Sweet Lu

Red Sox milestones and achievements [26]Became 26th player to hit 100 home runs for club on April 14, 2005 Third Red Sox catcher to win a Gold Glove (Carlton Fisk and Tony Pena) First Red Sox at any position to win Gold Glove since Tony Pena in 1991 Was on the 2004 World Series team, the first Red Sox team to win the championship in 86 years Over 1,000 games caught - most in 106-year Red Sox history - breaking Carlton Fisk's club record of 990 on July 18, 2006 vs. Kansas City Has caught a Major League record four official no-hitters Hideo Nomo: April 4, 2001 vs Baltimore Derek Lowe: April 27, 2002 vs Tampa Bay Clay Buchholz: September 1, 2007 vs Baltimore (Clay's No-Hitter was his second Major League start) Jon Lester: May 19, 2008 vs Kansas City Does not count unofficial five-inning, rain-shortened no-hitter by Devern Hansack in 2006.[3] Most postseason home runs for a catcher (11). Only one of six catchers to have at least two triples in the playoffs. (2). Has played in more postseason games than any other Red Sox player in team history. Most opening-day starts for a Red Sox catcher. Notable firstsIn the 2004 World Series, Varitek batted against the St. Louis Cardinals' Jason Marquis, the first time two former Little League World Series participants have faced each other in the Major League Baseball World Series. Varitek had played for Altamonte Springs, Florida in 1984.

Jason Andrew Varitek (pronounced /ˈværɨtɛk/; born April 11, 1972 in Rochester, Michigan) is an American professional baseball catcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Red Sox. A three-time All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner at catcher,and a Silver Slugger Award winner, Varitek was part of both the 2004 World Series and 2007 World Series Championship teams. In December 2004 he was named the captain of the Red Sox, only their third captain since 1923.[1] He is a switch-hitter. Varitek is one of only two players in the history of the sport to have played in the World Championship game of the Little League World Series, in the National Championship game of the College World Series, and in the Major League World Series (Ed Vosberg is the other). Varitek stands alone as the only baseball player in history to have played in the three aforementioned World Series along with playing on the Olympic Baseball team and in the World Baseball Classic. His Lake Brantley High School baseball team won the Florida State Championship his senior year in 1990 and was named the number one high school baseball team in the nation by a USA Today poll.[2] Varitek has caught an MLB-record four no-hitters.[3][4] Little League careerVaritek played in the 1984 Little League World Series, leading his Altamonte Springs team to victory in the United States Championship bracket in a 4-2 victory over Southport, Indiana. His team then fell in the world championship game to the international champion from Seoul, South Korea, by a score of 6-2.[5] Varitek played shortstop, third base, and catcher in his three LLWS games, performing well defensively, but was hitless going 0 for 7 with two walks and a run scored.[6] [edit] High school and collegeWhile in high school, Varitek was involved in many school activities and a model student. In addition to outstanding academic performance, Jason was Lake Brantley High School's third baseman and relief catcher. LBHS Patriots baseball team is located in Altamonte Springs, FL. Brantley's first line catcher was Jerry Thurston, himself a pro prospect. In 1990, the Patriots won the state championship.[7] He was also a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team and won the Dick Howser Trophy for National Collegiate Player of the Year. He was also named Baseball America's 1993 College Player of the Year; he appeared in 3 games for the U.S. team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Varitek attended Georgia Tech, where he helped lead the Yellow Jackets baseball team to the 1994 College World Series title game, along with teammates Nomar Garciaparra and Jay Payton (they would lose to the University of Oklahoma). He graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in management and is the only Tech baseball player to have his number (33) retired. [edit] Early professional careerVaritek played five summers in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Hyannis Mets. In 1993, he hit .371 while winning both the league batting championship and MVP. He was drafted 21st overall in the first round by the Minnesota Twins in 1993,[8] but opted to return for his senior year of college. Following graduation, Varitek signed with agent Scott Boras and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the 1994 amateur draft, with the 14th pick overall.[9] A pioneer of the loopholes in the draft process, Varitek signed with the St. Paul Saints in the independent Northern League[10] before agreeing to terms with the Mariners, and consequently did not enter the Mariners' minor league system until 1995. When he finally did join the franchise, Varitek was sent to the AA affiliate Port City Roosters where he first met pitcher and longtime teammate Derek Lowe. He was traded with Lowe to the Red Sox during the 1997 season in return for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb, often cited as one of the best trades in the Red Sox's favor in recent history.[11] [edit] Major league career[edit] 1998 rookie year - 2001Varitek was called up for a single game on September 24, 1997, collecting a single in his only at bat. The next season, Varitek split time with incumbent catcher Scott Hatteberg playing in 86 games.[12] Varitek showed signs of things to come in the 1998 season and with a strong spring training following the season, Varitek ensured himself the starting role. 1999 was a breakout year for the catcher; he played 144 games in that season while hitting for a .269 average, with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs.[12] Varitek went 5-21 with 3 RBI in the 1999 ALDS against the Cleveland Indians.[12] and 4-20 with 1 RBI in the ALCS against the New York Yankees.[12] Varitek looked forward to building on his success from the year before, but in 2000 he did not show the same potential and had a disappointing offensive output. He hit just .248 with only 10 home runs and 65 RBI.[12] Prior to the 2001 season, Varitek signed a 3-year, $14.9 million contract with the Red Sox, and was off to a hot start before he was sidelined for the season with a broken left elbow after he dove to catch a foul ball on June 7. The play went on to be a top Web Gem for the month of July in 2001. On May 20, 2001, Varitek hit three home runs in one game. Varitek finished the season with a .293 average, 7 home runs, and 25 RBI in 51 games played.[12] [edit] 2002 and 2003Varitek returned to the Red Sox lineup fulltime in the 2002 season. The return did not go smoothly, however, as Varitek struggled to find himself at the plate. Despite not reaching his full offensive potential,[12] pitchers and coaches alike began to notice how much Varitek's preparation and knowledge of the game was helping the pitchers. His study habits and extra hours of work with pitchers would soon become his defining attribute. Varitek and the Red Sox entered the 2003 season with a renewed fire to reach the playoffs after missing in the previous three years. Varitek instantly became a leader in the clubhouse which management tried to portray as working class, featuring new faces such as Kevin Millar, David Ortiz, Bill Mueller, and Todd Walker along with original players Trot Nixon and Lou Merloni. 2003 was Varitek's best year to date and earned his first All-Star selection after the fans voted him on with the All-Star Final Vote. He was hitting .296 with 15 HRs and 51 RBIs[13] going into the all-star break and finished the season off with a solid .273 average, 25 HRs and 85 RBIs,[12] all career highs. The Red Sox earned a Wild Card berth and their first playoff appearance since 1999. [edit] 2004 and the World SeriesIn 2004, Varitek compiled a career-high .296 batting average with 18 home runs and 73 RBI. During a nationally televised game on July 24, 2004, Varitek shoved his glove into the face of the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez after Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, causing a bench-clearing brawl. Though he was ejected (along with Rodriguez) from the game following the incident, the moment sparked Boston to an 11-10 come-from-behind victory. It is also sometimes regarded as the turning point in the Red Sox season, as they posted MLB's best record after the melee. The Red Sox culminated the season with their first World Series championship in 86 years, after being the first team to overcome a three games to none deficit in the ALCS. At the end of the year, Varitek became a free agent and signed a 4-year, $40-million contract with the Red Sox.[14] [edit] Free agency and promotion to CaptainAfter Varitek's re-signing, the Red Sox appointed him to be the third team captain since 1923, after Carl Yastrzemski (1969-1983) and Jim Rice (1986-1989).[14] He is currently one of the three captains in Major League Baseball. Derek Jeter of the NY Yankees, and Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox are the others. In 2005, Varitek won his first Gold Glove Award, his first Silver Slugger, and his second All-Star selection. In 2006, Varitek represented the United States in the World Baseball Classic. He made the most of his playing time, hitting a grand slam against Team Canada allowing Team USA to narrow an 8–2 lead down to 8–6. Team Canada, however, kept the lead in the upset victory. On July 18, 2006, Varitek played his 991st game at catcher for the Boston Red Sox, breaking Carlton Fisk's club record. That game was a home game vs. Kansas City, during which Varitek's achievement was recognized before the bottom of the 5th inning (after the game was official and couldn't be cancelled due to weather). Varitek received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at Fenway Park for a few moments before play resumed. On July 31, 2006, Varitek was injured rounding the bases in a 9–8 victory over the Cleveland Indians (his 1000th career game as catcher), but said he believed the initial injury to the knee occurred while he was blocking home plate to make the tag against the Angels Mike Napoli on July 29, 2006. He had surgery on August 3, 2006 to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. Varitek returned to the Red Sox lineup on September 4, following a short rehabilitation assignment in Pawtucket. On September 19, 2006, Varitek was honored during a pre-game ceremony as the first Red Sox catcher to catch 1,000 games. He was presented with a special award by Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk, who held the Boston club record with 990 career games caught before Varitek surpassed it. Varitek caught his 1000th game on July 31 and by the evening of the ceremony had appeared in 1,009 games behind the plate. That same night, Varitek also received the 2006 Red Sox Heart and Hustle Award from the local chapter of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, which is presented to a player exemplifying the values, tradition, and spirit of the game of baseball. Varitek at bat in 2008.In 2007, Varitek and the Red Sox returned to the World Series, winning for the second time in four years. During the season, Varitek recorded his 1000th career hit. On May 19, 2008, he caught Jon Lester's no-hitter, giving him a Major League record of having caught four separate no-hitters in his career. In honor of being captain, Varitek released Captain Cabernet, a charity wine with proceeds benefiting Pitching In For Kids and Children's Hospital Boston.[15][16] At the end of the 2008 season, Varitek opted for free agency, rejecting arbitration that would give him a salary close to the $10 million he made in 2008. [17] Reports in the Boston Globe suggested that his agent, Scott Boras, was using New York Yankee catcher Jorge Posada's four-year, $52.4 million deal as a benchmark for negotiations.[18] On February 6, 2009, Varitek signed a new one-year deal with the Red Sox worth $5 million with a $5 million club option, or a $3 million player option, for 2010.[11][19] During the 2009 season, Varitek's numbers were similar to his dismal 2008 season, with slightly more home runs (14), doubles (24) and runs batted in (51), and a higher slugging percentage (.390) despite a lower batting average (.209) and fewer at bats (425). He eventually became the backup catcher when the Red Sox acquired All-Star Victor Martinez on the July 31st trade deadline. On Dec 2nd, 2010, Sports Illustrated, on its website SI.com, reported that Jason Varitek signed a one-year, two-million dollar deal to stay with the Boston Red Sox for the 2011 season.[20] The deal was finalized on December 10.[21] With the addition of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Varitek has been coming on and off the bench during the 2011 season. Personal lifeVaritek married Karen Mullinax in 1996.[28] They have three daughters. The couple filed for divorce on July 28, 2008. Varitek's brother Justin Varitek is a member of the Rollins College baseball team coaching staff.[29] On April 9, 2011, Varitek proposed to Catherine Panagiotopoulos at Strega Waterfront in Boston.[30] Most notably, Varitek is a returning guest speaker, along with teammate Dustin Pedroia, at Massachusetts based baseball company RBI Academy for teens and preteens that wish to fulfill careers as baseball players.

Career highlights and awards 3× All-Star (2007, 2009, 2011) World Series MVP (2003) ALCS MVP (2007) 2x World Series champion (2003, 2007) Babe Ruth Award (2003) Career statistics (through July 22, 2011) Win–Loss record 120-77 Earned run average 3.82 Strikeouts 1,546

