Inside The Red Sox

Steve Perrault Ranks His Favorite 100 Red Sox Players Ever

This took way longer than I would like to admit.

Steve Perrault

Steve Perrault Ranks His Favorite 100 Red Sox Players Ever
Steve Perrault Ranks His Favorite 100 Red Sox Players Ever /
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I was sitting down on Monday trying to think of a cool way to celebrate 100 episodes of our Boston Red Sox show the ITM Podcast. 

100 favorite parts about Fenway Park? No, that's far too many. 100 best players in Red Sox history? No, that will receive more complaints than John Henry's offseason decisions with the current roster. 100 favorite Red Sox players of my lifetime? Yes, that's it!

I've been going to Sox games now for nearly 30 years (am I old?). 

Editors' note from a 23-year-old -- yes.

The early years were full of hope, promise and latching on to a few big names that I based my entire Little League persona around.

Then came 2004, and if you haven't heard yet, it was like super cool what happened. The Red Sox went ahead and ended an 86-year curse to win the World Series. 

You'll notice that a lot of the players from that curse-breaking team ended up rather high on this list, and can you blame me?

Since then, there have been many highs and a good handful of lows, yet my fandom and care towards the players on the Red Sox has never wavered.

Now it's time. My top 100 favorite Red Sox players of my lifetime. Just so you are aware, there were several factors that went into putting this list together. Talent, personal bias, how long they were on the team, championships, and other random factors determine where these notable Red Sox land on this lengthy list. So please factor that in ahead of time. Thank you.

100: Darren Bragg 
99: Darnell McDonald
98: Tim Naehring
97: Jeff Frye
96: Manny Delcarmen
95: Junichi Tazawa
94: Dante Bichette
93: José Offerman
92: Jed Lowrie
91: Rod Beck

If there were ever a super random group of Red Sox alumni, this is it. The ones that just barely made the cut.

José Offerman mattered too much to some of my favorite Red Sox teams to not have him crack the top 100. Getting the start at second base in the '99 All-Star Game, the scrimmage that I dream about the most, also played a big factor in Offerman making this list.

Also shoutout to Manny Delcarmen for being the other important Manny on that 2007 World Series champion team.

90: Sandy León
89: Hideo Nomo
88: Steve Pearce
87: Clay Buchholz
86: Lou Merloni
85: Bronson Arroyo
84: Daniel Bard
83: Jackie Bradley Jr.
82: Adrián González
81: Pokey Reese

A couple of no-hitters, a World Series MVP, someone who completely vanished off the face of the earth, and Louuuuuuuuu! This list has it all.

Adrián González was one of my favorite Red Sox players for the brief time he was here, but it's hard for him to shake the attachment to what those teams have been remembered for.

Gonzo hit .321 in his two years with the Red Sox, adding 42 homers and 161 RBIs while having a .888 OPS. Not too shabby for someone who rarely gets mentioned among the other top Red Sox performers of the century. Oh  2011, what could have been.

80: Gabe Kapler
79: Bartolo Colón
78: David Ross
77: Dennis Eckersley
76: Todd Walker
75: Álex González
74: José Iglesias
73: Daniel Nava
72: Rocco Baldelli
71: Alex Cora

This portion of the list is dedicated to a few guys that I simply couldn't leave off here, even though I prefer them more for what they've done off the playing field.

I barely remember seeing Dennis Eckersley play, but there's no way the "I gotta have that!" and "just to stay in shape!" guy wasn't going to end up on here. Not having Eck calling games in the booth this upcoming Red Sox season is going to be very noticeable and I already hate it immensely.

Cora simply had to make the top 100. I remember we were all saying how great a manager he would be during his playing years, and we were right! In getting to chat with AC a decent amount over the last few years you quickly understand why the players love him so much. He gets baseball, and he certainly gets people. 

He was also the first guest in ITM Podcast history which certainly counts for something.

70: Andrew Miller
69: Rich Hill
68: Wily Mo Peña
67: Allen Craig
66: Mark Bellhorn
65: Alan Embree
64: Hunter Renfroe
63: Cliff Floyd
62: Darren Lewis
61: Robbie Ross Jr.

