News
Ortiz going toe-to-toe with ... himself
Papi's two huge years vie for DH honor in All-Time 9 voteBy Ian Browne / MLB.com
09/22/09 6:42 PM ET
BOSTON -- What is the most loaded Red Sox lineup ever? Fans now have the opportunity to make their case in a unique fashion by voting for the team's all-time best players - by single season -- at each position.
One of the tightest races thus far is at DH, where Big Papi is leading - yes, Big Papi.
Which David Ortiz season was the best? Thus far, 2005 is in the lead, when the lefty slugger finished second in the Most Valuable Player Award race by belting 47 homers and producing 148 RBIs. But a strong case can be made for '06, when Ortiz set a club record with 54 homers and drove in 137 runs.
More than 4.1 million votes have been cast since the 9/9/09 debut of the "All-Time 9s," a platform for fans to debate the greatest single-season performances for all 30 Major League franchises. The voting marks the start of MLB.com's Lineup Card campaign, a gathering place for the posting and never-ending discussion of the greatest past and present lineups.
Here's a look at how the closest races are shaping up among Red Sox greats:
There is no position where the Red Sox have had more great seasons than the outfield. The three top candidates for the all-time team thus far? Ted Williams and the 1941 season when he hit .406. Carl Yastrzemski for his Impossible Dream season of 1967. And recently minted Hall of Famer Jim Rice for his 1978 season when he set a club record with 406 total bases en route to the MVP. Manny Ramirez (2004), Babe Ruth (1919) and Fred Lynn (1975) are within striking distance of Rice for the final berth in the outfield.
Dustin Pedroia's popularity in Red Sox Nation is evidenced by the fact that his MVP season of 2008 currently leads Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr's 1950 season (27 homers, 120 RBIs, 103 runs) at second base.
But in case you thought Red Sox fans aren't paying enough attention to history, consider that Jimmie Foxx's 1938 season (50 homers) leads Kevin Youkilis from 2008 and the Most Valuable Player season of 1995 by Mo Vaughn.
Carlton Fisk's No. 27 is on the right-field façade at Fenway for the reason, and the original Pudge's 1977 season puts him in a comfortable lead over current Red Sox captain Jason Varitek's 2003 campaign.
Wade Boggs, who won all five of his batting titles while playing for the Red Sox, is listed on the ballot for his 1987 season, when he hit .363 with a career high of 24 home runs. Mike Lowell's 2007 season, when he helped the Red Sox win the World Series, ranks second thus far at the hot corner.
Nomar Garciaparra, an icon during his time with the Red Sox, is the runaway leader at shortstop for his 2000 season, when he hit .372 with 21 home runs.
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
