A Red Sox Dynasty: 1995-????

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Will "The Thrill" Clark, 1B
San Francisco Giants (1986-1993), Texas Rangers (1994-2002), Florida Marlins (2003-2004), St. Louis Cardinals (2005)



Will Clark played 20 seasons in the big leagues, putting together a .299 average with 3,146 hits and 426 home runs over 2,910 games. "The Thrill" was an eight-time All Star and won the Gold Glove six times over his career. He retired following the 2005 season at the age of 41.



Clark hit 25+ home runs seven times during his career, hitting a career-high 37 homers in 2002, his final year with the Rangers. He also topped the 100 RBI mark six times, driving in a career-high 121 runs in 1999 with Texas.

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Brian Giles, OF
Cleveland Indians (1996-2007), Houston Astros (2007-2008)




Brian Giles played just 13 seasons in the big leagues, but amassed 2,050 hits with 306 homers and a .301 lifetime batting average. He hit for the cycle on April 24, 1996 - his rookie season - against the New York Yankees and won the AL Rookie of the Year that season. He would hit for the cycle again on April 6, 2002 against the Tigers. A four-time All Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, he won the World Series with Cleveland
Giles retired at age 37 following a disappointing 2008 season in which he hit .221 with four home runs in 141 games.

[Moriarty9]

Mark Grace, 1B
Chicago Cubs (1988-2001), Kansas City Royals (2002)



Mark Grace spent all but the final season of his 15-year career with the Chicago Cubs, becoming a legend in Wrigleyville. Grace hit .307 with 2,359 hits, 163 home runs, 1,003 RBI and scored 1,164 times in 2,130 games. He won three Gold Gloves at first base (1992, 1993, 1995) and was selected to the NL All Star team six times.

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Tony Gwynn, OF
San Diego Padres (1982-1999), Kansas City Royals (2000-2001), Chicago Cubs (2002-2004)



During his 23-year big league career, Tony Gwynn was one of the game's elite hitters and a strong outfielder. He was named an All Star 13 times and won five Gold Glove awards.



Gwynn hit .331 with 3,121 hits, 141 home runs, 1,149 RBI, and scored 1,401 runs. He hit .300 or better 18 straight seasons (1983-2000) and had a 22-game hitting streak in 1995 with San Diego.

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Don Mattingly, 1B
New York Yankees (1982-1994), Montreal Expos (1995)



"Donnie Baseball" spent 14 seasons in the big leagues, 13 of which were in the bright lights of Yankee Stadium in New York, before a fractured knee forced him into retirement at age 34. In 1,764 games, Mattingly hit .309 with 2,134 hits, 221 home runs and 3,269 RBI. He won the MVP in 1985, made the All Star team six times and was honored with nine Gold Glove awards over his career.



Mattingly had been traded to the Expos by the Yankees for closer Jeff Shaw during Spring Training in 1995 and battled a couple of minor injuries (strained thigh muscle, back spasms, bruised wrist) before the knee injury on September 25 ended his career.
Mattingly was hitting .307 with six homers, 33 RBI and 53 runs in 107 games at the time of the injury.

[Moriarty9]

Mark "Big Mac" McGwire, 1B
Oakland Athletics (1986-2000), Minnesota Twins (2001)



Mark McGwire's 16-year career began on a high note as he hit .289 with 49 home runs and 118 RBI in 151 games during his first full season, winning the 1987 Rookie of the Year award. He never looked back and crushed his way into the Hall of Fame by hitting .253 with 559 home runs, driving in 1,453 runs and scoring 1,333 runs in 2,061 games.



McGwire won the 1996 AL MVP with Oakland, hitting .302 with 53 home runs, 111 RBI and 127 runs in 159 games. He won a Gold Glove at first base in 1990 and was a nine-time All Star.

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Paul Molitor, 1B
Milwaukee Brewers (1978-1992), Toronto Blue Jays (1993-1994), St. Louis Cardinals (1995)



Paul Molitor played 18 seasons in the big leagues, 15 of which were with the Milwaukee Brewers. A seven-time All Star, he hit .308 with 96 triples, 201 home runs, 1,015 RBI, 1,526 runs and 2,748 hits in his career.



Molitor hit .300 or better 11 times in his career, including the final five years of his career and eight of his last nine seasons. His most productive season may have been 1993 with Toronto, hitting .332 and setting career highs in home runs (22) and RBI (111).

[Moriarty9]

John Olerud, 1B
Toronto Blue Jays (1989-1998), Los Angeles Dodgers (1999-2005)




John Olerud spent 17 seasons in the big leagues, playing 10 years with the Toronto Blue Jays and 7 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
During his career, Olerud hit .303 with 2,134 hits, 264 home runs and 1,161 RBI. He was named to five All Star teams.

