Best Red Sox SS of All Time

[mvp 78]

I think most people would just automatically assume that Nomar Garciaparra is the greatest Red Sox SS of all time. However, is there a case that it's actually Xander?

 

fWAR through age 28:

 

Nomar: 32.8

Xander: 31.6

 

If 2020 was a full 162 games, Xander would most likely have a higher career fWAR. We complain about Xander's defense, but Nomar was actually a much worse defender. Instead of working on his D, Nomar spent more time complaining about the grounds crew.

 

Xander played in 2 WS. Nomar played in 0.

 

By all accounts, Xander is a wonderful teammate. I'm not sure anyone could say the same about Nomar.

 

Xander may never have an amazing season like Nomar had in 2000, but is the overall package better than what Nomar gave us?

 

Yes, Johnny Pesky would be in the discussion if not for WW2.

[Bellhorn04]

Xander.

[notin]

Does Rico Petrocelli and his 31.9 fWAR by age 28 factor into this?

[harmony]

Through age 28 seasons, Xander Bogaerts had 1,114 games and 4,758 plate appearances, Nomar Garciaparra 772 games and 3,457 plate appearances, and Rico Petrocelli 977 games and 3,915 plate appearances.

 

Bogaerts had made three All Star appearances, Garciaparra had made four All Star appearances, and Petrocelli had made two All Star appearances.

 

FWIW

Edited February 4, 2022 by harmony

[Bellhorn04]

Does Rico Petrocelli and his 31.9 fWAR by age 28 factor into this?

 

Yes.

[mvp 78]

Does Rico Petrocelli and his 31.9 fWAR by age 28 factor into this?

 

He was a fulltime 3b at age 28. He only had 26.9 fWAR at SS. He's in the conversation though if you want him to be. His 1969 season may be the greatest Sox SS season of all time.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

As a Red Sox fan, I prefer Xander, because he loves playing in Boston, while it seemed like Nomar hated it (at least at the end).

 

But I have to admit Nomar was better: six times finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting to one time for X. For most of his Beantown years, Nomar also wasn't bad on D; nobody else could make that running, gunning 6-3 across his body.

 

And those "Nomar's better" jeers were true, from '97-03... #5's dWAR 9.5... #2's dWAR -1.5...

[moonslav59]

My list:

 

1. Bogey

2. Rico

3. Nomar

4. Burleson

5. Valentin

6. Aparicio

7. Alex Gonzalez

 

Best seasons since 1967 by fWAR:

9.6 Rico '69

8.2 Valentin '95

7.6 Nomar '00

7.3 Nomar '98

6.8 Bogey '19

6.4 Nomar '97

6.3 Nomar '97

5.8 Nomar '03

5.2 Bogey '21

5.2 Valentin '93

4.9 Bogey '18

4.9 Bogey '16

4.8 Nomar '02

4.6 Bogey '15

4.5 Rico '70

4.2 Rico '67

3.6 Drew '13

3.5 Burleson '79

3.2 Bogey '17

3.1 Jody Reed '89

2.8 Valentin '96 & J Reed '90

2.6 Burleson '80

2.4 Aparicio '73 & Burleson '77

2.0 Scutaro '10

 

 

 

 

[Old Red]

My list:

 

1. Bogey

2. Rico

3. Nomar

4. Burleson

5. Valentin

6. Aparicio

7. Alex Gonzalez

 

Best seasons since 1967 by fWAR:

9.6 Rico '69

8.2 Valentin '95

7.6 Nomar '00

7.3 Nomar '98

6.8 Bogey '19

6.4 Nomar '97

6.3 Nomar '97

5.8 Nomar '03

5.2 Bogey '21

5.2 Valentin '93

4.9 Bogey '18

4.9 Bogey '16

4.8 Nomar '02

4.6 Bogey '15

4.5 Rico '70

4.2 Rico '67

3.6 Drew '13

3.5 Burleson '79

3.2 Bogey '17

3.1 Jody Reed '89

2.8 Valentin '96 & J Reed '90

2.6 Burleson '80

2.4 Aparicio '73 & Burleson '77

2.0 Scutaro '10

 

 

 

 

 

Eddie Bressoud was the 1st Red Sox SS I can remember. Not a bad SS for a sucky Red Sox team in the early 60’s.

[jad]

I think most people would just automatically assume that Nomar Garciaparra is the greatest Red Sox SS of all time. However, is there a case that it's actually Xander?

 

fWAR through age 28:

 

Nomar: 32.8

Xander: 31.6

 

If 2020 was a full 162 games, Xander would most likely have a higher career fWAR. We complain about Xander's defense, but Nomar was actually a much worse defender. Instead of working on his D, Nomar spent more time complaining about the grounds crew.

 

Xander played in 2 WS. Nomar played in 0.

 

By all accounts, Xander is a wonderful teammate. I'm not sure anyone could say the same about Nomar.

 

Xander may never have an amazing season like Nomar had in 2000, but is the overall package better than what Nomar gave us?

 

Yes, Johnny Pesky would be in the discussion if not for WW2.

 

or if he hadn't held the damn ball!

[notin]

or if he hadn't held the damn ball!

