“I’m a guy who doesn’t care about numbers and stats. All I care about is W’s and L’s.” — Dustin Pedroia
Dustin Pedroia was only 5’9 and he never looked like he could bench press more than 80 pounds. But he was a ballplayer. Other than possibly Fred Lynn, no Red Sox player had a greater first act. He was Rookie of the Year in 2007, and hit two home runs in the postseason as Boston won the World Series. He added to his legend the following year when he had 213 hits, 54 doubles, 17 home runs, stole 20 bases, batted .326, and won the Gold Glove Award. He was named AL Most Valuable Player, and in the League Championship Series, Pedroia did everything he could to beat the Rays, hitting three home runs.
At his peak, Pedroia was better than Ian Kinsler and Robinson Canó, his contemporaries. But Pedroia only put on “The Laser Show” for about seven years before he fell apart. A champion twice as a regular, and once as walking wounded, his place in Red Sox history is secure, but a Hall of Fame nod is unlikely with only 1,805 hits and 1,512 games on his ledger. But for a while, the little man at second defied his size and lifted himself to superstar status.
“People always ask me if I wish I were bigger. I tell them no. I always wanted to be a miniature badass,” Pedroia said.
Boston Red Sox All-Time Team
C: Carlton Fisk
1B: Carl Yastrzemski
2B: Bobby Doerr or Dustin Pedroia
SS: Nomar Garciaparra
3B: Wade Boggs
LF: Ted Williams
CF: Tris Speaker
RF: Dwight Evans
DH: David Ortiz
SP: Cy Young
SP: Pedro Martínez
SP: Roger Clemens
SP: Luis Tiant
SP: Lefty Grove
RP: Jonathan Papelbon
RP: Tom Burgmeier
RP: Dick Radatz
RP: Ellis Kinder
MGR: Tito Francona