Olerud had several MVP-caliber seasons, most notably in 1993 (.363, 200 hits, 54 doubles, 24 homers, 107 RBI, 114 walks) and 1999 (.352, 204 hits, 45 doubles, 25 home runs, 114 RBI, 118 walks).

[Moriarty9]

Rafael Palmeiro, 1B
Chicago Cubs (1986-1988), Texas Rangers (1989-1993, 2005), Baltimore Orioles (1994-2002), Houston Astros (2003-2004), Toronto Blue Jays (2006-2007)




Rafael Palmeiro played 22 seasons in the big leagues, spending the bulk of that time with the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. A lifetime .286 hitter, Palmeiro slugged 552 home runs and drove in 1,893 RBI while collecting 3,102 hits in 2,987 games. He was selected to All Star teams in 1988, 1991 and 1997.
In 1997, Palmeiro won the AL MVP award after hitting .324 with 47 home runs and 156 RBI for the Orioles.



Palmeiro hit .300 or better seven times in his career and hit more than 25 home runs eight times. In 1996, he set career highs in home runs (52) and RBI (153), while hitting .304 and scoring 116 times.

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Kirby Puckett, OF
Minnesota Twins (1984-2000), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2001), New York Yankees (2002), Atlanta Braves (2003)




A veteran of 20 years, 17 of which were with the Minnesota Twins, Kirby Puckett was one of his generation's best all around ballplayers during the 80s and 90s. Puckett amassed a .302 career average with 3,125 hits, 86 triples, 294 home runs, 1,494 RBI and 1,477 runs scored in 2,631 games.



Puckett was named to 10 All Star teams and six Gold Glove awards. He hit .300 or better eight times, including seven times in a nine-year stretch from 1986 through 1994. Puckett was a well-rounded player who could hit for average (a career high .356 in 1988), doubles (45 in 1989), triples (13 in 1985), home runs (31 in 1986), while driving in runs (121 in 1988) and scoring runs (119 in 1986). He also was a strong baserunner (199 career steals) and was a solid defensive ballplayer.

[Moriarty9]

Frank Thomas, 1B
Chicago White Sox (1990-2001), Milwaukee Brewers (2002-2006)



Frank Thomas, a.k.a. "The Big Hurt", played 14 seasons with the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. A six-time All Star, Thomas won MVP awards in 1993 and 1994.
In 1993, with Chicago, Thomas hit .317 with 41 home runs and 128 RBI. In 1994, while playing in just 113 games, he hit .353 with 38 homers and 101 RBI.



Thomas hit .300 or better annually for the first seven years of his career, and nine times in the first 11 years of his career. The Big Hurt topped the 30 home run plateau 10 times and the 100 RBI mark 12 times.
Although he saw limited time in his first two seasons in Milwaukee (262 at bats in 2002, 238 in 2003), Thomas' final three years in the big leagues were successful in terms of power production.
In 2004, he hit 33 homers and 116 RBI; 36 homers and 122 RBI in 2005; 28 home runs and 101 RBI in 2006.

[Moriarty9]

Jim Thome, 1B
Cleveland Indians (1991-2008)



During an 18-year career with the Cleveland Indians, Jim Thome slugged his way into the hearts of Tribe fans everywhere and earning a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Thome hit .292 with 2,202 hits, 539 home runs and 1,580 RBI in 2,121 games with Cleveland.



A 10-time All Star, Thome won five Gold Glove awards and the 2004 AL MVP. During the 2004 season, Thome hit .297 with 51 home runs, 126 RBI and 130 runs in 149 games.
He hit .300 or better seven times, topped the 30 home run mark 10 times, the 40 home run mark seven times and the 100 RBI plateau nine times.

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Mo Vaughn, 1B
Boston Red Sox (1991-2005)



Mo Vaughn spent his entire 15-year career with the Boston Red Sox and was known almost as much for his community involvement as his hitting heroics at Fenway Park.
Vaughn hit .305 with 2,002 hits, 430 home runs, 1,325 RBI and 1,215 runs in 1,819 games. A six-time All Star, Vaughn was named AL MVP in 1995 and 1998.
In 1995, Vaughn hit .329 with 47 home runs, 144 RBI, 153 runs and 209 hits. In 1998, he hit .321 with 40 home runs, 121 RBI, 132 runs and 212 hits.



Vaughn hit .300 or better seven times in his career, topped the 35 home run mark seven times and the 100 RBI mark eight times.

