So for those of you who didn’t know, the Sox played yesterday afternoon. Yeah, I found out at about 5 o’clock when my XM lost signal and I was flipping around the dial. I heard the Sox wrapping up. Well as they were wrapping up they said that Jonathan Papelbon passed Bob Stanley for first place on the all time Red Sox save list. That got me thinking as to who was the best closer ever on the Sox.
My earliest memory of the closer wasn’t Stanley but a little later. Lee Smith who closed for them in ’88 and ’90 both years they lost in the ALCS to the Oakland A’s. But in 1990 he wasn’t the closer. Nope, he was traded away to St Louis because the Sox had brought in Jeff Reardon. Reardon was the closer on the 1987 Twins team that won the World Series. He edged out Smith for the closer job after being signed as a free agent in December 1989. So although these guys were two of the best in the 1980′s, neither proved to be incredible closers for the Sox. Who did the Sox get when they traded Smith to St Louis? That’s right, Tom Brunansky.
So that was the late 80′s and early 90′s after Bob Stanely. The mid 90′s had a slew of closers including Jeff Russell, Ken Ryan (he sucked!), former Twin Rick Aguilera (traded for Frankie Rodriguez and not the one you think), Heathcliff Slocumb (who netted Varitek and Lowe) and Tom Gordon.
Derek Lowe who was setting up Tom Gordon took over after sharing duties with Tim Wakefield one season. Then Ugueth Urbina took a stab (HA!), Byung-Hyun Kim in 2003 before Scott Williamson took the reigns in the playoffs. That was the stupid bullpen by committee crap. The Foulke won the World Series before Papelbon became the man.
So that was Stanley to Papelbon and I’m sure I skipped a few guys in the mix. But I’m going with The Monster Dick Raditz as the best ever. He had 104 saves for the Sox but that was before your closer was really a position. The Monster would pitch three and four innings for his saves. None of this one inning crap.
So I ask. Who’s the greatest Sox closer in your opinion? There’s this giant comments section below for you to sound off. Let’s hear it.
May the Monster rest in peace!(Raditz assholeheads!)
How do you not remember the steamer? 86 world series, shit, the whole season in 86! You’re older than me, and always will be…
Pop quiz…
What place on the list of all time leaders in saves, is Lee Smith? No lookin it up!
(jeopardy music)…..
My all time Sox closer… hmmmmm… I think just because I was a littlin, I go with Stanley. But clearly Pap is the man now, and hopefully for a while.
What was this shit about him wanting to close for the Yanks? Did you hear about that?