Joshua Patrick Beckett (born May 15, 1980) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. During his career in the playoffs, he won the 2003 World Series MVP Award with the Florida Marlins, and received the 2007 ALCS MVP award with the Red Sox. Baseball career[edit] Florida Marlins (2001–2005)A resident of Spring, Texas, Beckett was discovered by Florida Marlins scout Bob Laurie. Beckett had signed a letter of intent to play with the Texas A&M Aggies but went pro. Beckett spent most of his early years with the Marlins as a member of the team's young staff, but injuries (most frequently blister problems) limited him to only 99 starts (102 appearances) from 2002 to 2005. Beckett's major league debut was on September 4, 2001, against the Chicago Cubs, in which he gave up one hit over six shutout innings. He finished 2001 with four games started, a 2-2 record, and an ERA of 1.50. Beckett won the 2003 World Series MVP Award with two strong performances on three days' rest. Teamed up with catcher Iván Rodríguez, he helped the Marlins win the World Series, defeating the New York Yankees. During Game 6 at Yankee Stadium, he shut out the Yankees in a complete game, striking out 9 batters and clinching the series by making the tag for the final out. [edit] Boston Red Sox (2006–present)In a deal that was made official on Thanksgiving Day, 2005, Beckett was traded to the Red Sox along with third baseman Mike Lowell and relief pitcher Guillermo Mota for minor league prospects shortstop Hanley Ramírez and pitchers Aníbal Sánchez, Jesús Delgado and Harvey García. Beckett and Lowell were among a prominent list of veterans the Marlins traded in what was organizationally termed a market correction.[1] Josh Beckett was the first Red Sox pitcher to hit a home run in 35 years — since the advent of the designated hitter rule — when he took Phillies' pitcher Brett Myers deep during an interleague game on May 20, 2006. Beckett repeated the feat on June 14, 2009 when he homered against Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ. Having gone deep once while with the Marlins, Beckett has thus hit more home runs playing for an American League team than a National League team.[2] On July 18, 2006, Beckett signed a three-year, $30 million contract extension with a $10 million club option for 2010.[3] Beckett completed his first season with the Boston Red Sox with a record of 16–11 and a 5.01 ERA. In 204.2 IP, he gave up 191 hits and struck out 158 batters while walking 74. Beckett allowed 36 home runs, tied for second most in the majors. At the start of the 2007 season, Beckett adjusted to throwing more breaking pitches and fewer fastballs. At the same time, he learned to locate his pitches rather than simply get strikes by power. He reduced his walks and home runs allowed by nearly half, contributing to his success in 2007. Beckett became one of six Boston Red Sox pitchers in history to win their first 7 starts. George Winter and Mickey Harris both won their first 7 starts in a particular season, and Babe Ruth, Dave Ferriss and Roger Moret all won their first 8 starts in a particular season. After a strong first half, posting a 12–2 record with a 3.44 ERA, he was selected to the American League team in the 2007 MLB All-Star Game. Beckett earned the victory in the game after pitching two innings, giving up only one hit, and striking out two. Beckett became the first pitcher to win 20 games in a season since 2005, finishing the season with a record of 20–7, a 3.27 ERA, 194 strikeouts, a 1.14 WHIP, and only 40 walks and 17 home runs allowed. Beckett's 2–0 record and 1.93 ERA against the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS earned him the 2007 ALCS MVP Award, and he started and won the first game of the 2007 World Series against the Colorado Rockies, pitching 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 6 hits, and striking out 9 batters. Boston would go on to sweep the Rockies in the series. On May 8, 2008, Beckett recorded his 1,000th career strikeout, when Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers struck out swinging in the seventh inning. Through 2008, Beckett has a 48-28 record and a 4.11 ERA in his three seasons with the Red Sox.[4] In 2009, during his first Opening Day start with the Red Sox, Beckett struck out 10 through 7 innings allowing only 1 run and two hits in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. On April 14, 2009, MLB fined and suspended Josh Beckett 6 games for intentionally throwing over the head of Los Angeles Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu. Beckett later appealed the suspension and later got it reduced to 5 games. The Red Sox exercised their club option on him for the 2010 season. On June 20, 2009, Beckett recorded his first complete game shutout in three years against the Atlanta Braves in a duel against former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe. The shutout was his first in a Red Sox uniform. On July 5, 2009, Josh was selected to represent Boston in the 2009 All Star Game. Beckett recorded his 100th career win on July 12, 2009, pitching a complete game shutout against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. On August 7, 2009, Beckett was a part of a memorable game against the New York Yankees. He and former Marlins teammate A. J. Burnett endured a pitching duel that actually sparked the game to turn into a fifteen inning, five hour and thirty-three minute game. Josh threw seven shutout innings, Burnett threw seven and two thirds. The Red Sox eventually lost the game in the bottom of the 15th, when Alex Rodriguez hit a walk-off two run home run. On April 5, 2010, the Red Sox and Beckett agreed to a four-year, $68 million contract extension, through 2014.[5] He was placed on the disabled list on May 19 with a lower back strain and returned from the injury on July 23. [edit] Personal lifeBeckett was born in Spring, Texas, and has been linked to such celebrities as model/sportcaster Leeann Tweeden and country singer Danielle Peck.[6] On October 18, 2007, Peck was invited by the Cleveland Indians to sing the National Anthem prior to Game 5 of the American League Championship Series between the Red Sox and Indians.[7] Beckett was the starting pitcher in that game, and some Red Sox fans theorized that her invitation was an attempt by the Indians organization to distract Beckett. The Indians denied this claim.[8] It did not seem to affect Beckett, as he beat the Indians with eight innings pitched, five hits, one walk, one earned run, and eleven strikeouts. In a postgame interview with Beckett, when asked if he was affected by Peck's presence, Beckett replied "I don't get paid to make those f*****' decisions. She's a friend of mine. It doesn't bother me at all. Thanks for flyin' one of my friends to the game so she could watch it for free."[9] Beckett was also linked at one time to actress Alyssa Milano but she has stated in her baseball blog that she and Beckett never dated.[10] In April 2010 the Inside Track gossip column in the Boston Herald reported that he was engaged to Holly Fisher, an aeronautics engineer and former high school classmate. They got married on January 22, 2011.[11] Beckett has a house in San Antonio and is a fan of the San Antonio Spurs.[12] He is also a fan of the Texas A&M Aggies as he committed to the University under then-Aggie head coach Mark Johnson before being drafted; he is still often seen at Texas A&M football games. Beckett is an avid deer hunter and has been since childhood. He was the 2002 winner of the Muy Grande Deer Contest for bringing down the largest buck during the Texas deer hunting season.[13] After the Marlins' World Series win he appeared in advertisements for the National Rifle Association.[14] He owns Herradura Ranch, a 7,000 acres (28 km2) deer-hunting ranch outside of Cotulla, Texas .[15] He was featured in a Kevin Fowler music video alongside his teammates John Lackey, Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz

Career highlightsThe Sporting News Designated Hitter of the Decade (2009) Sports Illustrated MLB All-Decade Team (2009) Member of the 2004 Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series. Member of the 2007 Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series. American League Championship Series MVP (2004) 7-time All-Star (2004–2008,2010-2011) 2005 Hank Aaron Award winner 5-time winner of the Edgar Martínez Award (2003–2007) 4-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award (2004–2007) Top 5 MVP vote-receiver five times (5th, 2003; 4th, 2004; 2nd, 2005; 3rd, 2006; 4th, 2007) Led the American League in extra base hits 3 times (2004, 2005, 2007) Led the American League in Home Runs (2006) Led the American League in Runs Batted In (2005, 2006) American League Player of the Month for September 2005, July 2006, and May 2010. Red Sox single-season home-run leader (54; 2006) Tied with Babe Ruth for AL single-season home-run record in road games (32; 2006) First player ever to hit two walk-off home runs in the same postseason (against the Angels (ALDS) and Yankees (ALCS), 2004) First player in Red Sox history to hit 40 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons (2004–2006) Set new record for home runs by a DH in 2005 (47), then again in 2006 (54) 6 seasons of at least 30 HR and 100 RBI (2003–2007, 2010) Tied with Billy Hatcher for all-time post-season consecutive on-base streak (10) 85 extra-base hits or more for four consecutive years, something only 2 other players--Lou Gehrig (5) and Sammy Sosa (4)--have ever done.[16] Ortiz's home run total increased each year from 2000–2006, starting with 10 home runs, and ending with 54. Became all time DH home run leader on September 15, 2009 by hitting his 270th as a Designated Hitter. Won 2010 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby in the final round against Hanley Ramirez. Has hit 12 career walk-off HR, the highest of any active player, and 20 walk-off hits total. He is currently 1 HR behind Mickey Mantle, the career leader in walk-off HR.[17] On April 2, 2011 Ortiz became MLB's all time RBI leader by a Designated Hitter On July 27, 2011 Ortiz hit his 1,000th RBI with the Boston Red Sox.

David Américo Ortiz Arias (born November 18, 1975), known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball designated hitter with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Previously, Ortiz played for the Minnesota Twins (1997–2002). Ortiz is a seven-time All-Star and holds the Red Sox single season record for home runs in a regular season with 54, set during the 2006 season. In 2005, Red Sox ownership presented him with a plaque proclaiming Ortiz "the greatest clutch-hitter in the history of the Boston Red Sox". Early careerSeattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins (1992-2002) Ortiz shares a word with Toby Hall, then of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.Ortiz graduated from Estudia Espallat High School in the Dominican Republic and in 1992 he was signed by the Seattle Mariners who listed him as "David Arias". He played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, a Mariners farm team, until 1996, when he was traded to the Minnesota Twins as the player to be named later in an earlier trade for Dave Hollins. When he arrived in Minnesota, he informed the team that he preferred to be listed as "David Ortiz." He made his Twins debut in September 1997. For a few years, he was moved back and forth between the Twins and their minor league affiliate in Connecticut, the New Britain Rock Cats. In 2002, Ortiz hit .272 for Minnesota, with 20 home runs and 75 RBIs. The Twins advanced to the American League Championship Series that year, where they lost to the Anaheim Angels. Despite showing flashes of talent, Ortiz's time with the Twins will be remembered as a series of injuries and inconsistency both in the field and at the plate. Ortiz suffered wrist injuries in both 1998 and 2001. He continued to experience knee problems in early 2002 that plagued him throughout the season, despite hitting 32 doubles, 20 home runs and 75 RBIs in 125 games. He was released by the Twins after the season. In six seasons with the Twins, Ortiz hit 58 home runs and 238 RBI.[3] Boston Red Sox2003On January 22, Ortiz signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox. He played sparingly in the first two months of the season, primarily pinch hitting and starting occasionally as a DH. On June 1, manager Grady Little benched slumping Jeremy Giambi and inserted Ortiz in the lineup as the full time DH. In July, Ortiz hit 8 home runs and in August he had 11. He finished the season batting .288 with 31 home runs and 101 RBI. He finished 5th in the American League MVP voting. In the postseason he struggled in the ALDS against the Oakland A's until Game 4 when he hit a 2 run double in the bottom of the 8th inning off of closer Keith Foulke to give the Red Sox the lead. In the ALCS against the New York Yankees, Ortiz had 2 home runs and 6 RBI as Boston lost in 7 games. 2004Ortiz was a major force in leading the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years and ending the Curse of the Bambino. During the regular season, Ortiz hit .301 with 41 home runs and 139 RBI. He was voted onto the All-Star team for the first time in his career. He finished 4th in American League MVP voting. In the playoffs, Ortiz hit .409 with 5 home runs and 23 RBI. He had multiple game-winning hits to help Boston advance to and ultimately win the World Series. He hit a walk-off home run off of Jarrod Washburn to win the American League Division Series against the Angels. He then hit a walk-off home run against the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the ALCS and a walk-off single in Game 5 during the American League Championship Series. His post-season heroics earned him MVP honors for the ALCS, the first time a DH had ever been named MVP. Ortiz was suspended for 3 games after being ejected following an incident on July 16 in a game against the Angels in which he threw several bats onto the field that came close to hitting umpires Bill Hohn and Mark Carlson. 2005Ortiz hit 47 home runs and had 148 RBI while batting .300 with an OPS of 1.001. He led the American League in RBI finished 2nd in home runs and 3rd in OPS. He finished 2nd in the American League MVP voting while leading the Red Sox to their 3rd consecutive playoff appearance. 2006Ortiz hit 54 home runs (setting a new Red Sox record) and had 137 RBI, while batting .287 with an OPS of 1.049. He led the American League in both HR and RBI, winning the HR crown by 10 over the 2nd-place finisher Jermaine Dye. He finished 3rd in the American League MVP voting. On June 29, Ortiz hit his 200th career home run against Duaner Sanchez of the New York Mets at Fenway Park. On September 20, Ortiz tied Jimmie Foxx's single season Red Sox home run record of 50 set in 1938; in the 6th inning against Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Boof Bonser. On September 27, Ortiz broke Foxx's single season Red Sox home run record by hitting his 51st home run off his former teammate, Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins. The home run came on a 1–0 pitch in the first inning and it was his 44th home run of the season as a designated hitter, breaking his own American League single-season record. Health scare in 2006Ortiz said he began feeling ill between games of a day-night doubleheader on August 18, 2006, against New York. Between games, he had gone home and tried to sleep but could not. Ortiz was reportedly driven to the hospital by a team assistant. An irregular heartbeat was the cause for the stress according to his doctors. Ortiz would not originally talk about his condition, but opened up to the media on August 25, reportedly saying "I'm a healthy son of a [gun]."[4] On August 28, Ortiz had recurring symptoms from his irregular heartbeat and was a last minute scratch in the Red Sox game at Oakland. Manager Terry Francona and General Manager Theo Epstein agreed that Ortiz fly back to Boston where he was reevaluated and cleared to play again in early September. 2007Ortiz once again played a major role as he helped lead the Red Sox to their seventh World Series title. Despite playing the entire season with a torn meniscus in his right knee as well as nagging injuries to his shoulder and quadriceps, he finished the year hitting .332 with 35 home runs and 117 RBI. In addition, he hit 52 doubles, led the American League in extra base hits and had an OPS of 1.066. In the postseason Ortiz batted .370 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI. 2008Ortiz started slowly after suffering a wrist injury which caused him to miss several weeks. He played in only 109 games and finished the season hitting .264 with just 23 home runs and 89 RBI, his lowest totals since joining the Red Sox. However, his ratio of homering every 18.1 at-bats still led the team. In his first six seasons with Boston, Ortiz has hit 231 home runs as a Red Sox, with the most homers against the Rays (34), and the Yankees (25).[3] 2009Ortiz struggled early in the season, hitting only .206 with no home runs and 30 strikeouts in his first 34 games. On May 22, Ortiz hit his first home run of the season off Brett Cecil of the Toronto Blue Jays, ending his career-high 178 homerless at-bat streak.[5] In June, Ortiz broke out of his slump by hitting 8 home runs with 22 RBIs. Ortiz had 9 HR in both July and August. On July 9, Ortiz hit his 300th career home run against Luke Hochevar of the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. On September 17, Ortiz hit his 270th career home run as a DH off of Jose Arredondo of the Los Angeles Angels breaking the all time record held by Frank Thomas. Ortiz finished the season with 28 home runs and 99 RBI. 2010Ortiz hit .270 with 32 home runs and 102 RBI in 2010. He also won the Home Run Derby. 2011On April 2, Ortiz set the record for RBI by a designated hitter with 1,004 passing Edgar Martinez. On May 21, Ortiz became only the fifth player to hit 300 home runs as a member of the Red Sox, joining Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, and Dwight Evans. Ortiz was suspended for 3 games in July for his part in a brawl that took place on July 8 in a game against the Baltimore Orioles. Performance-enhancing drug positive test result in 2003On July 30, 2009, The New York Times reported that Ortiz and then-teammate Manny Ramirez were among a group of roughly 100 major league players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs during 2003 survey testing.[6] Five months before the Times allegations surfaced, Ortiz stated in an interview that players who tested positive for steroids should be suspended for an entire season.[6] Before the Red Sox's game that afternoon, Ortiz declined to comment on the report, saying, "I'm not talking about that anymore."[6] Afterwards, he confirmed he had tested positive and promised to speak with the media once he "[got] to the bottom of" the matter.[7] Ten days later, Ortiz held a press conference before a game at Yankee Stadium and denied ever buying or using steroids but suggested the positive test might have been due to his use of supplements and vitamins at the time.[8] When asked which supplements he had been taking, Ortiz said he did not know.[9] Ortiz was accompanied at the press conference by the general counsel of the players union, Michael Weiner. Because the list of players who tested positive was seized as part of a government investigation and is currently under court-ordered seal pending the outcome of litigation, Weiner said the players union was unable to provide Ortiz with any details about his test result, including what substance he tested positive for. Personal lifeEach time Ortiz crosses the plate after hitting a home run, he looks up and points both index fingers to the sky in tribute to his mother Angela Rosa Arias, who died in a car crash in January 2002 at the age of 46.[10] Ortiz also has a tattoo of his mother on his biceps. Ortiz and his wife Tiffany have three children: Jessica (born October 23, 1996), Alexandra (born March 22, 2001), and D'Angelo (born July 10, 2004). Since marrying Tiffany, he has become a fan of the Green Bay Packers (his wife hails from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, a town in between the cities of Green Bay and Appleton).[11] On June 11, 2008, Ortiz became a United States citizen at John F. Kennedy Library in Boston.[12][13] Reebok sponsorshipIn April 2007, sporting goods company Reebok debuted the Big Papi 10M Mid Baseball cleat at a party in Canton, Massachusetts, home to the headquarters of Reebok International Ltd. At the party, Ortiz was quoted as saying, "Reebok's loyalty and friendship have always made me feel right at home and we are true partners in every sense of the word,... ." Ortiz first used the cleat during the 2007 MLB All Star Game in San Francisco, California.[14] Charity workThe David Ortiz Children's Fund was founded in 2007 to support a range of causes that Ortiz believes in. The Fund allows Ortiz the flexibility to donate to those children are in the most need at any given time, from Boston to the Dominican Republic and beyond. Ortiz released his own Charity Wine label in 2008 with all the proceeds going to the David Ortiz Children's Fund. The wine called Vintage Papi proceeded to raise $150,000 for charity

my wife jsut loves saying his last name for no reason at all

Career statistics (through August 9, 2011) Batting average .250 Hits 264 Home runs 34 Runs batted in 133

