The World Series is here between a pair of clubs in search of the respective franchises’ first championships in the Tampa Bays Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers.
While the Red Sox work through the winter to build a team capable of a deeper playoff run in 2027 (provided there’s a season), Boston still holds the most rings since 2000 in a generational run of October success.
Each team had standout moments that defined the championship run. Among those players who helped bring a title to Boston, which players stand among the best? Or even better, who would you pick to run it back with selections from the four teams?
Let’s give it a try with a starting lineup and a four-man starting rotation composed from four Red Sox championship teams. To ease the arguments, let’s start with the best lineup based on production in the World Series. And obviously there’s crossover between 2004 and 2007.
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF (2007) – (.438, 4 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI)
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B (2007) – (Leadoff HR in Game 1, .850 OPS)
3. David Ortiz, DH (2013) (**WS MVP – .688, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 8 BB, 1.948 OPS)
4. Manny Ramirez, LF (2004) (**WS MVP – . 412, HR, 4 RBI, 1.088 OPS)
5. Mike Lowell, 3B (2007) (**WS MVP – .400, HR, 4 RBI, 6 R, 1.300 OPS)
6. Steve Pearce, 1B (2018) (**WS MVP – .333, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1.667 OPS)
7. Jason Varitek, C (2004) (3B, 2 RBI, break curse)
8. Trot Nixon (2004) (.357, 3 RBI – Game-sealing double in Game 4)
9. Julio Lugo, SS (2007) (.385, 2 R)
LHP Jon Lester (2013) (2-0. 0.59 ERA, 15 K in 15.1 IP)
RHP Josh Beckett (2007) (7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K)
RHP Pedro Martinez (2004) (7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)
LHP David Price (2018) (2-0, 1.98 ERA, 10 K in 13.2 IP)
Locking in a few spots here helped given the fact that the Red Sox had four different players win World Series MVP at four different positions. This list all came down to production in the Fall Classic, and honestly, there weren’t many debates at each spot in that realm (but comment and claw back if you feel differently!). Each player in the lineup delivered a standout moment within their sustained production — with the exception of Lugo with a key leaping grab in Colorado.
The rotation is also pretty easy to assemble as well given that each arm’s starts defined the momentum of the series. In sweeps like 2004 and 2007, you could make an argument to sub in Derek Lowe and flip-flop him and Pedro given their starts were nearly identical. Nonetheless, all of them rose to the occasion to strengthen their legacies in October.
NOW… we’ll do it based on pure talent, which honestly may not have a ton of change.
1. Mookie Betts, RF (2018) (2018 AL MVP, .346 AVG to win batting title and several other awards)
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B (2007) (2007 AL Rookie of the Year)
3. David Ortiz, DH (2004) (41 homers, .983 OPS during regular season)
4. Manny Ramirez, LF (2004) (43 homers in regular season, WS MVP)
5. Xander Bogaerts, SS (2018) (103 RBIs, .883 OPS during regular season)
6. Mike Lowell, 3B (2007) (124 RBIs in regular season, WS MVP)
7. Kevin Youkilis, 1B (2007) (.843 OPS during regular season)
8. Jason Varitek, C (2004) (.292, .876 OPS during regular season)
9. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF (2007) (.353 in regular season introduction)
LHP Jon Lester (2013) (2-0. 0.59 ERA, 15 K in 15.1 IP)
RHP Josh Beckett (2007) (7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K)
RHP Pedro Martinez (2004) (7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)
LHP David Price (2018) (2-0, 1.98 ERA, 10 K in 13.2 IP)
The star power within the pitching staff keeps this group the same. Curt Schilling and Nathan Eovaldi likely had the best cases to join this portion of the list, but each of the four arms in the rotation spent at least one season has the established ace of the Red Sox rotation.
Do you have changes? Who’s in? Who’s out?
Make your lineups and rotations heard in the comments. Four championships has plenty to present for debate!