This group is heavily influenced from my days co-hosting the Section 10 Podcast with Barstool Sports. When we launched that show some eight years ago in my friend Pete's mom's basement, we somehow landed on calling that podcast studio the "Allen Craig Studios." That is still funny to me, and it has landed Mr. Craig on my top 100 list.

Robbie Ross Jr. was the first player that agreed to hop on Section 10 as a guest back in 2017. He and his wife Brittany were so nice to us and had some hilarious stories that no Sox fans had heard before. Which has now become my favorite part about being in the podcast game. Those are the stories you dream of from a content standpoint.

60: Craig Kimbrel
59: Orlando Cabrera
58: José Canseco
57: Keith Foulke
56: Rich Garcés
55: Jarrod Saltalamachhia
54: Christian Vázquez
53: Coco Crisp
52: Doug Mirabelli
51: Martín Pérez

We're halfway through the list! What are your thoughts so far? That's interesting. I agree (or don't agree).

El Guapo (Rich Garcés) obviously had to make this list. You couldn't go to the bathroom at Fenway in the late 90s without seeing an El Guapo shirt, or ten. I don't even remember hearing Garcés talk now that I think about it. He was just a fun-loving guy that had some solid seasons for the Sox right before the curse of the Bambino finally came to a close. Those players that just missed getting a ring hold a special place in my fan heart. They walked so Mark Bellhorn could run.

Martín Pérez being on this list should be a surprise to no one. Few players ever engaged with our content on Twitter as much as Martín. He made that miserable shortened 2020 season worth watching once every five days. #PerezDay was the best and I'm very glad for how much that hashtag took off for that two-year stretch.

50: Kyle Schwarber
49: Christian Arroyo
48: Jonny Gomes
47: Joe Kelly
46: Hideki Okajima
45: Dave Roberts
44: John Valentin
43: Rick Porcello
42: Mitch Moreland
41: Jake Peavy

I've been lucky enough to interview the majority of the players on this portion of the list and they are all awesome humans. 

Especially Christian Arroyo. If I were to pick one player on the active Red Sox (only four of which made this top 100 list) to be involved with the TV or radio broadcast in their post-career it would be Arroyo. He understands how to be funny, but does not try to be funny. He knows how to describe what he's seeing without being too baseball nerdy. And above all else, he understands how to have fun playing the game of baseball -- and it shows.

Kyle Schwarber, or Kyle from Waltham, had to be in my top 50 based solely on how much fun he made Boston's 2021 postseason run.

Jake Peavy's importance to that 2013 team is a big reason why he cracked the top 50, but he also was just one of the coolest dudes they've had on this team in a long time. Everybody seemed to like Peavy. He's also a great storyteller which is heavily valued in the ranking process of this list.

40: Alex Verdugo
39: Nathan Eovaldi
38: Tom Gordon
37: Brian Daubach
36: Shane Victorino
35: Shea Hillenbrand
34: Mike Timlin
33: Carl Everett
32: Koji Uehara
31: J.D. Martinez

Is Shea Hillenbrand this high up on the list because I met him at a D'angelo's in 2002 and he signed my kids meal bag "To Steve, God Bless and work hard"? Yes. That's certainly why. Starting at third base in the All-Star Game that year also helped his case.

I couldn't possibly craft this list and keep Koji Uehara or Shane Victorino off of it. They are two extremely important members of that memorable 2013 team that will always mean so much to the fans of Boston. I still vividly remember a packed Fenway singing along to Victorino's "Three Little Birds" walk-up song right before this magical moment:

30: Andrew Benintendi
29: Mike Napoli
28: Victor Martinez
27: Hanley Ramírez
26: Bill Mueller
25: Mike Lowell
24: Johnny Damon
23: Shane Victorino
22: Adrián Beltré
21: Kevin Youkilis

Now we're getting into the real heavy hitters. Sifting through the top 30 was no easy walk in the park, folks. These guys made many of my childhood and adulthood summers as a fan significantly more enjoyable.

