The Red Sox’ nine greatest home run hitters ever
Meet the members of Boston’s pantheon of power.
COMMENTARY
A “pantheon” is a small group of people who are the most famous, important, and admired in their particular area of activity.
This “Pantheon of Power” is dedicated to the most famous, the most important, and (in most cases) the most admired home run hitters in Red Sox regular-season history. This is not about great fielding, not about speed, not about average, nor about singles, doubles, nor triples. This is about going deep, dingers, four-baggers and going yard.
This is about slugging homers.
Players are listed in order of the total number of regular-season homers hit in a Red Sox uniform:
Ted Williams
With the Red Sox from 1939 through 1960, “The Splendid Splinter” appeared in 2,292 games for Boston, tallying 9,788 plate appearances and 7,706 at-bats.
- Williams has 521 home runs, first on all-time franchise list.
- Williams is second on all-time franchise list with 1,117 extra-base hits.
- Williams had a .634 slugging percentage, the highest for a Red Sox player (min. 1,500 at-bats).
- He slugged .735 in 1941 and .731 in 1957, the two highest slugging percentage seasons in franchise history.
- Williams led the American League in slugging in 1941, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1954, and 1957.
- In 1939, Williams hit 31 homers, the second highest total for a Red Sox rookie.
- Williams led the AL in homers in 1941, 1942, 1947, and 1949.
- Williams led the Sox in homers in a season 11 times.
- Williams hit 17 grand slams, the most by a Red Sox player.
- From July 12-16, 1957, Williams hit homers in five consecutive games, tied for a Sox record.
- Williams had 37 multi-homer games, the second most in Sox history.
- Williams hit 13 extra-inning homers, the most by a Red Sox player.
- Williams hit 7 pinch-hit homers, the most by a Red Sox player.
- Williams hit 248 homers at Fenway, the most for any Sox player.
- Williams hit 273 homers on the road, the most for any Sox player.
- Williams had 16 20+ homer seasons, the most of any Sox player.
- On June 9, 1946, Williams hit a 502-foot home run to right field. The ball landed on top of the straw hat of Joseph A. Boucher, who was sitting in Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21.
- From 1940 through ’49, Williams led the AL with 234 homers, all with Boston.
- From 1950 through ’59: Williams was fourth in the AL with 227 homers, all with Boston.
- Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.
Dustin Pedroia looks on as David Ortiz gestures skyward at home plate after hitting a two-run home run against the Rays at Fenway Park in 2016.
David Ortiz
With the Red Sox from 2003 through 2016, “Big Papi” appeared in 1,882 games for Boston through the All-Star break during his final campaign, tallying 8,115 plate appearances and 6,918 at-bats.
- Ortiz has 467 home runs with the Red Sox, second on all-time franchise list.
- Ortiz has 992 extra-base hits with the Red Sox, third on all-time franchise list.
- Ortiz has a .571 slugging percentage, the fourth highest for a Red Sox player (min. 1,500 at-bats).
- He hit 54 homers in 2006, the single-season record for the Sox.
- From 2010 through ’16, Ortiz is fifth in the AL with 206 homers, all with Boston.
- Ortiz led the league in homers in 2006 (54).
- Ortiz has led the Sox in homers in a season seven times.
- In 2006, his 32 homers on the road is a Sox record.
- Ortiz has 49 multi-homer games for the Sox, a team record.
- Ortiz has had 14 20+ homer seasons, the second most of any Sox player.
- Ortiz has had nine 30+ homer seasons, the most of any Sox player.
- Ortiz, Ramirez, and Yastrzemski have each had three 40+ homer seasons, tied for the most of any Sox players.
- Ortiz has hit 211 homers at Fenway, the third most for any Sox player.
- Ortiz hit 254 homers on the road, the second most for any Sox player.
- Ortiz has hit 12 extra-inning homers, 11 with Boston, second most by a Red Sox player.
- Ortiz has hit 11 walk-off homers, 10 with Boston, the most by a Red Sox player.
- From 2000 through ’09, Ortiz was third in the AL with 307 homers, 259 with Boston.
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski hits a three-run homer at Fenway Park in September 1967.
With the Red Sox from 1961 through 1983, “Yaz” appeared in 3,308 games for Boston, tallying 13,992 plate appearances and 11,988 at-bats.
- Yastrzemski hit 452 home runs, third on all-time franchise list.
