List Of Boston Red Sox Captains
The Boston Red Sox, a professional baseball franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), has given the title of captain to select players since the team's inaugural season as a member of the American League in 1901 (the team was known as the Boston Americans through the 1907 season). For various seasons during the team's history, the position has been vacant; while in early baseball a captain was responsible for many of the functions now assumed by managers and coaches, the title is purely honorary in modern professional baseball. Since the end of World War II, only three players have served as captain of the Red Sox. The most recent was catcher Jason Varitek, who was captain during the 2005–2011 seasons, and wore a distinctive "C" on the left side of his jersey, similar to captains in the National Hockey League.
Jimmy Collins was the franchise's first captain, when the team was known as the Boston Americans. 
Dick Hoblitzell was captain in 1918. 
Jimmie Foxx was captain for three seasons during World War II. 
Carl Yastrzemski served the longest tenure as Red Sox captain, 1966 and 1969–1983. 
Jim Rice was captain during 1985–1989.
Captains
The history of Red Sox captains was researched by baseball historian Howard W. Rosenberg in 2004. The Red Sox front office contacted Rosenberg in advance of Jason Varitek being named captain, after learning that Rosenberg, author of a 2003 book featuring captains in 19th-century baseball, had disputed the official count of captains in New York Yankees franchise history.
| ‡ | Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame |
| Player | Position | Years active | Years as captain | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Americans (through 1907) | ||||
| Jimmy Collins ‡ | 3B | 1895–1908 | 1901–1905 |
|
| Chick Stahl | OF | 1897–1906 | 1906 |
|
| Bob Unglaub | 1B | 1904–1910 | 1907 |
|
| Boston Red Sox (1908 to present) | ||||
| Deacon McGuire | C | 1884–1912 | 1908 |
|
| Doc Gessler | RF | 1903–1911 | 1909 |
|
| Harry Lord | 3B | 1903–1911 | 1910 |
|
| Heinie Wagner | SS | 1902–1918 | 1911 |
|
| Jake Stahl | 1B | 1903–1912 | 1912 |
|
| Heinie Wagner | SS | 1902–1918 | 1913–1914 |
|
| Jack Barry | 2B | 1908–1919 | 1915–1917 |
|
| Dick Hoblitzell | 1B | 1908–1918 | 1918 |
|
| Harry Hooper ‡ | OF | 1908–1925 | 1919–1920 |
|
| Everett Scott | SS | 1914–1926 | 1921 |
|
| Del Pratt | 2B | 1914–1926 | 1922 |
|
| George Burns | 1B | 1914–1929 | 1923 |
|
| Mike Menosky | LF | 1914–1923 | 1923 |
|
|
No captain 1924–1939 | ||||
| Jimmie Foxx ‡ | 1B | 1925–1945 | 1940–1942 |
|
|
No captain 1943–1965 | ||||
| Carl Yastrzemski ‡ | OF | 1961–1983 | 1966 |
|
|
No captain 1967–1968 | ||||
| Carl Yastrzemski ‡ | OF | 1961–1983 | 1969–1983 |
|
|
No captain 1984 | ||||
| Jim Rice ‡ | OF | 1974–1989 | 1985–1989 |
|
|
No captain 1990–2004 | ||||
| Jason Varitek | C | 1997–2011 | 2005–2011 |
|
|
No captain 2012–present | ||||
Notes
References
- ^ Dickson, Paul (1999). The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary. Mariner Books. p. 101. ISBN 0-15-600580-8.
- ^ Hoch, Bryan. "Trio of captains treasure role". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ Mallozzi, Vincent (25 March 2007). "Author Says Yankees Are Missing Something". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
- ^ Heuschkel, David. "It's Now Captain Varitek". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 2014-10-24. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
- ^ Abrams, Rodger (February 15, 2007). "Jimmy Collins: Pride of the Irish". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ "The Boston Pilgrims". Celebrate Boston. Archived from the original on 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ Glen Stout; Richard Johnson (2000). Red Sox Century: The Definitive History of Baseball's Most Storied Franchise. Houghton Mifflin Books. ISBN 0-618-42319-2.
- ^ Flietz, David (2008). Shoeless: The Life and Times of Joe Jackson. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-3312-4.
- ^ "Gessler to be Captain of Red Sox". The New York Times. January 19, 1909. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ Lieb, Frederick G. and McNally, John The Boston Red Sox. Southern Illinois University Press. 2003. ISBN 0-8093-2493-8.
- ^ Richardson, Bob (March 23, 2008). "Visionary views: Several innovators get credit for the evolution of managing". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ "Jack Barry Laid Up". The New York Times. September 26, 1915. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ Wood, Allan (2000). Babe Ruth and the 1918 Red Sox. iUniverse. ISBN 0-595-14826-3.
- ^ David S. Neft; Michael L. Neft; Bob Carroll; Richard M. Cohen (2005). The Boston Red Sox Fan Book. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0312348496.
- ^ Daniel, W. Harrison (2004). Jimmie Foxx: The Life and Times of a Baseball Hall of Famer. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-1867-2.
- ^ McBroom, Kathleen (1981). The Lincoln Library of Sports Champions. Frontier Press Co. ISBN 0-912168-07-2.
- ^ Edes, Gordon (December 24, 2004). "Sox re-sign Varitek, name him captain". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