When it's all said and done there will be few Red Sox players that have more appreciation from the fan base than Kevin Youkilis. That isn't just based on talent or championships, but how much he cared every single night. Youkilis gave it his all and it really felt like he was one of us. Those players deserve extra credit in my book when they go the extra mile to connect with the fan base and make it clear that they are willing to do everything in their power to win.

It is no short feat for Adrián Beltré to be ranked No. 22 on this list after only spending one season with the Red Sox. I loved everything about Beltré. In 2010 he led the major leagues in doubles, had a .919 OPS and gave the Red Sox plenty of reason to re-sign him. He also had the ability to be extremely funny without laughing much, which is impressive.

This clip really sums up that summer for Beltre. A huge slam followed by Victor Martinez doing what he hated the most...having his head touched.

20: Brock Holt
19: Tim Wakefield
18: Derek Lowe
17: Chris Sale
16: Jacoby Ellsbury
15: Curt Schilling
14: Trot Nixon
13: Jon Lester
12: Josh Beckett
11: Mookie Betts

So many World Series rings in this stretch of the list. Which is something you love to see.

Put some respect on Jacoby Ellsbury's name. I'm sick of the Jacoby slander around here. Even though it's died down since he did next to nothing with the New York Yankees and retired when barely anyone noticed, the Ellsbury hate was always weird to me. 

This man hit .360 in his first-ever postseason, playing a huge role in the Red Sox's sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the 2007 World Series. In fact, he had a .361 on-base percentage in 38 postseason games for the Red Sox over a seven-year stretch. He was the runner-up in the 2011 AL MVP race to Justin Verlander and then completely screwed the rivaled Yankees by signing a huge contract and proceeding to be frequently injured during the length of that contract. End the Ellsbury hate I say!

My dad and I also got to see Ellsbury play in the Cape League for the Falmouth Commodores, so there is certainly some bias here. The same feeling as those people that love letting you know they saw a band before they became mega-famous. So, guess I'm kind of guilty of that now too.

There has been no current or former Red Sox player that has been better to me and more gracious with their time than Brock Holt. I know plenty of you know this, but Holt really is the absolute man -- don't tell him I said that though. I really do hope no one else in the history of existence hits for a postseason cycle. Pulling for you, Brock Star.

Can't forget that Brock Holt is the voice of our intro for the ITM Podcast. Which at least jumped him up ten spots in the rankings. He also made that All-Star team that one time.

Some folks will question how Mookie Betts didn't make the top 10 of this list. Well, you know what, some folks? I just simply couldn't have Betts ahead of these upcoming top 10 gems.

Without further ado, my top 10 favorite Red Sox of my lifetime. Here we go.

10: Jason Varitek
Jason Veritek couldn't have meant any more to Red Sox Nation. Bridged the gap perfectly from lovable losers to World Series champions. No one questioned why he was the first Red Sox player to be named captain since Jim Rice in the mid-to-late 80s. He did everything you wanted a captain to do. Led by example, contributed heavily to the success of the team, and caused zero issues in the clubhouse. It's also very cool that he spent his entire major league career in Boston -- Something very few players of relevance can ever say they did.

9: Xander Bogaerts
Yes, this one hurts. Xander Bogaerts was my favorite Red Sox player throughout my 20s. He won multiple World Series titles, four All-Star appearances, five Silver Slugger Awards and currently has one entire city still crying that he no longer plays for their favorite baseball team.

That said, I'm here to stick to the good times. Like Varitek, Bogey was a great leader. That factor played a big role in the organizing of this list. Bogey not causing issues and being the voice and face of the team was very valuable to me. I was in the dugout during batting practice before a game this past summer and I got a tap on the back. Assuming it was my buddy Jared Carrabis or one of the public relations guys for the Red Sox, I turned around to a pleasant surprise. It was Bogaerts reaching out for a fist bump. This may not seem like a big deal, but it meant a lot to me that Bogey even knew who I was. And that was what he always did. Made everyone feel welcome, even if we were media members clogging up the dugout before games.