Jarrod Scott Saltalamacchia (born May 2, 1985, in West Palm Beach, Florida), nicknamed "Salty" is an American professional baseball catcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. His last name is the longest in Major League Baseball history.[1] Saltalamacchia is Italian for "jump over" (salta) the thicket (lamacchia, a kind of tall shrub). Baseball careerSaltalamacchia was drafted out of Royal Palm Beach High School in the first round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves. [edit] Atlanta BravesIn 2006, Saltalamacchia had a breakout season for the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, where the switch-hitting slugger hit .314 with 35 doubles, 19 homers, and 81 RBIs in 129 games. Saltalamacchia ranked 18th in Baseball America top 100 prospects in 2006, he would rank 36th the following year.[2] Saltalamacchia batting for the Braves in 2007.In the 2007 season, Saltalamacchia started at catcher for the Double-A Mississippi Braves. In 22 games played, he belted 7 home runs with a batting average of .373. On his 22nd birthday, he was called up to Atlanta to replace Brayan Peña on the roster and to fill in for Brian McCann, who re-injured his finger on May 1, 2007.[3] Saltalamacchia's call-up made him the new record-holder of the longest last name in Major League Baseball history, at 14 letters.[4] On May 6, 2007, Saltalamacchia had the first hit of his major league career in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the seventh inning, with two outs and two men on base, Saltalamacchia got his first RBI, which also drove in the winning run for the Braves. On May 27, 2007, Saltalamacchia hit his first major league home run, a solo shot off Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies. On June 26 in a start at first base, Saltalamacchia had his first multi-home run game. Both blasts came batting right-handed off Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik. Because Saltalamacchia was "blocked" (by McCann, who was recently signed to a large contract with Atlanta), he was the subject of much trade speculation within baseball, and was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 31, 2007, with Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison, and Beau Jones for first baseman Mark Teixeira and reliever Ron Mahay. In 2007, Saltalamacchia batted .284 with 4 home runs and 12 RBI in 47 games with Atlanta. [edit] Texas RangersUpon joining the Rangers after being traded Saltalamacchia changed his number to 25. In his first game with the Rangers on August 1, 2007, Saltalamacchia started at first base and drove in two runs. On August 22, 2007, Saltalamacchia had two home runs and seven RBIs in the historic 30–3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles.[5] In 46 games with the Rangers in 2007, Saltamacchia batted .251, collecting 7 home runs and 21 RBIs. On March 26, 2008, Saltalamacchia lost the starting catching job to Gerald Laird, and the Rangers chose to send him down to the minors to catch every day instead of sitting as the backup.[6] However, Saltalamacchia was soon called up on April 25, 2008.[7] Saltalamacchia during his tenure with the Rangers in 2009.After the Rangers signed free agent Andruw Jones, Saltalamacchia gave up his number 25 to Jones and selected the number 21.[8] On April 25, 2009, Saltalamacchia struck out in his 28th consecutive game played, setting a new MLB strikeout streak record for a position player (pitcher Bill Stoneman holds the all-time record with 37 games). Saltalamacchia's streak started on July 23, 2008.[9] Saltalamacchia suffered a shoulder injury on August 15, 2009 and was placed on the disabled list. Saltalamacchia was placed on the disabled list after the 2nd game of the 2010 season. On April 27, 2010, Saltalamacchia was removed from the DL and assigned to the Oklahoma City RedHawks.[10] He has struggled with throwing the ball back to the pitcher. [edit] Boston Red SoxSaltalamacchia was traded to the Boston Red Sox just before the Major League Baseball trading deadline on July 31, 2010. The Rangers received minor league prospects Chris McGuinness, Ramon Mendez, a player to be named later (Michael Thomas), and cash. He reported to the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox, wearing uniform number 39.[11][12] Saltalamacchia was called up on August 11 after Kevin Cash went on the disabled list needing surgery in his left thumb, in September 2010.[13][14] In the 2011 season, Saltalamacchia was slated at the beginning of the year to be Boston's primary catcher. Out of the gate, he struggled defensively and showed weakness in the batter's box.[15] However, he showed real improvement at the plate as the season progressed, hitting .327 in the month of June. So far in July, he has hit .279, homering in back to back games against the Orioles and going 3 for 4 with 4 RBI two games later.[16] [edit] PersonalSaltalamacchia and his former Rangers teammate, Kason Gabbard, were childhood friends. Both were traded to the Rangers from different teams on July 31, 2007.[17] They were nearly potential teammates once again when the Red Sox, having reacquired Gabbard in 2009, released him from their farm system into free agency on July 24, 2010, exactly one week before Saltalamacchia was traded to Boston

Career statistics[edit] Amateur careerSeason Team – League Age AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO OBP SLG 2002 Bend Pacific International League 18 .357 31 82 19 29 5 2 1 12 14 0 9 7 .463 .500 2003 Oregon State NCAA 19 .230 53 206 56 47 10 3 7 33 14 4 26 33 .427 .510 2003 Anchorage Alaska Baseball League 19 .338 39 145 24 49 3 3 1 13 16 8 18 12 .421 .427 2004 Oregon State NCAA 20 .352 49 196 56 69 8 2 3 20 20 4 30 17 .464 .459 2004 Falmouth Cape Cod League 20 .245 28 110 20 27 2 3 1 7 12 3 17 25 .376 .345 2005 Oregon State NCAA 21 .406 58 244 56 99 19 3 6 48 26 8 36 21 .495 .582 2002 Pacific International League All-Star 2003 Freshman Second Team NCAA All-American 2004 Pac-10 Conference All-Star 2005 Pac-10 Conference Co-Player of the Year 2005 Pac-10 Conference All-Star 2005 First Team NCAA All-American [edit] Minor League careerSeason Team League Age AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO OBP SLG 2005 Lowell A 21 .317 35 139 28 44 3 5 1 19 23 3 24 20 .418 .432 2006 Wilmington A 22 .299 61 244 35 73 7 5 4 32 25 9 25 28 .379 .418 2006 Portland AA 22 .308 50 198 29 61 10 3 3 19 16 8 24 25 .387 .434 2006 Peoria Arizona Fall League 23 .276 25 105 18 29 4 3 0 3 7 3 8 16 .342 .371 2007 Portland AA 23 .452 17 73 16 33 10 2 0 13 8 1 6 7 .518 .644 2007 Pawtucket AAA 23 .298 87 363 66 108 14 5 2 28 33 12 32 47 .360 .380 2006 Carolina League All-Star 2006 Eastern League Player of the Week – August 6–13 2006 Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year 2006 Red Sox Minor League Base Runner of the Year 2006 Arizona Fall League Rising Stars 2007 Eastern League Player of the Month – April 2007 XM All-Star Futures Game 2007 Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year 2007 Red Sox Minor League Base Runner of the Year [edit] Major League careerSeason Team League AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO OBP SLG 2007 Boston AL .115 33 116 20 41 7 1 3 18 9 0 8 67 .394 .509 2008 Boston AL .280 145 554 98 155 22 7 9 47 50 11 41 80 .336 .394 2009 Boston AL .301 153 624 94 188 27 10 8 60 70 12 49 74 .355 .415 3 Years – – .297 331 1294 212 384 56 18 20 125 129 23 98 169 .350 .414 Through End of 2009 Season (October 5, 2009) 2007 American League Rookie of the Month – September 2008 Red Sox rookie single season stolen bases record 2008 American League stolen base leader 2009 All time Red Sox single season stolen bases record 2009 MLB Stolen Base Leader

Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury (first name pronounced /dʒəˈkoʊbi/ jə-koh-bee); born September 11, 1983) is an American professional baseball center fielder with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Ellsbury attended Madras High School where he was a 4-year letterman in football and baseball, and played varsity basketball his sophomore through senior year. Ellsbury's career batting average of .567 and being caught stealing only once are Oregon High School State Records. He also holds the Oregon record for stolen bases in a game with 7. Ellsbury was first drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 23rd round of the 2002 MLB Draft but did not sign. He was then drafted 23rd overall by Boston in 2005, after three years at Oregon State University. Ellsbury is officially enrolled as a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes[1] and is the first Native American of Navajo descent to reach the Major Leagues.[2] As of 2008, he was one of only three active non-Hispanic Native American players in Major League Baseball, along with Kyle Lohse of the St. Louis Cardinals and Joba Chamberlain of the New York Yankees.[citation needed] Ellsbury is English and German on his paternal side Early lifeEllsbury was born September 11, 1983, in Madras, Oregon, to Jim and Margie Ellsbury, the oldest of four children. Growing up with Little League Baseball, he often played on a team with kids up to three years his senior though he was still the fastest and best player on the team. In high school, Ellsbury lettered in football and baseball for four years and in basketball for three. He hit .681 and had 82 stolen bases his senior year in baseball and averaged 15.6 points per game and had an average of 3.4 blocks per game in basketball. He finished his football career with 12 interceptions and 5 kickoff returns for touchdowns. [edit] Professional career[edit] 2005Ellsbury began his professional career on July 14, 2005, with the Lowell Spinners in the short season Single-A New York-Penn League. From the start, he showed that his patience and great speed were an asset when he led off the game by walking on a 3–2 pitch, stealing second, continuing to third on a throwing error and then scoring on a wild pitch.[citation needed] On September 7, he tied a Lowell team record with three stolen bases in a game. He finished the season batting .317 with 23 stolen bases in 35 games.[citation needed] Ellsbury was named Red Sox Minor League Base Stealer of the Month for July, when he went a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts.[citation needed] [edit] 2006Jacoby Ellsbury began the season as the number six prospect in the Red Sox organization[4] with the Single-A Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League. On July 3 he tied a Wilmington franchise record by stealing four bases in a game.[citation needed] After batting .299 with 25 steals in 61 games and being named to the 2006 Carolina League All-Star team, he was promoted to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League on July 12.[5] Soon after his promotion to Portland, he was named Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of August 6–13 for batting .400 along with his first Double-A home run and hitting safely in seven straight games.[6] Ellsbury finished the Double-A season in Portland batting .308 with 16 steals in 50 games. He was selected by the Red Sox as their minor league Defensive Player of the Year and Base Runner of the Year[citation needed] and given a roster spot on the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, an off-season developmental league for top prospects.[citation needed] In the AFL, he hit only .276 in 25 games but his defensive skill was enough to earn him a spot in the AFL Rising Stars All-Star game.[citation needed] [edit] 2007[edit] Spring trainingEllsbury participated in the Red Sox 2007 spring training camp in Fort Myers, Florida as a non-roster invitee and was assigned to the minor league camp on March 9.[citation needed] He was rated the number one prospect in the Red Sox organization,[7], the number 33 prospect in baseball for 2007 by Baseball America[8] and the number 43 prospect by Sports Illustrated.[9] [edit] Minor league playHe started the 2007 season as the starting center fielder for the Sea Dogs and was promoted to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox on May 4, 2007, after batting .452 in 17 games at Portland and being named the Eastern League Player of the Month for April.[citation needed] He was chosen to play in the 2007 All-Star Futures Game as part of the MLB All-Star festivities at AT&T Park in San Francisco.[10] He went 0–4 in the game.[citation needed] Ellsbury set a new consecutive game hitting streak record for Pawtucket on August 24, 2007,[11] besting the mark that had been held by both Dave Stapleton and Dave Berg at 19 consecutive games. His streak ended at 25 games on August 31 with an 0–4 outing.[citation needed] Ellsbury finished the Triple-A season with 33 stolen bases, tied for second in the International League with Darnell McDonald of the Rochester Red Wings, and one behind leader Bernie Castro of the Columbus Clippers. Although Castro had 34 steals in 118 games, and McDonald 33 steals in 134 games, Ellsbury's 33 steals came in just 87 games.[citation needed] For the second consecutive season, the Red Sox selected Ellsbury as their minor league Defensive Player of the Year and Baserunner of the Year.[12] [edit] Major league play Ellsbury leading off of first against the Baltimore Orioles.With an injury to Coco Crisp, Ellsbury had his contract purchased and received a call-up to the Red Sox on June 30, 2007, where he made his MLB debut in center field and hit ninth against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park[13] wearing number 46. He got his first major league hit against Robinson Tejeda of the Rangers in the bottom of the third inning of that game. His first career stolen base came off pitcher Brandon McCarthy and catcher Gerald Laird of the Rangers on July 2, and he also impressed in that game when he scored from second base on a wild pitch.[14] Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame member Johnny Pesky described the play as "the greatest single play I've ever seen in all my years in baseball".[15] He was optioned back to Pawtucket on July 5 after appearing in six games for the Red Sox.[16] On August 17, he was recalled for the second game of a doubleheader where he led off and played center field.[17] He was then optioned back to Pawtucket after the game.[18] On September 1, when the Major League rosters expanded to 40 players, he was again recalled to the Red Sox[citation needed] and on September 2 he hit his first major league home run off Daniel Cabrera of the Baltimore Orioles in the bottom of the fourth inning, a solo shot which landed in the Red Sox bullpen.[citation needed] The New York Times described him in a September 2007 article as a "cult hero" who brings "speed, improved defense, and unbridled enthusiasm."[19] He was named MLB's American League Rookie of the Month for September 2007 [20] and, with fewer than 130 major league at-bats, still qualified as a rookie for the 2008 season. During the 2007 postseason, with Coco Crisp struggling, Ellsbury got the start in center field for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians, starting every subsequent postseason game. In eleven total postseason games, he hit .360 in 25 at-bats with two stolen bases.[citation needed] On October 27, with his two doubles off Josh Fogg in top of the third inning of Game 3 of the World Series, he became the first rookie to hit two doubles in the same inning of a World Series game.[citation needed] After hitting another double off Brian Fuentes in the eighth inning, he became the fourth rookie ever to hit three doubles in a World Series game.[citation needed] His four hits, including a single in the first inning, made him only the third rookie to ever accomplish the feat in the World Series, after Freddie Lindstrom in 1924 and Joe Garagiola in 1946.[citation needed] For the World Series, he batted .438 with four doubles and a stolen base.[citation needed] [edit] 2008Heading into the 2008 season, Ellsbury was ranked as the #13 prospect by Baseball America,[21] the #16 prospect by Baseball Prospectus[22] and the #19 prospect by ESPN Scouts Inc.[23] All ranked him as the #2 prospect in the Red Sox organization behind Clay Buchholz. Ellsbury hit .224, with .291 On-base percentage (OBP), and a .347 Slugging Percentage in sixteen spring training games and started in center field for the 2008 Major League Baseball season opener against the Oakland Athletics on March 25 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. He hit his first home run of the season on April 6 off Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre leading off the top of the 3rd inning. He stole his first base of the season on April 12, off Mike Mussina and Jose Molina of the New York Yankees in the bottom of the first inning.[citation needed] On April 22, Ellsbury had his first career multi-home run game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He hit one solo shot off a Jered Weaver pitch in the first inning, and another off a Darren O'Day pitch in the sixth.[citation needed] On May 18 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park, Ellsbury was caught stealing on a pitch-out in the fourth inning, which ended a streak of 25 consecutive stolen bases to begin his career, two shy of the major league record held by Tim Raines in 1979.[24] On May 30 with three steals against the Baltimore Orioles, he became the first Red Sox player to steal more than two bases in a game since Jerry Remy stole four on June 14; 1980; he then stole another three bases in the next game, and one more in the third game of the series, for a total of seven.[citation needed] On June 15, Ellsbury stole his 32nd base of the season, breaking the Red Sox rookie record, set 100 years earlier by Amby McConnell.[citation needed] He finished the season with 50 steals to lead the American League[citation needed] and put him third on the list of Red Sox all-time stolen base leaders for a single season, behind Tommy Harper (54) in 1973 and Tris Speaker (52) in 1912.[citation needed] He has also garnered praise for his defense in the outfield,[who?] having played 178 games (1,430 innings) without committing an error in his major league career.[citation needed] Ellsbury finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting, behind Evan Longoria of Tampa Bay and Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox.[25] [edit] 2008 postseasonEllsbury hit .333, with a .400 OBP and a .567 Slugging Percentage with three stolen bases in the American League Division Series, in which the Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3–1 in the best-of-five series.[citation needed] In the second inning of Game 3 of the ALDS, Ellsbury hit the first three-run single in postseason history when Howie Kendrick and Torii Hunter let a pop-up fall to the ground between them.[26] Shortly after, he stole second base. After going 0–14 in the first three games of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Ellsbury was benched in favor of Coco Crisp with only a pinch hitting at-bat in game 4.[citation needed] He did not play in games 5, 6 or 7, as the Sox eventually lost the series 4 games to 3. [edit] 2009 Ellsbury at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays in September, 2009.On April 12, Ellsbury played his 179th straight regular-season game without an error, breaking Mike Greenwell’s Red Sox franchise record for outfielders.[citation needed] and on April 15, with six errorless chances, passed Coco Crisp for most errorless total chances by a center fielder, setting a new Red Sox franchise record of 433.[citation needed] On April 26, in a game against the New York Yankees, Ellsbury stole home while Andy Pettitte was in his windup. According to the April 26 edition of SportsCenter, Ellsbury's was the first steal of home plate by a Red Sox player with no other runners attempting to steal since Jeff Frye stole home in a game in 1999 and it was the first steal of home plate with no squeeze attempt or other runners attempting to steal (a "pure" steal of home) since Billy Hatcher in 1994. Following his return to the dugout after the steal, Red Sox fans called Ellsbury back for a curtain call for his performance.[citation needed] On May 20, Ellsbury tied a major league record for outfielders with twelve putouts in a nine-inning game, tying Earl Clark of the Boston Braves who did it against the Cincinnati Reds on May 10, 1929 and Lyman Bostock of the Minnesota Twins who did it against the Red Sox on May 25, 1977.[27] On May 27, Ellsbury went 0–3 to snap a 22-game hitting streak.[citation needed] On June 17, Ellsbury's streak of 232 games and 554 chances without an error ended at Fenway when he had a ball hit by Jorge Cantu of the Florida Marlins go off the top of his glove in the top of the first inning. It was the longest errorless streak by an outfielder in Red Sox history.[28] On August 21, Ellsbury tied Tommy Harper's Red Sox single season record for stolen bases (54), in a game against the New York Yankees, again facing Pettitte.[citation needed] Ellsbury then broke the record with his 55th steal on August 25, against the Chicago White Sox.[citation needed] Ellsbury led the American League in stolen bases for the second consecutive year in 2009 with 70.[citation needed] He also led the AL in triples with 10.[citation needed] Ellsbury won Defensive Player of the Year in MLB.com's annual This Year in Baseball Awards 2009.[citation needed] [edit] 2010 During the offseason, Ellsbury changed his uniform number (with permission from the Red Sox and MLB) from 46 to 2. The number 2 had belonged to Brad Mills, the Red Sox' former bench coach, who left the organization to become the manager of the Houston Astros. Ellsbury has also worn number 23 in the past, but not in the majors.[citation needed] With the Red Sox signing free agent center fielder Mike Cameron and not re-signing left fielder Jason Bay, Ellsbury was moved to the starting left field position from center field. Ellsbury spent a considerable amount of time playing left field during the 2007 playoffs in late innings when players were being substituted, before earning the primary job in center field over Coco Crisp. The move was made as the result of Cameron's experience in center and inexperience in left. Ellsbury tends to play more flexibly and can thus be moved. Manager Terry Francona expressed excitement over the prospect of playing a true center fielder in left field, creating a larger fielding range and more aggressive style.[29] On April 11, Ellsbury collided with Red Sox third baseman Adrián Beltré, in a game against the Kansas City Royals. The collision resulted in hairline fractures to four of his left ribs. He was put on the 15-day disabled list on April 20. Ellsbury returned to the Red Sox on May 22.[citation needed] On May 28, Ellsbury returned to the 15-day DL after playing in only three games due to residual soreness in his left ribs from the collision with Beltré. He met with a thoracic specialist, who advised him that his ribs should be further along in the healing process before he would be able to play.[citation needed] On July 26, Ellsbury started his rehab assignment with Single-A Lowell Spinners.[30] He rejoined the Red Sox on August 4.[citation needed] On August 9, he was the first baserunner since 1998 to steal four bases against the Yankees.[citation needed] On August 14, Ellsbury was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the third time in 2010 after re-injuring himself in a game against the Texas Rangers.[31] He did not play again in 2010.[32] [edit] Personal lifeEllsbury was one of the victims of the $8 billion dollar fraud perpetrated by wealth manager Allen Stanford;[33] although Ellsbury had some assets frozen, it did not cause him any significant hardship, like those suffered by Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady.[34] [edit] PhilanthropyIn 2010, Ellsbury released a Zinfandel wine called ZinfandEllsbury through Charity Wines with 100% of his proceeds donated across three charities: The Navajo Relief Fund, Project Bread: The Walk for Hunger, and Ellsbury Read Project. The wine launched alongside a charity wine by Boston Red Sox teammate Josh Beckett, called Chardon-K.[35] Jacoby Ellsbury was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), but as reported in the Boston Globe in 2008,[36] he and his three brothers stopped attending services when Jacoby was a teenager. He said, "I try not to get Him too involved in baseball. What I wish for is good health."

Achievements4x All-Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) Holds the single-season record for most saves in a season by a Red Sox rookie (2006). Second in 2006 American League Rookie of the Year voting to Justin Verlander. First pitcher in Red Sox franchise history to have three 30 save seasons. Holds the Major League record for most consecutive scoreless innings to start a postseason career (25). Holds the Red Sox team record of most saves. Only pitcher to record 25 saves in each of his first five full seasons;[28] he has gone beyond that and recorded 30 in each of those years. Fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 200 career saves.;[

Jonathan Robert Papelbon (pronounced /ˈpæpəlbɒn/; born November 23, 1980 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed. He was the Red Sox closer during most of 2006. In early September, Papelbon injured his shoulder. When the Red Sox were eliminated from playoff contention, he was shut down for the rest of the season to rest. Papelbon was being groomed to be part of the Red Sox starting rotation, but because of his shoulder problems, was later moved back to the bullpen before the start of the season and remained the team's closer.[1] On August 21, 2007, Papelbon had his 30th save of the season making him the first Boston pitcher to ever have two 30-save seasons. As of July 1, 2009, Papelbon holds the record of most saves by a Red Sox pitcher, beating Bob Stanley's previous record of 132 saves. Early career[edit] High schoolPapelbon was a three-time All-City honoree while playing in high school for Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, FL.[2] Early in his senior year, he committed to play college baseball for Mississippi State.[3] [edit] College: Mississippi StatePapelbon was a closer for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He had a 9–6 record, 13 saves, and 2.90 ERA in his three years on the team in relief. During his time at MSU, the Bulldogs appeared in the 2001 and 2003 NCAA Tournaments and won the 2001 SEC Tournament. In the summer after his freshman year, Papelbon played with the Silver Spring-Takoma Park Thunderbolts in suburban D.C. The team is a part of a wooden bat league for college players. During the subsequent summers of his college career Papelbon played for the Danville Dans, a summer baseball team located in Danville, Illinois. Soon after arriving in Danville he easily became a crowd favorite and led the team to a CICL championship.[4] Papelbon graduated from Mississippi State in 2003.[5][dead link] [edit] Minor leaguesAfter a 13–10 record for Class-A Lowell Spinners and Sarasota Red Sox from 2003–04, Papelbon was 5–2 in 14 starts for Double-A Portland in 2005. Promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket, he went 1–2 with a 3.57 ERA in four starts, walking two and striking out 21 in 22.1 innings.[6] Major league career[edit] 2003–2005Papelbon was drafted in the 4th round in 2003, a year after the Oakland Athletics picked him in the 40th round.[7] He did not sign with Oakland because he wanted one more year in college to pitch and a chance to get to the College World Series, which his team failed to do.[citation needed] The Philadelphia Phillies had called him in round six to ask if he would sign if they drafted him, but he rejected the offer.[citation needed] Finally, the Red Sox drafted him the next year in the third round. Papelbon made his major league debut with the Red Sox on July 31, 2005 against the Minnesota Twins, in which he went 5⅓ innings, struck out seven batters, and issued five walks in Boston's 4–3 victory. He did not receive a decision. He earned his first major league win on September 12, 2005, pitching three scoreless innings in an extra-inning game against the Toronto Blue Jays. In two postseason appearances in 2005, he pitched four scoreless innings against the eventual World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. The Red Sox had plans of slotting Papelbon into their starting rotation prior to the regular season in 2006.[8] However, the incumbent closer, Keith Foulke, proved to be ineffective trying to come back from an injury-plagued 2005.[9] [edit] 2006–2007In April 2006, he changed his hair to a Mohawk style, after Charlie Sheen's character Ricky Vaughn from the film Major League due to a wager with teammate Kevin Youkilis in which they bet whether he could start the season with 10 scoreless innings.[10] On April 5, the second game of the 2006 season, Papelbon recorded his first career save in Texas. On April 29, 2006, he set a major league record with his 10th save, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. No rookie in major league baseball history had recorded that many saves in the month of April.[11] The 25-year-old closer finished 2006 with one of the most dominant seasons ever for a rookie reliever. Papelbon saved 35 games, struck out 75 batters in 68 innings, and held opposing batters to a .167 batting average. On October 11, 2007, Papelbon was named the 2007 winner of the "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award." Papelbon garnered 39,043 votes out of almost 125,000 votes cast.[12] Papelbon dancing after 2007 American League Championship Series.After the Boston Red Sox clinched the American League East title in 2007, Papelbon celebrated the victory by Irish step dancing in the middle of the Fenway Park diamond to the Dropkick Murphys' song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston", a song which he now is introduced to. Following the Red Sox American League Championship Series victory, he repeated his dance performance on the field with members of the band. For a third time, Papelbon did his dance on a flat bed truck with the World Series trophy over his head along with the Dropkick Murphys playing live during the Sox' Championship "Rolling Rally" Parade.[13] In late 2007 on Dan Patrick's radio show, David Ortiz revealed a friendly clubhouse wager that stated that Papelbon must perform his signature celebratory dance on demand for people wearing Boston Red Sox apparel. Terms of the bet were not disclosed, but it is rumored that Ortiz wagered 20 cases of Vitamin Water against Papelbon's offer of 1 free car from The Westville Motorsports Megastore, a local dealership he endorses.[citation needed] In Game 2 of the World Series Papelbon was brought in with the bases empty and 2 outs in the eight with the Red Sox leading 2–1 to face the Rockies best hitter, Matt Holliday. Papelbon gave up a single to Holliday before picking off Holliday to end the inning. Papelbon pitched a one-two-three ninth for the save. In Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, he entered in the 8th inning to shut down the Colorado Rockies comeback, and pitched until the 9th where he threw the game-winning strikeout for the Red Sox as they clinched the 2007 Championship. He is well known for his victory jump with Jason Varitek. [edit] 2008–presentOn March 6, 2008, Papelbon agreed to terms with the Boston Red Sox for $775,000. Papelbon's deal set the record for the largest contract for a closer not eligible for salary arbitration, topping Mariano Rivera's previous record by $25,000. Boston was under no obligation to pay Papelbon more than the league minimum of $390,000.[14] On January 20, 2009, Papelbon agreed to a one-year $6.25 million contract with the Red Sox, avoiding arbitration. This is the largest contract for a closer in his first year of arbitration eligibility.[15] Papelbon recorded his 100th career save on July 13, 2008.[16] Among pitchers who have thrown at least 200 innings, Jonathan Papelbon's 0.930 WHIP through 2008 is the lowest in major league history.[17] Papelbon criticized former teammate Manny Ramirez in the April 2009 issue of Esquire magazine.[18][19] On June 29, 2009, Papelbon gained his 132nd save, in a 4–0 shut out against the Baltimore Orioles, tying Bob Stanley's record for most saves by a Red Sox pitcher. Two days later on July 1, Papelbon recorded his 133rd save with the Red Sox, starting a new record. On July 5, 2009, Jonathan was selected to represent Boston at the 2009 All Star Game. Papelbon has been cited repeatedly for his slow play; on September 4, 2009 it was reported that he had been fined $5,000 for failing to deliver his first pitch within the required time in a September 1 appearance. Papelbon told the Boston Herald that he had been cited on at least five occasions and fined more than $10,000 for these violations. Papelbon jokingly added, "I think they're going to call my parole officer and put me away."[20] In the 2009 ALDS, Game 3, Boston down 2 games to none, Papelbon blew the save (causing Boston to be swept), allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, all of the runs scoring with 2 out.[21] His difficulties continued into the next season. In 2010, he blew eight saves, leaving the possibility of him being traded elsewhere. The Red Sox ended up keeping Papelbon as their closer, and his productivity has seemingly improved over the 2011 season. On June 7, 2011, Papelbon recorded his 200th career save, and achieved the mark in the fewest number of opportunities (359), beating Mariano Rivera's mark in 382 opportunities.[22] Papelbon will become a free agent after the 2011 season. [edit] Personal lifeHis mother, Sheila, played softball at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and his father, John, is the Deputy Director of the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame in St. Petersburg, Florida.[23] Jonathan is the older brother of twins Josh Papelbon, former pitcher for the Brockton Rox, and Jeremy Papelbon, former pitcher for the Tennessee Smokies, the double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Papelbon and his wife, Ashley, live in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Wayland, Massachusetts. On December 29, 2008, Ashley gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter.[24] On April 17, 2010, Ashley gave birth to the couple's second child, a son.[25] He appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman on October 31, 2007, after the Red Sox won the 2007 World Series. On December 20, 2007, Papelbon claimed that his dog "Boss," chewed up the ball that recorded the final out of the 2007 World Series.[26] Papelbon is an avid fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars and attends games at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium after the completion of the baseball season

