Chat with former MLB player Fred Lynn

Lynn played 17 professional seasons, the first seven with the Boston Red Sox and the next four with the California Angels. In 1975, he became the first player in history to earn the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. He hit .331 with 21 HRs and 105 RBI. For his career, Lynn hit .283 with 306 HRs.
Lynn is teaming up with MLB and Gillette to give out the MLB Rookie of the Month award. Fans can vote for the July winner. Evan Longoria (hitter) and Jair Jurrjens (pitcher) won the June awards.
Send in your questions now and then join Lynn at 12:30 p.m. ET on Monday!
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Buzzmaster (12:30 PM)
Fred is here!
Fred Lynn (12:32 PM)
Hey everyone! I am the spokesperson for the Gillette Rookie of the Month award, a unique award since the fans can vote for this at MLB.com/gillette, and when you vote you become elgible to win tickets to the 2008 World Series, so it is a pretty cool program!
john (st. louis, mo)
Do you think that Evan Longoria can become rookie of the year and mvp in the same season just as you did?
Fred Lynn (12:34 PM)
He's got a really good chance at ROY, but the MVP will come down to how well his team finishes the season, because I do not think he will have the numbers for an MVP season. But if his team makes a big run it will make things very interesting. Ellsbury will pressure him, although he has not won a rookie of the month yet. But Longoria has put himself in a great position to win the ROY...the double is possible, but it will be a very difficult task.
Skip (Boston MA)
Fred, Do you still follow MLB? Which team do you root for? Who are some of your favorite current players?
Fred Lynn (12:36 PM)
Yes ,I do follow the game, and I follow the Red Sox. They are the team most people remember me playing on. I do watch the Angels as well, and they are a quality team. And those two teams seem to meet each other all the time in the playoffs, and the Red Sox have become a real thorn in the Angels' side in the postseason. As far as players, I am still a big Griffey Jr. fan and I am very happy he reached 600 HRs. I like that he plays CF like me and I like how he plays centerfield, throwing his body around...I like that style of play.
Mike
Fred How'd you get involved with Gillette?
Fred Lynn (12:37 PM)
This came about through MLB, who were long time partners with Gillette, and I was just a natural fit.
J.B. (Dunmore, PA)
Mr. Lynn: With Yankee Stadium soon to become a memory, do you think Boston will eventually tear down Fenway in response to the new era of luxury boxes and corporate tickets?
Fred Lynn (12:40 PM)
No. They thought about it a few year's ago, because the stadium is so old, but they are trying to find creative ways to get more people in the ballpark. I think they will become even more creative in the outfield and have already opened up seating in some great places like the Green Monster...those are some great seats. And because the ballpark is so intimate all the seats are great and offer interesting vantage points, I do not see it happening.
Nate (Chicago)
Are you going to watch the All-Star Game, and who do you think deserved to play that did not get a bid?
Fred Lynn (12:42 PM)
I watch the game all the time because I enjoy it, and if the bases are loaded, I need to put the voodoo on the batter so no one hits a grand slam (I hit the only Grand Slam in the All-Star game history). There are always a few guys who get left out, but off the top of my head I cannot think of anyone right now.
Dan (Philadelphia)
As a Red Sox alum, there is obviously a degree of animosity between you and the Yankees. Despite this, is there still a feeling of sadness with the end of Yankee Stadium?
Fred Lynn (12:44 PM)
Absolutely. I never felt animosity towards the club, in fact a lot of those guys are my friends, and I respected them...even though we wanted to beat them. I had nothing but respect for the stadium and it is sad because the players next year will not get to walk on the same field as past greats. Now in 40 years a new generation of players will be able to say they played on the same field as today's greats. With that said, it will be sad to see the stadium go.
ray gordon REID JAX BEACH FLA 32250
QUESTION TO FRED LYNN AT 12.50 PM HI FRED WHAT WAS LIKE PLAYING IN BOSTON
Fred Lynn (12:45 PM)
Intense. I came from the west coast as a Southern Cal kid, and the best way to describe it is intense. No one left before the game was over, and the people knew the game and expected you to win. There was a lot of intensity and it was a lot of fun to play there.
Ben (Los Angeles)
How do you project Ellsbury's career? Does he remind you of yourself in any way?
Fred Lynn (12:48 PM)
A bit. He is much faster than I was and we're very different in someways. I do not think he will hit with as much power as I did, but he can steal lots of bases, and will be a very good lead off type guy. He also plays very good defense.
Fred Lynn (12:48 PM)
That's all the time I have! Thank you very much for all the questions!
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