8: Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Papelbon is an absolute maniac and that's why I love him.

For someone that is the Red Sox's all-time leader in saves and an integral part of a World Series-winning Red Sox team, I feel like Papelbon doesn't get quite the love he deserves in Boston. It certainly didn't help that the last game he played for the Red Sox ended in such heartbreaking fashion in 2011, but I still think Pap should be praised a bit more in this city.

7: Rafael Devers
Raffy. Big. Scoops.

Rafael Devers could honestly end up at No. 2 on this list when all is said and done. He checks all the boxes for what I love in a Red Sox player. Mashes homers, has tons of fun on and off the field, and has guaranteed that he'll be here for a while. I would really like to see Devers take a crack at David Ortiz's Red Sox single-season home run record. I know these players don't necessarily set out to break records, but considering how close he and Big Papi are, and how present Ortiz is with this current form of the Red Sox -- it would just be a cool milestone to follow at some point in the next decade. 54 bombs in a season is a lot, but I think Raffy can do it.

Of course, I had to include Devers answering my question in Spanish for the second All-Star week in a row. Selfish? Sure. Do I care? No.

6: Dustin Pedroia
Dustin Pedroia was such an easy player to root for. After a slow start to his career, everything just took off. He was part of a very special group that played a big role in the 2007 and 2013 World Series titles. Him, Ortiz, Jon Lester and Ellsbury deserve endless credit for being vital pieces to some of the most important teams in Red Sox history.

I loved Pedroia just as much for who he was off the field. Always answered every question sent his way with 100% authenticity. No BS. Just the facts.

5: Mo Vaughn
Now for the top five. Few players in my lifetime were more iconic to me than Mo Vaughn. Put the MVP in '95 and three All-Star appearances aside, Vaughn was a larger-than-life figure. A true superhero on a baseball field for a kid growing up in the 90s. Vaughn was the first Red Sox player I ever got to meet and I'll never forget that experience. My dad would take me and my brother Dan to an event called "Mo's Night Out," which benefited the causes that Vaughn supported. 

The event was filled with people dressed to the nines that were ready to donate big money. We lucked out and were some of the only kids there so we got to talk with Vaughn and have him sign all of our cards and baseballs. He couldn't have been a nicer guy and I will never forget that exchange.

Here is an interview we had with Vaughn five years ago where I got to ask him about that night.

4: Manny Ramírez
Where do I even begin with Manny? 

I'll never forget the cover of The Boston Globe when Ramírez signed with the Red Sox. It was the first time in my life that Boston had signed one of the guys in Major League Baseball. And for what jersey edits were back in 2000, this was actually pretty damn good.

The Boston Glove Manny Ramirez Cover
The Boston Globe

And from there on, it was pure dominance for one of the most important players in the history of the franchise. I, like many other Sox fans growing up, had a big Ramírez poster in my room that was prominently featured. 

The Manny being Manny stuff was what we all fell in love with. Here is a guy who is an absolute goof but then will go out and have a 40-homer and 120-RBI season like it's nothing. The 2004 World Series MVP was the perfect award to reflect the impact Manny had on the most important team in franchise history. I wish the steroid stuff toward the end of his career never happened, but I was never going to leave him off the top of this obviously important list.

3: David Ortiz
Big Papi gave us everything. He gave us three World Series titles. He gave us a sports figure that represented the city like no other this century. He gave us some of the best speeches in Boston sports history. And he gave us a lot of laughs along the way too.

I'm really just thankful that Ortiz existed. We all know his story by now, but when you just sit back and think of how important he was to sports fans in the Boston area, the only other person even close in recent memory is Tom Brady. Making that two-man list is a feat in itself.

I missed a chance to meet Big Papi in 2018 and it bugged me for a while. Then came the All-Star break this past year and I finally had my chance to say what's up to the local legend. 