Career highlights and awards 2× All-Star Selection (2010, 2011) World Series Champion (2007) Pitched a no-hitter on May 19, 2008 2007 Tony Conigliaro Award 2008 Hutch Award

Jonathan Tyler Lester (born January 7, 1984, in Tacoma, Washington) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.[1] Less than two years after being diagnosed with lymphoma, Lester started and won the final game of the 2007 World Series, and in May 2008, pitched a no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals. Career[edit] High schoolLester attended Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, Washington, where he was a three-time MVP and three-time All-Area selection. In addition, he was named Gatorade State Player of the Year for Washington in 2000. [edit] ProfessionalThe Red Sox drafted Lester in the second round (No. 57 overall) of the 2002 draft and gave him the highest signing bonus of any second-rounder that year, $1 million. Lester quickly moved through the Red Sox organization, posting an 11–6 record, a league-leading 2.61 ERA and a league-best 163 strikeouts for the AA Portland Sea Dogs in 2005. He was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Year and Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year and was selected as the left-handed pitcher on the Eastern League's year-end All-Star team and on the year-end Topps AA All-Star squad.[2] Lester has been one of the Red Sox' top-rated prospects since he signed with the club, and other major league teams have made efforts to acquire him. The Texas Rangers had demanded Lester be part of the proposed but ultimately rejected deal before the 2004 season for Alex Rodriguez.[3] The Florida Marlins insisted he be included in the trade for Josh Beckett before the 2006 season, but again, the Sox were able to keep Lester.[4] [edit] 2006With a rash of injuries and general ineffectiveness of several Red Sox starters, the team called up Lester on June 10, 2006 to make his major league debut against the Texas Rangers. He put up a 4.76 ERA in 81.1 innings pitched in 2006, his rookie year. Lester was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a treatable cancer, in the middle of the season (see Battle with lymphoma for more details). He finished the season with a 7–2 record. [edit] 2007 Lester before the Game 4 of the 2007 World Series.Following the successful treatment of his lymphoma, Lester was able to return to the Red Sox midway through the season. In the 2007 World Series, Lester won the series-clinching Game Four for the Red Sox, pitching 5⅔ shutout innings, giving up just 3 hits and 3 walks while collecting 3 strikeouts. Lester became just the third pitcher in World Series history to win a series clinching game in his first post-season start. Rumors swirled again in the 2007 offseason when the Minnesota Twins were looking to trade star ace Johan Santana. The Red Sox proposed multiple offers to the Twins for Santana — including one package that would have traded Lester and other prospects — but the Twins ultimately dealt Santana to the New York Mets. [edit] 2008In 2008, Lester went 16–6 with a 3.21 ERA and emerged as a top lefty pitcher in the AL. Along with his no-hitter, he also pitched a complete game five-hit shut out in his first start at Yankee Stadium. He was named the AL Pitcher of the Month in July and September. Lester was also a key figure in the Red Sox' victory over the Angels in the American League Divisional Series, pitching 14 innings without allowing an earned run. Lester has the second highest winning percentage of all starting pitchers over the last three years (27–8, .771), and also led the Red Sox in innings pitched in 2008 with 210.3.[5] Lester's losses in Games 3 and 7 of the 2008 ALCS were the first losses he had ever had in consecutive starts.[6] [edit] 2009On March 8, 2009, Lester agreed to a five-year, $30 million contract extension with a $14 million team option in 2014.[7] On June 6, 2009, Lester made his bid for a second no-hitter against the AL West-leading Texas Rangers at Fenway. He pitched 6 1/3 perfect innings, striking out 10 batters, on only 61 pitches through the first six innings. Michael Young hit a one-out double to left center field in the 7th inning to break up the no-hitter, but Lester stayed in to pitch a complete game, striking out a total of 11 batters, giving hm 23 Ks in two starts (he had a career-best 12 Ks his previous start). On August 14, 2009, Lester struck out 10 batters for the sixth time in the 2009 season, the most times ever by a Red Sox lefty. [edit] 2010In 2010 Lester got off to a slow start. After winning his final start in April, he won five of the six games he started in May. Lester went 5–0 with a 1.84 era and 45 strikeouts and was named the American League Pitcher of the Month. This was the third time he was honored with the award. On June 16 he got his 50th career win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lester was selected to the American League All-Star team on July 1, this was his first selection. At the time of the break he was 11–3 with a 2.78 era and 124 strikeouts. He pitched the 6th inning for the AL allowing no baserunners. On July 25 he took a perfect game into the 6th inning against the Seattle Mariners but lost it in the bottom of the fifth due to an error made by Eric Patterson. A home run by Michael Saunders broke up the no hit bid. The Sox eventually lost the game. The loss at the Mariners was the second of four losses in a row Lester took after the all star break; this was the first time he lost two decisions in a row in his career. He would eventually turn it around throwing 6 shutout innings against the Yankees and then 8 shutout innings, despite feeling sick, against the Rangers. Lester finished the season strong but fell just short of 20 wins. Lester finished the season T-4th in Wins (19) and in 4th place in strikeouts (225) in the Majors (AL and NL combined) in 2010. He finished 25th in the Major Leagues with a 3.25 E.R.A. in an excellent year for pitchers. The line score inside Fenway Park following Jon Lester's no-hitter.[edit] No-hitterOn May 19, 2008, Lester threw his first career Major League no-hitter,[8] and the 18th in Red Sox history, in a 7–0 win against the Kansas City Royals. Lester threw 130 pitches in the game, allowing only two walks and striking out 9 batters, although he was charged with a throwing error on a pickoff attempt in the second inning. It was the first no-hitter thrown by a Red Sox left-handed pitcher since Mel Parnell in 1956, the first in MLB since Clay Buchholz's September 2007 no-hitter, and the MLB-record fourth no-hitter caught by Jason Varitek. It was also only the second no-hitter ever pitched against the Royals; Nolan Ryan pitched the other in 1973. After the game, Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who earlier in the day had attended his son's commencement ceremony at the University of Pennsylvania, was quoted as saying, "This probably isn't fair to say, but I feel like my son graduated and my son threw a no-hitter. It's probably selfish on my part to even say something like that. But I think it's obvious how we feel about this kid."[9] Just as Clay Buchholz's no-hitter was preserved by a diving play by rookie second basemen Dustin Pedroia, Lester's was preserved by a diving catch by rookie center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to end the fourth inning.[10] [edit] Personal lifeOn January 9, 2009, he married his girlfriend Farrah Stone Johnson, whom he met in 2007 while making rehab starts in single-A Greenville.[11] [edit] Lymphoma diagnosis and comebackOn August 27, 2006, Lester was scratched from his scheduled start against the Oakland Athletics due to a sore back. The following day he was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and was sent back to Boston for testing. At the time, Lester's back problems were thought to be the result of a car crash he was involved in earlier in the month. On August 31 it was reported that Lester had been diagnosed with enlarged lymph nodes and was being tested for a variety of ailments, including forms of cancer.[12] A few days later, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital confirmed that Lester had a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma.[13] Lester underwent off-season chemotherapy treatments at Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, named after the former MLB pitcher and manager whose life was cut short by cancer at age 45 in 1964. In December 2006, ESPN.com reported that Lester's latest CT Scan showed no signs of the disease, which appeared to be in remission. Lester attended spring training in 2007, and started the season for the class A Greenville Drive. Lester then started for AAA Pawtucket Red Sox in late April 2007.[14] In June, Lester was removed from the disabled list, and sent to Pawtucket for further rehab outings.[15] Lester made his first 2007 start for the Boston Red Sox on July 23 against the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, pitching 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and struck out 6, picking up the win. Lester started and won the clinching game of the 2007 World Series, Game 4 against the Colorado Rockies. To honor Lester's comeback from lymphoma, the Boston Baseball Writers' Association of America voted him the 2007 Tony Conigliaro Award.[16] In an appropriate coincidence, Lester also received the 2008 Hutch Award, given to the Major League player who "best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire" of Hutchinson, after whom Lester's treatment center was named.[17][18] In March 2011, Jon Lester partnered with Charity Wines to release his own wine label under the Longball Cellars brand. Proceeds from sales of his CabernAce cabernet support the Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to aid the development of targeted immunotherapies. Funds raised from this initiative will help researchers maximize the body’s own ability to strike out and eliminate disease so lymphoma patients can extend their life. He is partnering with teammate Clay Buchholz who is also releasing a Charity Wine, called ChardonClay, to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. [19]

Statistics[1]Year Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG 2004 BOS 74 208 38 54 11 0 7 35 0 33 45 .260 .367 .413 2005 BOS 44 79 11 22 7 0 1 9 0 14 19 .278 .400 .405 2006 BOS 147 569 100 159 42 2 13 72 5 91 120 .279 .381 .429 2007 BOS 145 525 85 152 35 2 16 83 4 77 105 .288 .390 .453 2008 BOS 145 538 91 168 43 4 29 115 3 62 108 .312 .390 .569 2009 BOS 136 491 98 150 36 1 27 94 7 77 125 .305 .413 .548 Total 5 years 689 2,413 424 705 174 9 93 408 19 354 522 .292 .391 .487

Awards and distinctions[1]1999 All-American Collegiate Player 2000 Conference USA All Star (IF) 2001 2nd-team College All-American (3B) 2001 Conference USA All Star (IF) 2001 Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year 2002 Trenton Player of the Year 2002 Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year 2003 Futures Game All Star 2003 Eastern League All Star (Utility) 2003 Baseball America AA All Star Team 2003 International League Post-Season All Star 2004 AL Rookie of the Month: May 2004 World Series Champion (Boston Red Sox) 2007 World Series Champion (Boston Red Sox) 2007 AL Gold Glove (1B) 2006–08 Most consecutive errorless games by a first baseman (238 games) 2008 AL All Star Starter (1B) 2009 AL All Star Reserve (1B) 2009 Red Sox MVP 2011 AL All Star Reserve (3B)