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Dave Winfield, OF
San Diego Padres (1973-1980), New York Yankees (1981-1990), California Angels (1990-1991), Toronto Blue Jays (1992), Minnesota Twins (1993-1994), Cleveland Indians (1995-1996)



Dave Winfield played 23 seasons in the big leagues for six teams, although the majority of his time was spent with the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees.
Winfield hit .284 with 3,108 hits, 466 home runs, 1,844 RBI and 1,666 runs in 2,950 games.



A 12-time All Star, Winfield was awarded with seven Gold Glove awards. He hit more than 20 home runs 15 times and topped the 100 RBI mark eight times.

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Roger Clemens, SP
Boston Red Sox (1984-2005)



Roger Clemens spent 22 seasons in the big leagues, most of those years as the ace of the Boston Red Sox pitching staff. The Rocket posted a 310-195 career record with a 3.63 ERA and 3,947 strikeouts.



An eight-time All Star, Clemens won the AL Cy Young award in 1986, 1987 and 1991. He struck out 200 batters eight times in his career, posted an ERA below 3.00 eight times. Clemens won 20 games three times in his career and topped 15 wins in a season 11 times. In 1986, Clemens also won the AL MVP award, going 24-4 with a 2.48 ERA and 238 strikeouts in 33 starts.

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Dennis Eckersley, P
Cleveland Indians (1975-1977), Boston Red Sox (1978-1984), Chicago Cubs (1984-1986), Oakland Athletics (1987-1997), Pittsburgh Pirates (1997)




Dennis Eckersley the starting pitcher was pretty good, but Dennis Eckersley the closer was legendary. In 23 seasons, 11 of which were out of the bullpen, Eck compiled a Hall of Fame career with a 201-164 record, 364 saves, a 3.44 ERA and 2,412 strikeouts.





An eight-time All Star, Eckersley's 1992 season (7-1, 51 saves, 1.91 ERA) was his best as he won the American League's MVP and Cy Young awards.
As a closer, Eckersley won 20 games with the Boston Red Sox in 1978, and topped the 15-win mark twice. As a closer, Eckersley recorded 30-plus saves eight times. Throughout his career, he posted an ERA below 3.00 nine times, including a 0.61 ERA in 1990 with the Oakland Athletics.

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Randy Johnson, SP
Montreal Expos (1988-1989), Seattle Mariners (1990-1996), Boston Red Sox (1997-2007)




In a 20-year career, Randy Johnson proved he may have been the greatest lefty in decades. With a 302-148 record with a 3.59 ERA and 4,257 strikeouts in his career, the Big Unit certainly earned his place in Cooperstown.



Johnson was named to 11 All Star teams over his career and won the Cy Young award five times: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002.
The Big Unit won 20 games five times in his career, topped the 15-win plateau 12 times and picked up 10 or more wins 16 times. Johnson struck out 300 batters four times and 200 batters 12 times. He also posted an ERA below 3.00 five times.

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Greg Maddux, SP
Chicago Cubs (1986-1992, 2002-2006), Atlanta Braves (1993-2001), New York Yankees (2006-2007)




In 22 seasons, Greg Maddux showed he just may be the best pitcher in the history of baseball. The crafty right-hander went 345-211 with a 3.19 ERA and 3,258 strikeouts over a career highlighted by 11 All Star selections, seven Gold Glove awards and a record nine Cy Young awards.



Maddux won the Cy Young award in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002. He won 20 games five times and 15 games 15 times. Maddux posted an ERA below 3.00 11 times.

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Pedro Martinez, SP
Los Angeles Dodgers (1992-1993), Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (1994-2007)




In a 16-year career, Pedro Martinez went 223-122 with a 3.08 ERA and 3,153 strikeouts. Martinez was named to seven All Star teams and won three Cy Young awards (1997, 2001, 2005), but likely would have won more awards if not for the dominance of Greg Maddux.



Martinez won 20 games twice in his career (22 wins in 1997, 21 in 2005), and 15 games 10 times. He struck out 311 batters in 2001 and more than 200 batters nine times. Martinez posted an ERA below 3.00 eight times.

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John Smoltz, P
Atlanta Braves (1988-1998), Philadelphia Phillies (1999-2006)




In a 19-year career with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, John Smoltz was a premier starting pitcher and, for three seasons, a closer.
Smoltz went 230-182, 68 saves, 3,137 strikeouts and a 3.48 ERA. While he never won a Cy Young award (partially due to the dominance of Braves teammate Greg Maddux), Smoltz was named to nine All Star teams.



Smoltz' best seasons came in Atlanta, putting together a 143-111 record with the Braves while going 87-71 with Philadelphia. Smoltz won 15 games seven times in his career and posted an ERA below 3.30 seven times.
He retired following the 2006 season, at age 39, after going 19-12 with a 3.18 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 36 starts with the Phillies.