It was at a club-type scene where he was hosting an after-party near Dodger Stadium following the Home Run Derby. We got into the "VIP" section and one of Papi's right-hand men brought me up to him. We got to talk for a few minutes and he couldn't have been a nicer guy. Really exactly what you expect from every clip you've seen of him. He handles crowds better than any local athlete I can ever remember. Papi was the center of attention all night, and that's where he thrives. We got a picture together and that was a night I will surely not forget.

2: Pedro Martinez
We will truly never be able to duplicate the hype of a Pedro Day in the 90s. There was absolutely nothing like it. I'm just thankful I was alive and remember what that atmosphere was like when Pedro Martinez ran the city of Boston.

His 1999 All-Star Game start still feels like a dream. To have OUR guy dominating in OUR park against some of the best National League hitters ever on the national stage was just a wonderful thing to see. Younger Red Sox fans may not ever truly understand how much he meant to the city when he was really cooking. It wasn't a "you don't know what you have until it's gone" type of deal -- we fully knew what we had and we embraced every second of it.

Another thing I appreciate about Martinez is how present he has been with Red Sox Nation since his retirement. His involvement with the players on this team and with the fans is everything you can hope for from a childhood hero.

I've been lucky enough to interview Martinez three times now and every time he gives you a story or a tidbit that you never heard before. He is such a genius when it comes to pitching and I could listen to him talk baseball all day.

1: Nomar Garciaparra
Nomahhhhhhhh!

My favorite Red Sox player of all time has held that title for the last 26 years. Garciaparra was who I wanted to be growing up. Everything I did on the baseball field was because of Garciaparra. I played shortstop because of Garciaparra. I did the toe-tap move in the batter's box because of Garciaparra. I wore Garciaparra's batting gloves because of, you guessed it, Garciaparra. He was the most influential player of my lifetime.

I begged my parents to let me go to Garciaparra's summer camp in 2003. They said yes, and it was one of the happiest days of my existence. Every kid at that camp knew what the deal was. One day of that week Garciaparra was going to show up to the camp and talk to every team. The day he arrived, I'll never forget it. It was like Jesus Christ himself was walking into that camp. Getting to talk with him and take a picture was one of the highlights of my childhood.

I'll always be sad about how things ended in Boston for Garciaparra, but that has never taken away the smile on my face when I think back to getting to watch him at Fenway growing up. He was the only Sox player that would sign autographs before every single game. Waiting to get the Nomar signature was always a thrill. Will I get it this time? Will he notice me? Am I a lunatic for trying to get his autograph for the seventh time? All valid questions.

I wish one day in the future Garciaparra will come back to the Boston area and have a similar impact on the current generation of Sox players and fans like Pedro Martinez, Papi and Varitek have done in their post-playing days. For now Garciaparra is enjoying life in Los Angeles and you know what? I can't even blame him. Do your thing Nomah, we'll always love you back home.

So there you have it! My favorite 100 Red Sox players of my lifetime. It only took me just under 4,000 words to show my appreciation for the guys that have made my life as a Red Sox fan so much more enjoyable over the last 30 years.

From the look of things right now, this list may stay intact for a while. But here's to hoping I can update this top 100 list in the near future. Need it for my sanity.

If you are still here, check out the ITM Podcast for full coverage of the Red Sox all season.

More MLB: Red Sox's Alex Cora Names Two Surprise Candidates To Make Opening Day Roster

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Steve Perrault
STEVE PERRAULT

Steve Perrault covers the Red Sox as a host of the ITM Podcast and writer for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before joining SI Media Group, Steve was the host and producer of the popular Section 10 Podcast with Barstool Sports since 2015. He has covered the Red Sox for nine seasons now and has interviewed several of the best players in franchise history. Through building a large presence on social media, Steve has been able to make a big impact among Red Sox fans all over the country. Steve has also hosted radio shows with WEEI. Here he mainly breaks down Major League Baseball topics in the most entertaining ways possible. Steve comes from Hingham, MA and has been a lifelong supporter of the Red Sox and local professional teams. He also has an obsession with honey mustard and sneakers.

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