Red Sox Nation loses its Captain...Varitek packs it in

MCMLVTopps

After 15 seasons, Tek says "no mas". The steady decline of his numbers and the Red Sox signing of Shoppach and Saltalamacchia kinda sealed the deal...even though Tek was offered to come to camp and try to win the catcher's position. Clearly an anchor to the team over the years, especially the '04 and '07 WS wins, time just has a way of slowing things down.

Perhaps another special Fenway Day for Varitek, along with Wakefield.

And so it goes.

digicat

Does Fenway have any sort of "Wall of Fame" type thing for stand-out former Red Sox?

MCMLVTopps

Yes...

On the right field facade are the following retired numbers of "stand out" Red Sox players:

#1 Bobby Doerr
#4 Joe Cronin
#6 Johnny Pesky
#8 Carl Yastrzemski
#9 Ted Williams
#14 Jim Rice
#27 Carlton Fisk
#42 Jackie Robinson

There is also a Red Sox Hall of Fame, which has a ton of former players "enshrined".

perkdog

Like Wakefield We lose another Favorite Sox player

Thank You V-Tek for your faithful service.

MCMLVTopps

So, now that Tek is gone, any thoughts on who becomes the new captain and does he get to wear the C on the uniform? Why don't other teams do that with their captains?

Youkilis or Pedroia seem to be the only potential nominees.

Barndog

<< <i>So, now that Tek is gone, any thoughts on who becomes the new captain and does he get to wear the C on the uniform? Why don't other teams do that with their captains?

Youkilis or Pedroia seem to be the only potential nominees. >>



no need to have a captain. In fact, despite the letter on his chest, it was obvious that Varitek withdrew from his captaincy during 2011.

If anyone gets it, and Valentine is not a big believer in the concept, it will be Pedroia. No way Youkilis will get it, since he will not be with the Sox for too many more years, IMO

Garabaldi

Captains in baseball seem weird to me. Tek was a great player for the Sox and a rock behind the plate for so many years.