves with 46 and was named to the first All-Star Game of his career.
94
 Sonny Siebert, RHP During his five seasons at Fenway in the pre-DH era of the early 1970s, Siebert was known for his bat as well as his arm. The righty had a career 3.46 ERA with the Sox and is the last AL pitcher to hit two home runs in one game.
95
 Jim Tabor, 3B Acquired by Boston in 1938, Jim "Rawhide" Tabor played seven successful seasons with the Sox before joining the Army in 1944. Tabor once hit four home runs in a July 4, 1939, doubleheader, earning 19 total bases and 11 RBIs.
96
 Bill Mueller, 3B Won the 2003 batting title in Boston, hitting out of the bottom of the order.
97
 Marty Barrett, 2B A solid contact hitter and above-average fielder, Barrett helped the Sox reach the 1986 World Series by winning the ALCS MVP award with 11 hits and five RBIs in 30 at-bats. He played nine of his 10 seasons in the majors with Boston.
98
 Mike Timlin, RHP With the Sox from 2003 to 2008, he was part of two championship bullpens. He appeared in 394 games for the Red Sox.
99
 Bernie Carbo, OF In his brief time in Boston, the backup outfielder earned his place in Sox lore with a pinch-hit, game-tying three-run homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series that paved the way for Carlton Fisk's 12th-inning heroics.
100
 Rich Gedman, C Worcester's own spent parts of 11 seasons in Boston (1980 to 1990) and was a two-time All-Star.

ESPNBoston.com panelists Richard Johnson, Gordon Edes and Glenn Stout and intern Darren Hartwell contributed to the biographical information.

SPONSORED HEADLINES

ESPN Conversations

comments

EDITORS' PICKS

  • Seven-Point Buch
    Clay Buchholz improved to 7-0 and helped the Sox avoid a sweep in Chicago.
  • Shooting Star
    Johnny Boychuk is finding his spots, becoming a big-time contributor for the B's.
  • Remember Me?
    Terry Francona's return to Fenway will be no time to reminisce.
  • Depth Perception
    Jake Ballard could turn out to be a brilliant acquisition by Bill Belichick.
  • It's Getting Complicated
    How long do the Red Sox keep waiting for the 2011 Ellsbury to arrive?

Facebook » Twitter »

MORE MLB HEADLINES