 

Also because Vern Stephens played shortstop for Boston more often than Pesky…

[moonslav59]

Also because Vern Stephens played shortstop for Boston more often than Pesky…

 

Hard to top these numbers for a Sox SS:

 

Vern Stephens

 

Best 2 years ('49-'50)

.292 69 303 (.901 OPS)

over 162 games: 37 HRs and 161 RBI

 

3 years ('48-'50)

.285 98 440 (.874)

[dgalehouse]

Nomar. He clearly rates ahead of Xander. Better in all the major offensive categories , Batting average , RBIs , Home Runs and OPS. Xander might win a popularity contest however.

[mvp 78]

Nomar. He clearly rates ahead of Xander. Better in all the major offensive categories , Batting average , RBIs , Home Runs and OPS. Xander might win a popularity contest however.

 

If we had to put one of them at DH, sure Nomar would be better.

[SCM33]

1. Nomar in his prime

2. Xander

3. John Valentin

[Larry Cook]

Hang’em Chaim needs to lockup bogey on a new deal!

[notin]

1. Nomar in his prime

2. Xander

3. John Valentin

 

Valentin, if nothing else, might be the most underrated Red Sox shortstop of all time…

[Swiharts Ghost]

Just opinion on fielding

1.Iglesias

2.Gonzo

3Nomar Pesky

 

offense and D total package ?

1.Nomar

2.Bogey

3.Pesky

Favorite SS ? Nomar by a country mile

Edited March 29, 2022 by Swiharts Ghost

[mvp 78]

Just opinion on fielding

1.Iglesias

2.Gonzo

3Nomar Pesky

 

offense and D total package ?

1.Nomar

2.Bogey

3.Pesky

Favorite SS ? Nomar by a country mile

 

Nomar was a bad fielding SS.

[moonslav59]

Nomar was a bad fielding SS.

 

Yup. His flashy twirl and throws from the hole were unnecessary, but made some fans think he just made an incredible play.

[Bellhorn04]

Nomar was a bad fielding SS.

 

Looks like he was a plus defender from 1997-2000, but fell off bigly after that.

[SCM33]

Yup. His flashy twirl and throws from the hole were unnecessary, but made some fans think he just made an incredible play.

 

I remember when they nicknamed him spiderman early in his career.

 

His flashy twirl was still better than Jeters jump throw.

[cp176]

Nomar was a bad fielding SS.

 

He had problems with the routine plays. Moon - I'm joking kind of here - He could get to balls that many shortstops just couldn't get to.

[moonslav59]

He had problems with the routine plays. Moon - I'm joking kind of here - He could get to balls that many shortstops just couldn't get to.

 

He made easy plays look hard.

[cp176]

He made easy plays look hard.

 

So true - Not a lot of love for little Louis here. He wasn't here long but he could play. Considering everything i guess I would go with Bogaerts - Valentin - Nomar (I guess) I never saw Pesky play. Others that I really liked - Aparichio, Petrocelli, Burleson, and of course Eddie Bresseud.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

So true - Not a lot of love for little Louis here. He wasn't here long but he could play. Considering everything i guess I would go with Bogaerts - Valentin - Nomar (I guess) I never saw Pesky play. Others that I really liked - Aparichio, Petrocelli, Burleson, and of course Eddie Bresseud.

 

I loved Burleson, mainly because he hated the Yankees (the things some fans care about when they're teens...).

[cp176]

I loved Burleson, mainly because he hated the Yankees (the things some fans care about when they're teens...).

 

Ain't that the truth. I was indoctrinated even earlier. I have to say though that I have come to appreciate the talent some of those old time Yankees had.

[moonslav59]

So true - Not a lot of love for little Louis here. He wasn't here long but he could play. Considering everything i guess I would go with Bogaerts - Valentin - Nomar (I guess) I never saw Pesky play. Others that I really liked - Aparichio, Petrocelli, Burleson, and of course Eddie Bresseud.

 

Aparicio was one my faves, as was Burleson.

 

I only knew Rico as a 3Bman.

[cp176]

Aparicio was one my faves, as was Burleson.

 

I only knew Rico as a 3Bman.

 

when I considered my top three, I kept the choices simple and really only thought about their performances as Red Sox players. In my mind Aparicio obviously lays over the field when you look at all the other Red Sox shortstops. He would have to be in the discussion of who the greatest shortstops of all time were. I consider myself very fortunate that he was in his prime when baseball topped my list of things to do and pay attention to. Man oh man could he play. He could run just a little too. Aparicio and Fox up the middle - Not bad!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

when I considered my top three, I kept the choices simple and really only thought about their performances as Red Sox players. In my mind Aparicio obviously lays over the field when you look at all the other Red Sox shortstops. He would have to be in the discussion of who the greatest shortstops of all time were. I consider myself very fortunate that he was in his prime when baseball topped my list of things to do and pay attention to. Man oh man could he play. He could run just a little too. Aparicio and Fox up the middle - Not bad!

 

That must have been cool watching a Hall of Fame DP combo on a team that literally won the pennant on pitching and D.

 

As a disappointed 13-year old Red Sox fan, I only remember Aparicio for starting his Boston days in an 0-for-45 slump and then wiping out rounding third on what should've been an RBI-triple by Yaz in a big '72 showdown vs. Detroit.