Kevin Edmund Youkilis ( /ˈjuːkəlɪs/; born March 15, 1979), also known as "Youk" ( /ˈjuːk/), is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he was drafted by the Red Sox in 2001 after playing college baseball at the University of Cincinnati. Known for his ability to get on base, Youkilis (while still a minor leaguer) was nicknamed "The Greek God of Walks" in the best-selling book, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. A Gold Glove Award-winning first baseman, he once held baseball's record for most consecutive errorless games at first base (later broken by Casey Kotchman).[2][3] He is also a two-time MLB All-Star, two-time World Series Champion, and winner of the 2008 Hank Aaron Award. An intense performer on the playing field, Youkilis is known for his scrappiness, grittiness, dirt-stained jerseys, and home-plate collisions.[4][5] He has excelled despite a physique that led many observers to underestimate his athletic ability: he was called "roly-poly" by his high school coach, "pudgy" by his college coach, a "fat kid" by general manager Billy Beane, and a "thicker-bodied guy" by the Red Sox scout who recruited him.[6] Or, as Jackie MacMullan wrote for the Boston Globe: "He does not look like an MVP candidate; more a refrigerator repairman, a butcher, the man selling hammers behind the counter at the True Value hardware store."[7] Youkilis was named to the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, ranking No. 36 on the list in 2009, No. 38 in 2010, and No. 35 in 2011. Background and early careerThe Youkilis family name has an unusual history.[8] His Jewish great-great-great-grandfather, a native of 19th-century Romania, moved to Greece at the age of 16 to avoid conscription at the hands of the notoriously anti-Semitic Cossacks.[4][8] He became homesick, however, and returned to Romania after a couple of years, although he changed his surname from "Weiner" to the Greek name, "Youkilis", to avoid army and jail.[8] "People have come up to me and starting speaking Greek to me and I don't speak it," Youkilis said. "I feel bad. Ever since I was in Lowell (Class A), people have thought I was Greek. People shout at me, 'I'm Greek, you're Greek.' But I'm not."[9] Youkilis is the son of a Romanian Jewish jewelry wholesaler, who Youkilis has described as a "well-known third baseman in the Jewish Community Center fast-pitch softball league."[6][10] At the age of 14, Youkilis had an uncredited one-line speaking role in the romantic comedy film, Milk Money.[11] He attended Sycamore High School in the north-eastern suburbs of Cincinnati, where he played third base, shortstop, first base, and the outfield for the school team which won the AAU National Championship in 1994, and he was the only player to homer off of current Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook in high school.[7][12][13] CollegeWhen he graduated from high school in 1997, Youkilis weighed about 227 pounds and was 6' 1".[8] He was recruited by two Division I schools: Butler University and his ultimate choice, the University of Cincinnati (UC)—an institution that was the alma mater of both his father and Youkilis' longtime idol, Sandy Koufax, although it had just finished a dismal 12–46 season.[4] UC coach Brian Cleary spotted Youkilis at a winter camp. "I looked at him and said, Well, we need somebody," said Cleary. "I'd love to tell you I saw something no one else did, but he was just better than what we had."[8] While majoring in Finance, Youkilis excelled as a player for the Cincinnati Bearcats from 1998 to 2001.[12] "I take no credit," said Cleary. "He coaches himself. He knows his swing. Any time we said anything to him, he was already a step ahead. He made the adjustments he had to make. I just think he's a really smart guy who had a great feel for what he had to do."[14] In his junior year in 2000, he was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Conference USA, as he set school records by hitting three home runs in one game and 19 for the season; still, he went undrafted.[6][12][15][16] "He was kind of a square-shaped body, a guy [who] in a uniform didn’t look all that athletic," Cleary said. "He wasn't a tall, prospect-y looking guy. He looked chubby in a uniform.... It wasn't fat. He was strong. [but] I think the body did scare some people away."[13] During the period between his junior and senior years, he played in the Cape Cod League, finishing sixth in the league in batting average. In his senior year in 2001 he repeated as second-team All-American.[6] He set UC career records for home runs (56), walks (206), slugging percentage (.627), and on base percentage (.499) with a batting average of .366.[1][6] "He had a great eye ... he hardly ever struck out looking," said Brad Meador, UC's associate head coach. "When he did, you knew the ump missed the call."[12] Cleary, noting how driven Youkilis was to succeed, told his father: "Your son's going to be a millionaire some day. I don't know if it's in baseball, but he's going to make some money one of these days."[12] Youkilis was later inducted into UC's James Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame.[12] Yet, when asked what he liked about Youkilis, former Boston scout Matt Haas said: "At first glance, not a lot. He was unorthodox. He had an extreme crouch—his thighs were almost parallel to the ground. And he was heavier than he is now. But the more I watched him, the more I just thought, 'Throw the tools out the window. This guy can play baseball.'"[8] In 2001, at Haas's urging, the Boston Red Sox drafted Youkilis in the eighth round (243rd overall), to the chagrin of Billy Beane, who had hoped that he would be able to draft him in a later round.[8] ESPN reported that: "questions about his defense and power with wood kept him out of the top part of the draft."[17] He signed for a mere $12,000 signing bonus.[13] "Kevin would have played for a six-pack of beer," his father said.[7] "Teams didn’t appreciate performance as much then as they do now," observed Red Sox VP of Player Personnel Ben Cherington eight years later. "His college performance was off the charts. If he [were] in the draft this year, he'd be at least a sandwich pick, if not a first rounder. His performance was that good, in college and on the Cape. Now, teams appreciate what that means. There’s no way he’d last that long now."[13] Professional baseball careerMinor leagues (2001–04)In 2001, Youkilis made his professional debut as a third baseman with the Lowell Spinners, a Short-Season A Class franchise in the New York-Penn League. He went on to lead the league with a .512 OBP, 52 runs, and 70 walks (against just 28 strikeouts), while hitting for a .317 batting average (third in the league) in 59 games.[1][18][19] He also reached base safely by hit or walk in 46 consecutive games (the third-longest such streak in the minor leagues).[18] Peter Gammons wrote that August: "Remember this name: Kevin Youkilis, who resembles Steve Balboni."[20] Honored by the Spinners with a "Youkilis bobblehead night", Youkilis said: "It's an honor—you know you've made it when you get a bobblehead of yourself."[21] Promoted from Lowell towards the end of the season, he played five games with the Augusta GreenJackets of the South Atlantic League, a Low-A Class league. He was named Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year.[22] In 2002, Youkilis appeared in 15 games for Augusta, in 76 games for the Sarasota Sox (40 of them at first base),[23] and in 44 games for the Trenton Thunder.[24] He hit .310, with eight home runs and 80 RBIs for the year, and he was voted Trenton's "Player of the Year."[1] His .436 on-base percentage was the fifth-highest in the minors in 2002, and his 80 walks were seventh-most.[1][25] In recognition of his performance, the Boston Red Sox named Youkilis their 2002 Minor League Player of the Year.[26] After the 2002 season, Boston's then-assistant general manager, Theo Epstein, sent Youkilis to the Athletes' Performance Institute in Tempe, Arizona, where he engaged in an intensive six-week training regimen. Youkilis then moved his off-season home to Arizona, and attended the Institute in the 2004–08 off seasons as well.[8][13] In 2003, Youkilis started the season with the Portland Sea Dogs. In 94 games, he led the Eastern League with a .487 on base percentage (best all-time for the team through 2007), and was third in the league with a .327 batting average (second-best all-time for the team through 2007).[1][27] Later, he earned a spot on the Eastern League All Star team, the Baseball America AA All-Star team, and on the U.S. roster for the 2003 All-Star Futures Game.[19][28] After Portland, Youkilis moved up to play for the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Boston Red Sox Class-AAA franchise. During his time with Pawtucket, Youkilis managed to complete a streak he started while in Portland: he reached base in 71 consecutive games, tying future teammate Kevin Millar's minor-league record for consecutive games reaching base.[1][29] His 104 walks were the third-highest number recorded in the minors in 2003.[30] Asked, however, about the focus in baseball on five-tool players, Youkilis quipped, "I don't even know if I have a tool."[6] Writing for ESPN, John Sickels evaluated him as follows in mid-2003: Youkilis is an on-base machine. He never swings at a bad pitch, and is adept at working counts and out-thinking the pitcher. Unlike some guys who draw lots of walks, Youkilis seldom strikes out. He makes solid contact against both fastballs and breaking pitches. Youkilis' swing is tailored for the line drive, and he may never hit for much home run power. But he hits balls to the gaps effectively, and could develop 10–14 home run power down the road. Youkilis does not have very good speed, though he is a decent baserunner. His defense at third base draws mixed reviews. His arm, range, and hands all rate as adequate/average. He doesn't kill the defense at third base, but he doesn't help it much, either, and is likely to end up at first base down the road.[17] Youkilis spent the 2003–04 winter in Mexico, playing for Navojoa of the Mexican Pacific League.[31] In 2004, he appeared in 32 games for Pawtucket, hitting .258 with three home runs, and a .347 on base percentage, before being called up to the Red Sox on May 15.[32] In his minor league career through 2005, he batted .299 with a .442 OBP while playing 340 games at third base, 59 at first base, and 2 at second base. Major leagues (2004–present)2004"Sometimes this is more than a game. It's life, here in Boston."[33] —Youkilis, on the dedication of the Red Sox fansOn May 15, 2004, when Red Sox regular starting third baseman Bill Mueller was placed on the disabled list, Youkilis was called up for the first time. "I didn't sleep much," Youkilis said. "I got about four hours of sleep.... They told me the night before I was playing.... I got in there, and man, I was just amped up and excited."[12] During his first major-league game in Toronto, with his parents watching from the second row behind the dugout, Youkilis (in his second at bat) homered against 1996 Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen, becoming just the seventh player in team history to hit a home run in his first game.[1][12][34] As a prank, the team initially gave Youkilis the silent treatment when he returned to the dugout after his homer.[35] "This one will go down probably as the greatest day of my life," he said.[36] Later, Youkilis was swept up in the team's ritual annual hazing, in which he and other rookies were made to wear skimpy Hooters waitress outfits, orange satin shorts and tight, clingy white tank tops, for the team trip from Canada through US Customs in Florida.[37][38] "I walked into the locker room, and all my clothes were gone," Youkilis said. "There was just a Hooters outfit and shoes."[39] Youkilis was named AL Rookie of the Month for May, after leading AL rookies with nine walks and a .446 OBP as he batting .318 with 7 RBIs, and 15 runs in 13 games.[1][40] Noting ways that his life had suddenly changed, he said: "I'm staying in the best hotel I've ever stayed in, and my paycheck has quadrupled."[41] In mid-July he was sent back down to AAA, however, to make room for Ramiro Mendoza, though he was brought up again towards the end of the season.[42][43] On September 24 of that year, which was Yom Kippur, Youkilis appeared in the dugout in uniform, but declined to participate in the game out of deference to the religious holiday.[44] Youkilis was named the club's Rookie of the Year by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.[45] For the season, in 44 games, he saw an average of 4.67 pitches per plate appearance, first among major leaguers with at least 90 plate appearances. As Youkilis observed, "Fighting off pitches, fouling off pitches, laying off pitches, making it so the opposing pitcher can't breathe; that's my job."[46] He was on the roster for the Red Sox for the ALDS, making his sole appearance in Game 2 against the Angels. "It's been an unbelievable ride," Youkilis said. "It's a great first year, a year you probably can't top. Hopefully, it ends like a Cinderella story."[47] He was removed from the roster for the next round, the ALCS, and was on the roster but did not play in the World Series. 2005While virtually nobody else knew it, Youkilis broke his toe during spring training in 2005, and was back playing again in a matter of days. It was "in Vero Beach", Youkilis said. "I was trying to make the team."[48] On the Red Sox Opening Day roster for the first time in his career in 2005, Youkilis found himself on the way back down to Pawtucket on April 13 as the team needed to activate Curt Schilling, and Youkilis happened to still have minor league options; but told that he would be back, Youkilis decided to keep his Boston apartment and commute to Pawtucket.[49] Up and down all season as the Red Sox made use of his options, he got a call-up—prompted by Bill Mueller having back spasms in batting practice—one August day as he was in Pawtucket's clubhouse before a game. Without changing out of the same white pants that he wore for both Boston and Pawtucket home games, he packed his car, drove the 40 miles to Boston, walked into the Red Sox clubhouse, changed his jersey and cleats, and was ready to play.[50] He ultimately played 43 more games for Pawtucket in 2005 before being called up permanently. On September 18, he fractured the tip of the ring finger of his right hand fielding a ground ball, and did not play again until October 2, the final day of the regular season.[1] In 2005 with Boston, Youkilis hit .278 with a .400 on base percentage in 79 at bats in 44 games during five stints with the team. He saw an average of 4.68 pitches per plate appearance, the most of any Red Sox player with at least 50 at bats. He made 23 appearances at third base, 9 at first base, and 2 at second, and batted at least once from all nine spots in the batting order. 2006In 2006, his first full season in the majors, Youkilis became a regular first baseman (with 127 games at first). Until that time, he was primarily a third baseman, though he did play nine games at first base with the Red Sox in 2005, and 56 games at first base in his minor league career. Also in 2006 he played in the outfield for the first time in his professional career, 18 games in left field.[51] Despite his inexperience in the outfield, Youkilis did not commit an error while in the outfield; he did, however, commit eight errors while playing the infield. Youkilis tied for the major league lead in sacrifice flies (11) and led the AL with 4.43 pitches per plate appearance and by hitting line drives 24% of time that he put balls in play.[1][52] Also that year, Youkilis was 2nd in the American League (AL) in pitches seen (3,009) and percent of pitches taken (63.8), 4th in OBP with runners in scoring position with two outs (.524), 7th in bases on balls (91; the six players ahead of him averaged 41 home runs and 14 intentional walks, while Youkilis hit only 13 homers and was not intentionally walked once),[8] tied for 7th in "bases taken" (22; advanced on fly balls, passed balls, wild pitches, balks, etc.), 8th in doubles (42) and batting average with runners in scoring position with two out (.375), 9th in walk percentage (13.8%),[53] and 10th in times on base (259).[1][54] He scored 100 runs, hit for a .325 batting average with runners in scoring position, and hit four first inning leadoff home runs.[55] He did this despite struggling in the second half of the season with plantar fasciitis and a problematic abdominal muscle.[56] 2007Youkilis had a career-high 23-game hitting streak starting on May 5, 2007, and ending on June 2, 2007, in which he hit .426 (43–101) with 13 doubles, 6 HRs, 21 RBIs, and a .468 OBP.[57] At one point during the hitting streak, he had 9 straight games with at least two hits (tying a Red Sox record set by Jim Rice in 1978), and became the first Red Sox hitter since Trot Nixon to hit an inside-the-park home run.[58] During the hitting streak, on May 20, he hit what would be the shortest homer by a Sox player during the season—a 321-foot homer around the Pesky Pole. The home run would not have cleared the fence at any of the other 29 ballparks in baseball.[59] Although the hit streak ended on June 2, he did walk three times in an 11–6 win over the Yankees. His manager Terry Francona said, "He's taking more of what the pitchers give him, using the whole field. He's going to work the count about as good as any hitter in baseball. Last year if he got a two-strike breaking ball, he might swing and miss. This year he's fouling it off, or taking it to right field."[8] On June 1, Yankees pitcher Scott Proctor hit Youkilis in the head with a pitch; Proctor was ejected from the game.[60] On August 30, Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain threw a pair of 98 mph pitches over Youkilis's head; Chamberlain was ejected, and later also suspended two games for "inappropriate actions".[61] "That's the second time," Youkilis observed. "Scott Proctor hit me in the head. Coincidence? I don't know. It doesn't look good."[62] On June 25, 2007, Youkilis played in his 120th consecutive game at first base without an error, breaking the prior Red Sox record set in 1921 by Stuffy McInnis.[63] On September 7, he played in his 179th consecutive game at first base without an error, which broke the prior AL record set in 1973 by Mike Hegan.[64] On September 15, Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang struck Youkilis on his right wrist with a pitch, resulting in a deep tendon bruise that kept him out until September 25, when returned with the aid of a cortisone shot.[65] In 2007, Youkilis was 6th in the AL with 15 hit by pitch (HBP).