The 10 Best Player Nicknames in Boston Red Sox History
Aside from the meltdown by hardest-throwing-pitcher-ever Aroldis Chapman, what stood out for me about the Red Sox-Yankees battle on Friday, July 14, was the walk-off walk to Andrew Benintendi. The last time the Sox won a game with a walk was back in 2000, when outfielder Trot Nixon drew a free pass to beat the Orioles.
I thought, “Trot. That must be the most perfect baseball player nickname of all time.” And that made me think about Red Sox player names—nicknames, to be exact, because there have been some great ones.
First, a little history. Boston and the Sox mean a lot to me because, as I wrote in The Best Year Ever, I lived in Boston for three years, and when I returned for the ten-year anniversary of my graduation from Harvard Law School, part of that amazing experience involved catching a Sox-Yankees game from seats on top of the Green Monster. So it seems like a good way to give them (and Trot Nixon) a little love by remembering the ten best-ever Red Sox player nicknames.
Before I get into the list, a quick honorable mention has to go to Nomar Garciaparra. Has there ever been a more perfect name for Boston fans to say? It comes out, “Nomah Gahciapahhra.” Classic. Plus, he was a terrific player and a great dude. Now to my list.
10. Jimmie “The Beast” Foxx—One of the great sluggers of all time, Foxx made his name with the Philadelphia Athletics but came to the Sox later in his career. He was known as “The Beast” because of his huge biceps and a savage swing that once produced 58 homers in a season back when that meant something.
9. Rick “Rooster” Burleson—Rooster was the intense, beloved shortstop during the 1970s, when the Sox got their hopes crushed again and again by the Yankees and scrubs like Bucky Dent.
8. Rich “El Guapo” Garces—Rich Garces was not muy guapo, which means “handsome” in Spanish. He was more gordo—fat. A solid reliever in the late ‘90s, he was better known for his girth and for the nickname he shared with the villain from The Three Amigos.
7. Bill “Spaceman” Lee—Was there ever a better Red Sox character than the Marx-quoting, soft-tossing lefty, who once said, “You take a team with twenty-five assholes and I’ll show you a pennant. I’ll show you the New York Yankees”? I don’t think so.
6. Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd—A cagey right hander from Mississippi who won a lot of games for the Sox in the late ‘80s.
5. Pablo “Kung Fu Panda” Sandoval—Okay, he’s been a free agent bust who was just designated for assignment, in part because he couldn’t stop trying to be the next “El Guapo.” But the Panda had a flair for the dramatic and a great nickname.
4. Carlton “Pudge” Fisk—We can’t forget about the best and most-loved catcher in Sox history, the architect of the famous “wave it fair” homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.
3. Shane “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” Victorino—Victorino was near the end when he joined the Sox for the 2013 championship season. But that nickname? Dude.
2. Ted “The Splendid Splinter” Williams—Teddy Ballgame was only the greatest hitter ever to play the sport. He had a lot of nicknames, but this was the best.
1. David “Big Papi” Ortiz—Who else? Maybe no player in the history of Red Sox Nation—not even Yaz—has been as beloved as the hulking DH who hit dramatic clutch homer after dramatic clutch homer. Here’s to you, Papi.
