Key Highlights
- There are only starters, no bench players — sorry, Dave Roberts — and then a full five-man rotation, setup man, and closer. For this project, we invited our current Red Sox coverage team, as well as anyone who covered the Red Sox for MassLive and before that, the Springfield Republican, to vote. So without further ado, let’s get to the Red Sox Quarter-Century team:Note on methodology: Voters were instructed to only consider performance from 2000-25 and only what they did for the Red Sox.
- Outfielders could only be elected in their primary outfield spot. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLineupCatcher: Jason Varitek Years: 1997-2011Championships: 2Why he made it: A tone-setting captain, Varitek spent his entire career with the Red Sox and the team was better for it.
- Varitek caught four no-hitters, made three All-Star teams, backstopped two World Series championships, won one Gold Glove — and he hit Alex Rodriguez in the face with his catcher’s mitt.
- The face-full-of-glove photograph will live on in Boston sports bars for generations. Also receiving votes: None. First Base: Kevin YoukilisYears: 2004-2012Championships: 2Why he made it: Youkilis was a Boston dirt dog who mastered both corner infield spots, but won a Gold Glove at first base.
- A three-time All-Star, Youkilis was famously dubbed “The Greek God of Walks” in “Moneyball,” but carved out a career doing far more than that in Boston.