[66] Youkilis's streak at the end of the regular season was 190 games; while he was charged with an error in the sixth inning of an October 16, 2007, playoff game against the Cleveland Indians, postseason games are not included in the record. Youkilis said, "I’m not worried about making the error. I’m worried about trying to help the team win and trying to get an out any way we can."[67] Leading the league with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, and an AL-record 1,079 error-less chances at first, Youkilis won the 2007 AL Gold Glove award for first basemen.[68] While he batted .288 for the season, with men on base he hit .340 with a .435 OBP. He was 6th in the league in pitches per plate appearance (4.27). In the first inning of Game 1 of the ALDS against the Angels he hit his first post-season home run. It was his first homer since returning from being hit by Wang, and Youkilis said his wrist "felt a lot better as the days have progressed. I think the best thing about it is that it's playoff time, and adrenaline helps the most."[69] In the 7-game ALCS against the Indians he hit three more home runs, had 14 hits (tying the LCS record jointly held by Hideki Matsui and Albert Pujols since 2004), and scored 10 runs (bettering Matsui's 2004 ALCS record) while batting .500 (another new ALCS record, bettering Bob Boone's .455 in 1986) with a .576 OBP and a .929 slugging percentage.[70] Still, in the World Series against Colorado, he did not start the team's away games. Francona faced a dilemma when playing without a DH in the NL park of having to bench either Youkilis, 120-RBI man Mike Lowell, or 117-RBI man David Ortiz, as he had to choose from among them which two would play first base and third base. Bob Ryan of The Boston Globe called it "the most difficult decision any American League manager has had to make in the 34-year history of the DH".[71] Youkilis said: "It doesn't bother me. I want to play, but I totally understand the situation. Look, I'm doing everything I've always wanted to do. I'm playing in a World Series. I'm playing every day. I'm happy. I just want to win.... If I have to take a seat, that's just the way it has to be."[72] Youkilis hit two doubles (both in Game 1) and had three walks in only 12 plate appearances in the 4-game win over Colorado, as he was not in the starting lineup for the away games. Dismissing questions as to whether he was upset about being benched for the last two games of the World Series, Youkilis said: "Move on and go to another team if you’re worried about your playing time, and think you deserve to play over somebody else."[73] Youkilis was selected the 2007 recipient of the Jackie Jensen Award for spirit and determination by the Boston BBWAA chapter.[1] Youkilis in Houston, June 20082008In 2007, Youkilis had earned $424,500, the fourth-lowest salary on the club.[74] In February 2008, he signed a one-year contract for $3 million, avoiding salary arbitration.[75] In March 2008, his role as the designated player representative of the Red Sox became known during the resolution of a player-management dispute regarding non-payment of coaches and staff for the Red Sox trip to Japan.[76] On April 2, 2008, on an unassisted game-ending play against the Oakland A's, Youkilis broke the Major League record for most consecutive error-less games by a first baseman, previously held by Steve Garvey, at 194 games.[77] In his 205th game without an error on April 27, Youkilis also established a new major league record for first basemen, when he fielded his 1,701st consecutive chance without an error, passing the old mark of 1,700 set by Stuffy McInnis from 1921 to 1922.[78] His streak, which started on July 4, 2006, was snapped at 238 games (2,002 fielding attempts) on June 7, 2008 against the Seattle Mariners.[79] He was named AL Player of the Week for May 5–11, after batting .375 while leading the AL with five home runs, and tying for the American League lead with 10 RBIs.[80] In an early June game at Fenway Park, one camera reportedly showed Manny Ramirez taking a swing at Youkilis, and the two had to be separated by teammates in the Red Sox dugout.[81] "I think they were just exchanging some views on things," manager Terry Francona said. "We had a lot of testosterone going tonight."[81] Asked about the incident the following year, Youkilis said: "We have two different approaches to the game. Winning and losing isn’t life and death to Manny."[7] He was the AL's starter at first base on the 2008 AL All Star team that played the 79th Major League Baseball All Star Game at Yankee Stadium, voted in by the fans with 2,858,130 votes in his first year on the ballot.[82][83] Youkilis became the sixth Red Sox first baseman to start an All Star Game at first base, following Jimmie Foxx (1938; 40), Walt Dropo (1950), Mickey Vernon (1956), George Scott (1966), and Mo Vaughn (1996).[84] In early July, Manny Ramirez was traded away by the Red Sox.[85] Youkilis took over the cleanup spot.[85] In 2008, Youkilis led the AL in at bats per RBI (4.7), was 3rd in slugging percentage (.569) and sacrifice flies (9), 4th in RBIs (115), extra base hits (76), and OPS (.958); 5th in hit by pitch (12); 6th in batting average (.312) and on-base percentage (.390); 7th in doubles (43) and in times advanced from first to third on a single (14); 8th in total bases (306), 10th in at-bats per home run (18.6), and 12th in home runs (29). He was also 2nd in extra base hit percentage (12.2% of all plate appearances) and tied for 7th in times advanced from first to third on a single (14).[86] Youkilis also batted .356 against relief pitchers, .358 with men on base, and .374 with runners in scoring position.[87] He drew seven intentional walks during the 2008 season, the first season he had garnered any, and also led the AL with a .353 batting average after the sixth inning.[88] Youkilis became just the third modern major leaguer (since 1901) ever to bat over .300 with more than 100 RBIs during a season in which he spent at least 30 games at both first and third base; St. Louis' Albert Pujols (2001) and Cleveland's Al Rosen (1954) are the only other players to accomplish the feat.[1] Youkilis finished third in the balloting for the 2008 AL MVP Award, receiving two first-place votes (one from Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News), while his teammate Dustin Pedroia won and Justin Morneau came in second.[89][90] Only Youkilis and Morneau were named on all ballots.[91] In the ALCS Game 5 vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, the Red Sox were down by seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Youkilis scored the winning run for the Red Sox to complete the second-largest comeback in MLB postseason history. Before Game 4 of the 2008 World Series, he was named the winner of the AL Hank Aaron Award for the best offensive performance of the 2008 season.[92] Youkilis (center), Josh Beckett (left), and Barack Obama before the start of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, July 20092009Youkilis signed a four-year, $41.25 million contract with the Red Sox on January 15, 2009. The deal also included a team option (at $14 million, with a $1.25 million buyout) for 2013.[93] Later that year, he was voted # 36 on the Sporting News list of the 50 greatest active baseball players, voted on by a panel that included members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.[94] Youkilis batted cleanup for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, tying for the lead among all WBC players in home runs (3) and runs (9), and tying for second on the team in RBIs (6) and walks (6), through the first two rounds.[95] He had to leave the team with a left ankle sprain, however, before the WBC semifinals.[96] Youkilis, 2009Youkilis hit a walk off home run against the Yankees on April 24, 2009. "He has skills, man," said David Ortiz. "I don't know how he do it. He just do it."[97] He was subsequently placed on the disabled list, but returned to play on May 20. "It's frustrating not being able to play," he said. "Watching baseball is not something I like to do."[98] Youkilis was picked to be a reserve on the AL 2009 All Star team by Tampa Bay and AL manager Joe Maddon, after coming in second in the fan vote to Mark Teixeira, 3,309,050 to 3,069,906.[99][100] On August 6, 2009, with the Red Sox suffering numerous injuries, Youkilis played left field for the first time since he played 18 games there in 2006.[101] On August 8, he again played left field, and made a couple of twists and turns on a fly ball hit by Johnny Damon before committing an error.[102] On August 11, 2009, after 6' 5" pitcher Rick Porcello of the Detroit Tigers hit him in the back with an 89 mph pitch, Youkilis immediately charged Porcello on the mound.[103] Youkilis threw his helmet at the fast back-pedaling Porcello, and tackled him as Porcello grabbed at Youkilis, both went down, and both benches cleared.[104][105][106][107] Both players were tossed from the game, and each received a five-game suspension.[108][109] Hearing that his friend and former minor league teammate Greg Montalbano had died of testicular cancer at the age of 31 late on August 21, Youkilis dedicated his next game to his friend's memory.[110] After inscribing "GM" in marker on his cap, he hit two home runs in the game against the Yankees, while driving in six runs. Both times as he crossed home plate, he looked up and pointed to the sky. "That was for him," Youkilis said. "There are some crazy things that have happened in my life. You ... feel like there’s somebody out there somewhere pushing balls out for you, and doing great things."[111] In 2009, Youkilis was 2nd in the AL in OBP (.413) and OPS (.961), 4th in hit by pitch (16), 5th in slugging percentage (.548), and batted .305 overall and .362 with runners in scoring position.[112][113] He also led the AL in pitches per plate appearance (4.42), was 6th in batting average on balls in play (.363), and 10th in walk percentage (13.6%).[114][115] “Statistically, if you consider 2008 and 2009, you could make the case there has been no better player in the league [in that time],’’ said Red Sox EVP Epstein.[7] Of the players with 1,000 plate appearances in the AL over the 2008–09 seasons, none had a higher OPS than Youkilis (.960).[116] In the field, while Youkilis split his time primarily between first base and third base and therefore did not qualify for the fielding percentage title at either, his .998 fielding percentage in 78 games at first matched that of the league leader Lyle Overbay, and his .974 fielding percentage in 63 games at third base was better than league-leader Melvin Mora's .971.[117] Youkilis finished sixth in balloting for the 2009 AL MVP Award, receiving two second-place votes.[118] He was selected as the Red Sox most valuable player (winner of the 2009 Thomas A. Yawkey Memorial Award) in voting by the Boston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.[119] 2010In 2010, Youkilis was again named to Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, ranking No. 38 on the list. A panel of 21 MLB executives was polled to arrive at the list.[120] On May 18, 2010, Youkilis hit his 100th career home run off C.C. Sabathia. On August 2, Youkilis' season was cut short by a right thumb abductor muscle tear, which he had played through for two weeks.[121] At the time of his injury, he was tied for 3rd in the major leagues in runs scored (77), and led all major leaguers with a .798 slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers. He was 3rd in the AL in on-base percentage (.411), tied for 5th in walks (58), tied for 7th in extra-base hits (50), 8th in slugging percentage (.564), and 9th in total bases (204).[122] He had surgery to repair the tear on August 6.[121][123] The injury limited him to only 102 games for the season, his fewest since his 2005 sophomore year. Slowed by his injury, he had only 362 at bats, but batted .307/.411/.564 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs.[124] For the years 2008–10, his .964 on-base/slugging percentage ranked second in the major leagues, behind Albert Pujols (1.074).[125] 2011In 2011, Youkilis was again named to Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, ranking No. 35 on the list. A panel of 21 MLB executives was polled to arrive at the list.[126] Youkilis was named to the 2011 AL All Star team, for the 82nd All Star Game.[127] At the All Star break, he was 3rd in the league in doubles (26), 4th in on base percentage (.399), 6th in RBIs (63), 7th in OPS (.911), and 9th in walks (49).[128] MoneyballMain article: Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game In 2003, author Michael Lewis's best-seller Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game was published. The book focuses on Oakland Athletics' General Manager Billy Beane's use of Sabermetrics as a tool in the evaluation of potential prospects. In the book, Lewis discusses then-prospect Youkilis in detail, and refers to him as "Euclis, the Greek God of Walks", a moniker that has stuck.[8] Youkilis is actually not of Greek extraction (see "Background and early career", above). Beane put more stock in empirical evidence than in scouts' hunches, and did not care that Youkilis was pudgy (or, as Lewis put it in the book, "a fat third baseman who couldn't run, throw, or field"), but just loved his ability to get on base (helped in no small part by his 20/11 vision).[8][129] The book brought minor leaguer Youkilis his first national recognition.[130][131] "I've seen Youkilis in the shower, and I wouldn't call him the Greek god of anything."[8][132] —Red Sox manager Terry Francona, referring to his nickname, the "Greek God of Walks"Lewis also revealed that Beane repeatedly tried to trade for Youkilis before Youkilis reached the major leagues. His attempts were blocked, however, by Beane admirer, and now Red Sox GM, Theo Epstein.[133] Asked by a reporter what he thought of the nickname, Youkilis quipped: "It's better than being 'the Greek God of Illegitimate Children.'"[134] But according to his dad, "Kevin disliked that Greek God of Walks stuff." Fans actually rooted for Youkilis to take pitches.[8] "It was frustrating to hear fans say, 'Get a walk!'" Youkilis said. "I'll take a walk—a walk's as good as a hit—but don't you want me to hit a home run or something?"[8] Religion and community serviceCareer highlights as a Jewish baseball player Youkilis watches a base hit through the left side of the Baltimore Orioles infieldOn August 8, 2005, while playing for the Red Sox, Youkilis took the field in the 9th inning along with Adam Stern and Gabe Kapler, setting a "record" for the most Jewish players on the field at one time in AL history, and the most in Major League Baseball history since four Jewish players took the field for the New York Giants in a game in 1941.[135] Youkilis was featured in the 2008 Hank Greenberg 75th Anniversary edition of Jewish Major Leaguers Baseball Cards, published in affiliation with Fleer Trading Cards and the American Jewish Historical Society, commemorating the Jewish Major Leaguers from 1871 through 2008.[136] He joined, among other Jewish major leaguers, Ryan Braun, Brad Ausmus, Ian Kinsler, Brian Horwitz, Gabe Kapler, Jason Marquis, Jason Hirsh, John Grabow, Craig Breslow, and Scott Schoeneweis. He was one of three Jewish players in the 2008 All-Star Game, joining Braun and Kinsler, and one of three Jewish players on the Team USA 2009 World Baseball Classic team, joining Braun and Grabow.[137][138] Kinsler says that "Youkilis always says something to me on the bases. 'Happy Passover,' he'll throw something at me."[139] Youkilis was named the Jewish MVP for 2008, beating out fellow All-Stars Braun and Kinsler.[140] He was voted the top Jewish baseball player of the decade 2000–09 in online balloting, beating out Shawn Green and Braun.[141] Through the 2010 season, his .294 batting average placed him 6th on the career all-time list (directly behind Phil Weintraub) for batting average by Jewish major leaguers, his 112 home runs placed him 8th (behind Braun), and his 470 RBIs placed him 9th (behind Ausmus).[142] In Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story, a 2010 documentary film narrated by Dustin Hoffman, Youkilis noted: It’s something that I probably won’t realize until my career is over, how many people are really rooting for me and cheering for me. And it’s not just because I went 3-for-4, or had a great game. It’s just the fact that I represent a lot of Jewish people and a lot of the Jewish heritage, and the struggles that a lot of our people have had.[143] PhilanthropyKevin Youkilis Hits For Kids is a charitable organization established by Youkilis in 2007. Youkilis's foundation focuses on raising support and awareness for the health, advocacy, safety, and medical healing of children across Massachusetts, in his hometown of Cincinnati, and beyond. Rallying the support of volunteers, local business, and the heart of Red Sox Nation, Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids teams with existing, community-based children's charities and medical research efforts that lack sufficient funding and awareness. One organization that Hits for Kids works with is the Joslin Diabetes Center's Pediatric Health Services.[144] He has a special sensitivity about youth suicide, since his college roommate, a close and supportive friend of his since high school, committed suicide on Thanksgiving during his sophomore year. To this day, he said, "I sit back at night and wonder what I could’ve done."[145] "In my religion, the Jewish religion, that's one of the biggest things that's taught, is giving a mitzvah, forming a mitzvah", said Youkilis. "I was always taught as a kid giving to charity. You're supposed to give a good amount of charity each and every year.... It's just a great thing when you can make a kid smile that's going through some hard times in life ... I wish more people, not just athletes, would give people just a little bit of their time. It doesn't take much ... It can make a huge difference."[146] After the first game of the ALDS, Youkilis re-shaved his head for good luck in a sign of solidarity with cancer patient Mitt Campbell. Following the team's 2007 World Series victory, Youkilis shaved his goatee for a $5,000 donation by Gillette to his foundation.[147] All profits from his charity wine "SauvignYoouuk Blanc", released in 2008, support Hits for Kids.[148] FamilyIn November 2008, Youkilis married Enza Sambataro in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The ceremony was attended by Red Sox teammates Mike Lowell, David Ortiz, and Dustin Pedroia. Sambataro, a Newton, Massachusetts native, is the CEO of Youkilis's charity Hits for Kids.[149][150] In popular cultureYoukilis made an appearance in season 1 episode 8 of the Travel Channel show Man v. Food. The episode was filmed in Boston's Eagle's Deli and featured Youkilis rooting against host (and New York Yankees fan) Adam Richman in an eating challenge. In 2011 he appeared in the music video for the Dropkick Murphys song Going Out in Style.[151]