- Yastrzemski notched 1,157 extra-base hits, first on all-time franchise list
- Yastrzemski had a .462 slugging percentage, the 24th highest for a Red Sox player (min. 1,500 at-bats).
- Yastrzemski led the league in homers in his Triple Crown season of 1967 (44).
- Yastrzemski led the league in slugging percentage in 1965 (.536), 1967 (.622) and in 197 (.592).
- Yastrzemski led the Sox in homers in a season two times and tied two times.
- At 44 years 19 days, on Sept. 10, 1983 at Cleveland, Yastrzemski became the oldest Red Sox player to homer.
- Yastrzemski had 27 multi-homer games, the fifth most in Sox history.
- Yastrzemski, Ortiz, and Ramirez have each had three 40+ homer seasons, tied for the most of any Sox players.
- Yastrzemski hit 237 homers at Fenway, the second most for any Sox player.
- Yastrzemski hit 215 homers on the road, the third most for any Sox player.
- On June 19, 1977, Yastrzemski hit the longest known home run to the right of the bleachers. It reached approximately 460 feet before striking the facing of the right-field roof about 20 feet to the right of where the retired No. 42 now appears. It is the only ball to reach the right-field roof façade.
- On April 10, 1968, Yastrzemski hit both a conventional homer and an inside-the-park homer in the same game.
- From 1960 through ’69, Yastrzemski was ninth in the AL with 202 homers, all with Boston.
- From 1970 through ’79, Yastrzemski was fourth in the AL with 202 homers, all with Boston.
- Yastrzemski was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.
Jim Rice
Jim Rice basks in the applause of the Fenway crowd when the Red Sox retired his number in 2009.
With the Red Sox from 1974 through 1989, “Jim Ed” appeared in 2,089 games for Boston, tallying 9,058 plate appearances and 8,225 at-bats.
- Rice hit 382 home runs, fourth on all-time franchise list.
- Rice recorded 834 extra-base hits, fifth on all-time franchise list.
- Rice had a .502 slugging percentage, the eighth highest for a Red Sox (min. 1,500 at-bats).
- Rice led the AL in homers in 1977 (39), 1978 (46) and 1983 (39).
- Rice led the league in slugging percentage in 1977 (.593) and in 1978 (.600).
- His 406 total bases in 1978 are a Sox record.
- Rice led the Sox in homers in a season five times and tied once
- Rice had 11 20+ homer seasons, tied with Evans for the third most of any Sox player
- Rice had 35 multi-homer games, the third most in Sox history.
- Rice had 5 walk-off homers with Boston, tied for the fifth most by a Red Sox player.
- Rice hit 208 homers at Fenway, the fourth most for any Sox player.
- Rice hit 174 homers on the road, the fifth most for any Sox player.
- Rice and Evans homered in the same game 56 times, tied for the eighth most of any teammates.
- From 1970 through ’79, Rice was eighth in the AL with 172 homers.
- From 1980 through ’89, Rice was fourth in the AL with 210 homers.
- Rice was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans argues a call with an umpire.
With the Red Sox from 1972 through 1990, “Dewey” appeared in 2,505 games for Boston, tallying 10,240 plate appearances and 8,726 at-bats.
- Evans hit 379 home runs for Boston, fifth on all-time franchise list.
- Evans recorded 925 extra-base hits for the Red Sox, fourth on all-time franchise list.
- Evans had a .473 slugging percentage in Boston, the 19th highest for a Red Sox player (min. 1,500 at-bats).
- Evans led the AL with 22 homers in the strike-shortened season of 1981.
- Evans led the Sox in homers in a season four times.
- Evans had 11 20+ homer seasons, tied with Rice for the third most of any Sox player.
- Evans hit 199 homers at Fenway, the fifth most for any Sox player.
- Evans hit 180 homers on the road, the fourth most for any Sox player.
- Evans and Rice homered in the same game 56 times, tied for the eighth most of any teammates.
- Evans had 22 multi-homer games, tied for seventh most in Sox history.
- From 1980 through ’89, Evans led the AL with 256 homers, all with Boston.
Manny Ramirez rounds first base following a game-tying home run for the Red Sox.
Manny Ramirez
With the Red Sox from 2001 into the 2008 season, “Manny Being Manny” appeared in 1,083 games for Boston, tallying 4,682 plate appearances and 3,953 at-bats.
