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The object of any baseball game is to win and the object of any baseball season is to win the World Series. So, when determining the best players of all time on a particular team, do we count championships or do we count statistics?

One thing is for certain, longevity has to be one of the criteria used along side playing success. I mean Babe Ruth and Cy Young both played for the Red Sox, but neither entered the Hall of Fame as a Red Sox player, so right away we must scratch them off the list.

The list of players who did enter the Hall of Fame as Red Sox are as follows: Wade Boggs, Jimmy Collins, Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Rick Ferrell, Carlton Fisk, Jimmy Foxx, Lefty Grove, Harry Hooper, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski. Of these 11 players, just seven of them actually spent the majority of their playing time for the Red Sox.

So, our magnificent seven are Boggs, Collins, Cronin, Doerr, Hooper, Williams and Yastrzemski. All seven of them put up great career numbers and all have their place in Red Sox history, but if we had to choose the best of the best, I think most would agree it is Ted Williams.

Williams played his entire career with the Red Sox, a career that spanned over 20 years, 19 played seasons with some military service in between. He earned the nicknames "Splendid Splinter" and "Teddy Ballgame." He had a career batting average of .344 with 521 home runs. He has the highest career average of any player with 500 or more homers.

Williams is considered by many to be the greatest hitter that ever played baseball. He only had one shot in the World Series, but he performed badly and the Red Sox lost. While not famous for team titles, he did win the league batting title six times and the triple crown twice. He is the last player to ever hit over .400 for a season. He hit .406 in 1941.

Williams wore number 9 which of course was retired by the Red Sox. Perhaps fittingly, Williams successor in left field, Yastrzemski wore the number 8 which would also eventually be retired. With the second most home runs hit while in a Red Sox uniform, Yastrzemski might have to be second on the list of their best players as well, trailing only Williams on both.

If we give some weight to longevity and number of games played, "Yaz" as most called him, would certainly have to be number one. He played 23 seasons with the Red Sox and he has the second most games played ever in the Major Leagues to his credit. He was elected to 18 All-Star Games, won seven Gold Gloves, had over 3000 hits and won the triple crown in 1967, the last time anyone has done so.

To truly decide who the best players are in any sport on any particular team is a tough task. It all depends on what criteria are used and what personal feelings come in to play. If you are a big Red Sox fan, you might put Carlton Fisk on the top of your list. Known as "Pudge" to many fans, he is a sentimental favorite for the home run he hit in game six of the 1975 World Series. The home run barely stayed fair down the left field line and it forced a game seven against the Cincinnati Reds.

More recent players such as Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez or David Ortiz have to be considered, if for no other reason, because they helped the Red Sox win titles here in the 21st century. It is hard not to put a lot of emphasis on that simple fact.

The Red Sox have had many great players grace the dugout in Fenway Park over the years, but the Splendid Splinter and Yaz are the best of the best for my money. They may not have won a title, but when I think of the Red Sox, I think of those two players first.

Learn more about this author, Jeremy Peters.
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