Awards and distinctions2004 Golden Spikes Award Finalist 2004 First-Team Baseball America and USA Today All-American 2003 Pac-10 Co-Player of the Year 2003 NCAA Defensive Player of the Year Red Sox ML Base Runner of the Month (April 2005) Red Sox Minor League "Quality Plate Appearances" Award (June 2005) 2005 Post-Season Eastern League All-Star 2005 Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year 2005 Minor League News MLN FAB50 Baseball 2005 – No. 45 2006 Minor League News MLN FAB50 Baseball 2006 – No. 23 2007 American League Rookie of the Month-May 2007 American League Player of the Week (May 28 – June 3) 2007 Players Choice American League Outstanding Rookie 2007 World Series Champion (Boston Red Sox) 2007 American League Rookie of the Year 2008 All-Star Starter 2008 AL Gold Glove Winner 2008 AL Silver Slugger award 2008 American League Most Valuable Player Award 2009 AL All-Star Starter 2010 AL All-Star Reserve

Dustin Luis Pedroia (born August 17, 1983, in Woodland, California) is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Pedroia has won several awards in Major League Baseball, including the 2007 American League Rookie of the Year and the 2008 AL MVP award. He also won a Silver Slugger as a second baseman and a Gold Glove in 2008. He finished second overall in the AL in batting average in 2008. Pedroia is listed by Major League Baseball and the Red Sox as 5' 9" (175 cm) and 180 pounds. In 2003 a USA Today article gave his height as 5' 7" (170 cm),[1] and when he was in college the NCAA and Arizona State University gave his height as 5' 8".[2] Early baseball career[edit] High school and collegePedroia attended Woodland Senior High School in Woodland, California. Pedroia batted .445 his senior year and was chosen as his league's most valuable player. Pedroia attended Arizona State University, where he was teammates with current Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler and current Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier. Kinsler and Pedroia battled for the shortstop position; ultimately, Pedroia stayed at shortstop, while Kinsler ended up at second base before transferring to the University of Missouri. In three years at ASU, Pedroia never hit below .347, and had a career average of .384, starting all 185 games. Furthermore, to help ASU recruit better pitchers, Pedroia relinquished the last two years of his athletic scholarship.[3] He was named ASU On Deck Circle Most Valuable Player; other winners have included Ike Davis, Willie Bloomquist, Paul Lo Duca, and Barry Bonds.[4] [edit] Minor leaguesPedroia was drafted by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft, with the 65th pick overall. Pedroia, the eighth shortstop drafted, received a $575,000 signing bonus.[3] In two years in the minors (2004–06), Pedroia batted .308 while playing second base and shortstop. [edit] Major leagues[edit] 2007 seasonPedroia became the regular second baseman for the Red Sox in 2007 replacing Mark Loretta. His defense in 2007 was solid, with six errors and a fielding percentage of .990. Early in the season, though, his batting average was as low as .172 (on May 1); that average, combined with the hitting of teammate Alex Cora, hitting .316 through the end of May, left Pedroia in a platoon role. Pedroia's batting improved quickly, however: by June 18, his average was .322, aided by a 13-game hitting streak, and a five-hit game against the San Francisco Giants on June 15, 2007. Because of that production, he was named American League Player of the Week for May 28 – June 3, 2007, and AL Rookie of the Month for May 2007.[5] His most notable play of the season, though, may have been a diving stop in the seventh inning of fellow rookie Clay Buchholz's September 1, 2007 no-hitter.[6] Pedroia won the AL Rookie of the Year award,[7] and was selected to the 2007 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.[8] [edit] 2007 American League PlayoffsPedroia entered the 2007 American League Division Series batting .317 with 8 home runs and 50 RBI in 139 regular season games with the Red Sox. In the ALDS, Pedroia struggled, getting only 2 hits in 3 games against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Though Pedroia struggled in the lead-off spot for the Red Sox, Boston cruised past the Angels 3 games to 0 to advance to the American League Championship Series, where they met the Cleveland Indians. In the ALCS, Pedroia heated up, batting .395. In the 7th game, Pedroia hit a 2-run homer into the Green Monster seats in the 7th inning and had 5 RBI. He then hit a 3-run double in the bottom of the 8th to help the Red Sox secure the series and a spot in the World Series. In the World Series against the Colorado Rockies, Pedroia was one of two rookies (with center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury) starting for the Red Sox. These two rookies jump-started the Red Sox offense. In the Series' first at-bat, Pedroia hit the first pitch from Rockies ace Jeff Francis over the Green Monster, making him only the second player (after Baltimore's Don Buford in 1969), and the first rookie, to lead off the Series with a home run. In Game 3, with the Red Sox up 2-0, Ellsbury and Pedroia combined for 7 hits, 3 runs, and 4 RBI in a 10-5 Boston win. The Red Sox won Game 4 and swept the series for their seventh World Series title. Pedroia hit .278 with 5 hits, 1 home run and 4 RBI in the Series. [edit] 2008: An MVP season Pedroia ended the season with a .326 average with 17 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. He was tied for the MLB lead in hits with 213 and led the league in doubles (54), while leading the AL in runs scored (118), making him the first player to lead all three of those categories in the same season since Cal Ripken in 1983. Pedroia came in second in the AL in batting average (.326) behind Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer (.328), fourth in the AL in total bases (322), and seventh in the AL in extra-base hits (73). His 20 stolen bases in 21 attempts helped Pedroia lead MLB in stolen base percentage (.952). With only 6 errors following the season, Pedroia won the 2008 AL MVP (the first by an American League second baseman since Nellie Fox in 1959)[9] as well as the AL Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award for second base. He is the 10th player in the history of the Red Sox to capture the AL MVP and the 8th player in AL history to win the MVP, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger awards in the same season. Pedroia became only the third player in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in consecutive seasons joining Cal Ripken Jr. and Ryan Howard. Fred Lynn (1975) and Ichiro Suzuki (2001) are the only players to win both awards in the same season. [edit] 2008 playoffsPedroia was hitless through the first three games of the 2008 ALDS. His sole hit was an RBI double that drove in Jason Varitek in the 5th inning of game 4. He batted 2nd in all 4 games in the series, behind Jacoby Ellsbury. Pedroia made one of the best defensive plays of the series with a diving throw to first base to retire Vladimir Guerrero in the third inning of game 4. The Red Sox went on to win in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 4 again knocking the Angels out of the playoffs. The Angels contained Pedroia in the Division Series, but in the ALCS against the Tampa Bay Rays, Pedroia was red hot. In 26 trips to the plate in the LCS, Pedroia collected 9 hits including three home runs and a double. However, his impressive line that included a .346 batting average and .731 slugging percentage wasn't enough to propel the Red Sox into the World Series as the rest of the team struggled to a .234 batting average against the impressive Tampa pitching staff. [edit] 2009 season Pedroia bats in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles.On December 3, 2008, Pedroia signed a six-year contract extension worth $40.5 million, in addition to a team option for 2015 worth $11 million.[10] Pedroia announced on December 15, 2008 that he would play for the United States team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He also recorded the first Major League hit in Citi Field history when he hit a bloop double down the right field line in an April 3 exhibition game against the New York Mets. He hit a home run in his first at bat of the 2009 season. Pedroia was selected to the 2009 All Star Game on July 5. Pedroia was selected to be the starting second baseman for the 2009 AL All Star Team. The weekend prior to the game, however, he withdrew from the team. Pedroia stated that he wanted to stay with his wife, Kelli, who was experiencing pregnancy complications with the couple's first child. The same issue had caused him to miss a regular season game prior to the All Star break. Pedroia achieved his first multi-home run game on September 9, 2009, against the Baltimore Orioles. For the second consecutive year, Pedroia led the American League in Runs Scored with 115 (2nd in MLB behind Albert Pujols who had 124 runs scored). He finished third in the AL / MLB with 48 doubles. [edit] 2010 seasonAfter MLB umpire Joe West made controversial statements regarding the speed of play between the Red Sox and Yankees, Pedroia responded by saying, "What he doesn't understand is that when we don't do well in these games against the Yankees, we get killed. If he doesn't want to do Red Sox and Yankee games, he should tell the umpires' union. Then when we're in the World Series, he'll be out of that assignment, too."[11] On June 24, 2010, Pedroia went 5 for 5, with 5 RBI, and hit three home runs in a game against the Colorado Rockies that the Red Sox won, 13–11, in the tenth inning.[12] The next day, Pedroia fouled a ball off his foot in an at-bat versus the San Francisco Giants. MRI results the next day confirmed that he had a broken bone in his foot, and later was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List. Pedroia was so concerned about his fielding skills getting rusty (he was on doctors' orders not to put weight on his foot for two weeks) that he practiced fielding ground balls on his knees.[13] On July 4, 2010, Pedroia was named to be a reserve player on the American League All Star team, but did not participate due to this injury, and had former Arizona State teammate Ian Kinsler replace him on the roster. Pedroia returned to the lineup on August 17 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, only to be put back on the DL after playing 2 games. [edit] 2011 seasonOn June 29, 2011, Pedroia started a 25 game hitting streak, the most for a Boston Red Sox second baseman.[14] On August 16, 2011, Pedroia was involved in throwing a triple play, started by Jed Lowrie. [edit] ControversiesIn an interview given to Boston, Pedroia criticized his home town of Woodland, California, calling it a "dump" and a city which never embraced him.[15] This generated backlash from his hometown and his family received death threats.[16] Pedroia later clarified his comments saying he was only joking and his comments were taken out of context. Personal lifePedroia is of Portuguese and Swiss (Maggia) heritage. Pedroia is the nephew of Detroit Lions linebacker coach Phil Snow.[3] On January 9, 2009, Pedroia was named as the cover athlete of the baseball video game MLB 09: The Show, and appeared in several commercials for the game. On August 18, 2009 Dustin's wife Kelli gave birth to the couple's first child, a boy.[18] Dustin Pedroia is a fan of the NBA team, the Sacramento Kings, and NFL team, the San Francisco 49ers.

back to work

tired of games

bullshit politics

the same

agreeing with that D