Boston, MA – “Tonight is the first step to building a team that will put 1918 to rest,” the new Boston Red Sox President and General Manager Andrew Habermehl told the crowd of reporters at Fenway Park late last night. “It is also the last time you will hear reference to 1918 or any other season beside the current one. We are going to create a tradition of excellence here and that begins with a winning attitude.”
That winning tradition that Habermehl hopes to create here in Boston is going to be dependant on the roster that he crafts over the inaugural Retro Baseball League draft. The roster began to take shape last night when Habermehl and the Red Sox drafted their first five players. Going with starting pitchers in the first, third and fifth rounds the Red Sox walked away from the draft with young guns Curt Schilling, Scott Sanders and Al Leiter.
Schilling and Sanders look to anchor the rotation with the top two slots for quite a few seasons. Almost carbon copies of each other, both stand at 6’3 and 215lbs, they are ranked the 4th and 5th best pitchers in the RBL by SiON. Adding the crafty lefty Al Lieter and the Red Sox look to have a strong three fifths of the rotation.
First Round Draft Choice Curt Schilling
One thing the Red Sox did not walk away from the draft with was a power bat, which seemed to be something the other teams in the league snatched up in abundance. Instead, with the two picks the Red Sox made on the offensive they picked up a second basemen and third basemen light on power but heavy on contact talents. Both Jeff Cirilo and Bill Mueller look to be good table setters for whatever sluggers the Red Sox are able to nab in the next few rounds.
Regardless of the moves they make, it looks to be an interesting 1996 season as former Major League Baseball players are scattered throughout the new RBL.