- Ramirez hit 274 home runs for Boston, sixth on all-time franchise list.
- Ramirez recorded 537 extra-base hits for the Red Sox, eighth on all-time franchise list
- Ramirez had a .588 slugging percentage in Boston, the third highest for a Red Sox player (min. 1,500 at-bats).
- Ramirez led the league in slugging in 2004.
- Ramirez led the league in homers in 2004.
- Ramirez hit 136 homers at Fenway during his Boston stint, the seventh most for any Sox player.
- Ramirez hit 138 homers on the road for Boston, the sixth most for any Sox player.
- Ramirez led the Sox in homers in a season four times.
- Ramirez had 28 multi-homer games in Boston, the fourth most in Sox history.
- Ramirez, Ortiz and Yastrzemski have each had three 40+ homer seasons, tied for the most of any Sox players.
- From 2000 through ’09, Ramirez was second in the AL with 312 homers, 274 with Boston.
Mo Vaughn
Mo Vaughn watches a two-run homer in Cleveland in 1998.
With the Red Sox from 1991 through 1998, “Hit Dog” appeared in 1,046 games for Boston, tallying 4,452 plate appearances and 3,828 at-bats.
- Vaughn hit 230 home runs for Boston, seventh on all-time franchise list.
- Vaughn recorded 439 extra-base hits, 15th on all-time franchise list.
- Vaughn had a .542 slugging percentage for Boston, the sixth highest for a Red Sox player (min. 1,500 at-bats).
- From 1990 through ’99, Vaughn was eighth in the AL with 263 homers, 230 with Boston.
- Vaughn hit 118 homers at Fenway, the 10th most for any Sox player.
- Vaughn hit 112 homers on the road, the seventh most for any Sox player.
- Vaughn had 22 multi-homer games, tied for seventh most in Sox history.
- Vaughn led the Sox in homers in a season six times.
Bobby Doerr
Bobby Doerr with his son, Donnie, 6, before the start of a game at Fenway Park in 1948.
With the Red Sox from 1937 through 1951, Doerr appeared in 1,865 games for Boston, tallying 8,028 plate appearances and 7,093 at-bats.
- Doerr hit 223 home runs, eighth on all-time franchise list.
- Doerr recorded 693 extra-base hits, sixth on all-time franchise list.
- Doerr had a .461 slugging percentage, the 25th highest for a Red Sox player (min. 1500 at-bats).
- Doerr led the AL in slugging percentage (.528) in 1944.
- Doerr hit 145 homers at Fenway, the sixth most for any Sox player.
- Doerr led the Sox in homers in a season once.
- Doerr had 6 walk-off homers with Boston, tied for the third most by a Red Sox player.
- Doerr was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.
Jimmie Foxx
With the Red Sox from 1936 into the 1942 season, “Double X” appeared in 887 games for Boston, tallying 3,937 plate appearances and 3,288 at-bats.
- Foxx hit 222 home runs for Boston, ninth on all-time franchise list.
- Foxx recorded 448 extra-base hits for Boston, 14th on all-time franchise list.
- Foxx had a .605 slugging percentage during his stint in Boston, the second highest for a Red Sox player (min. 1,500 at-bats).
- From 1930 through ’39, Foxx led the AL with 415 homers, 162 with Boston.
- Foxx hit 50 homers for Boston in 1938; he and Ortiz are the only 50+ single-season homer hitters for the Sox. His 50 homers in ’38 are the most in a season by right-handed batter for the Sox.
- Foxx did not lead the league in homers in 1938 (Hank Greenberg hit 58), but led the league the next season with 35, the only time he led the league for Boston.
- Foxx hit 35 homers at Fenway in 1938, the most by a Sox batter.
- Foxx hit 126 homers at Fenway, the ninth most for any Sox player.
- He slugged .704 in 1938; he and Williams are the only Sox with a single season above .700 slugging percentage.
- Foxx had 23 multi-homer games, the sixth most in Sox history.
- Foxx led the Sox in homers in a season five times.
- From Aug. 13-17, 1940, Foxx hit homers in five consecutive games, tied for a Sox record.
- In 1938, Foxx had 10 multi-homer games, a Sox record.
- Foxx had 8 walk-off homers with Boston, the second most by a Red Sox player.
- Foxx was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951.
Jimmie Foxx in June 1938.
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