The Splinter, Yaz, and Big Papi — an all-time Red Sox team

Boston’s American League franchise played in baseball’s first World Series (as the Boston Americans). In total, the franchise has played in 11 Fall Classics, winning seven. It has won two of the last nine World Series played.

Red Sox fans have also experienced plenty of disappointment along the way. But the club’s history does not come close to justifying the self-pity many of its followers display.

Red Sox fans have been blessed with an abundance of great players. Here are the 25 I would put on an all-time squad:

Starters:
C Carlton Fisk — Slugged over .500 four times in nine full Boston seasons.

1B Jimmie Foxx — 1.034 OPS for the Bosox.

2B Bobby Doerr — Perennial all-star; held several MLB fielding records when he retired.

SS Nomar Garciaparra — Sixth in OPS. Not bad for a shortstop

3B Wade Boggs — .428 on-base percentage as a Red Sox.

Of Ted Williams — .482 on-base percentage (not a typo).

OF Tris Speaker — Batted .337 in nine Bosox seasons. Top defensive center-fielder of his day.

OF Carl Yastrzemski — First in all-time Bosox hits; second in home runs.

DH David Ortiz — “Big Papi.” I like Stan Papi better.

P Roger Clemens — Not alleged to have used steroids as Red Sox, to my knowledge.

Reserves:
Jason Varitek — Slugged over .500 once in ten full Boston season.

Mo Vaughn — Fifth in OPS.

Dustin Pedroia — Still in his prime. Could displace Doerr eventually.

Joe Cronin — Batted .300 in 11 seasons with the Red Sox.

Jimmy Collins — Best third baseman of his era. Player-manager on ’03-04 pennant winners.

Jim Rice — Top three in hits, home runs, and RBI.

Dwight Evans — Great fielder and not far behind Rice in key hitting categories.

Extra Pitchers:
Cy Young — The name says it all; they use for the best pitcher award.

Pedro Martinez — Not much separates him from Clemens and Young as a Red Sox.

Lefty Grove — Joined the team at age 34. Had a 105-62 record for mediocre teams.

“Smokey” Joe Wood — His career ERA for Boston was 1.99.

Mel Parnell — Fourth winningest Red Sox pitcher

Luis Tiant — Babe Ruth pitched better for Boston, but only about half as often.

Dick Radatz — I wrote about “The Monster” here.

Jonathan Papelbon — Dancing Papi.

Manager:
Terry Francona — He edges out Bobby Valentine.

My all-time Dodgers team is here.

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