Bobby Doerr

Although he played in the shadow of players like Ted Williams and Jimmie Foxx, Bobby Doerr has to be considered one of the greatest Red Sox players ever. During his 14 year Hall of Fame career, Doerr established himself as one of the most productive and consistent second basemen of his era. Only a back injury that forced him into early retirement at age 33 kept Doerr from being hailed as the top second baseman of all time. 

Best known for his big bat, Doerr was a smooth fielder who set American League records for chances and games without an error twice during his career. Doerr broke his own record in those categories in 1948 when he played 73 straight games without an error. During that time, he handled 414 chances without so much as a bobble. 

When you combine his play in the field with his ability at the plate, it is easy to see why Bobby made nine trips to the All-Star Game. It was a home run in the 1943 mid-season classic that gave Doerr his biggest thrill in baseball, and the A.L. a 5-3 win. 

Of course, Doerr hit a lot of home runs during his career. The hard-swinging infielder held the Red Sox record for home runs in a career by a second baseman with 223 until Ryne Sandberg broke it in the strike-shortened 1997 season. Twice Doerr connected for 27 home runs to establish a single season mark for Boston second baseman that stood for 39 years. 

Big plays and clutch hits was what Doerr was all about. Making the most of his one trip to the World Series, Doerr hit .409 and collected at least one hit in each game he played. One person who did not want to see Doerr come to bat in a clutch situation was the Indians' Bob Feller. Doerr twice broke up no-hit bids by Rapid Robert. 

Doerr's abilty to deliver in pressure situations was one reason why he drove in 100 or more runs six times. To put that feat into perspective, take all the second basemen who have played since Doerr retired in 1951. Add up all the years they drove in 100 or more runs, and they have only reached the century mark seven times. 

A member of both the Red Sox Hall of Fame and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Bobby was honored like only three other men in Boston baseball history when his number 1 was retired in 1988. Like his number, Doerr stands side-by-side with the greatest Red Sox and Stallions of all time.