The designated hitter is now at-bat for the Boston Red Sox All Fenway team, and we need the help of Red Sox Nation to figure out who is the all-time greatest DH in Red Sox history.
Fans can start the voting for the all-time greatest designated hitter to ever wear a Sox uniform, as well as vote for every other starting spot in the Sox rotation once the voting is open for all 14 positions.
The candidates for greatest DH of all-time are Don Baylor (1986-1987), Orlando Cepeda (1973), Cecil Cooper (1971-1976), Mike Easler (1984-1985), Reggie Jefferson (1995-1999) and last, but certainly not least, David Ortiz (2003-Present).
Don Baylor played an integral role for the Red Sox back in 1986, where his .346 batting average along with six homers in the ALCS helped his team reach the pinnacle stage of the World Series before the legendary passed ball by Bill Buckner cost the Sox the Series.
Only for the Red Sox for one season, Orlando “Baby Bull” Cepedas was a hitting machine. In his one season with the Sox, Cepedas managed to rank in the top three sports for batting average, home runs, and was second on the team in RBI (86) behind Fenway legend, Carl Yastrzemski.
Cooper, drafted by the Red Sox in 1968, played first base and designated hitter for the Sox, where he churned out a .283 batting average and 181 RBI. In the 1975 post-season Cooper hit .311 and helped the Red Sox make the World Series.
Traded to the Sox via Pittsburgh back in 1983, the left-handed hitter played two seasons for the Red Sox. During that time, Mike Easler batted an incredible .313, with 87 runs, and career highs of home runs (27), and RBI (91) in 1984.
Jefferson, the switch-hitting designated hitter, had an incredibly productive five years in the Red Sox lineup. Between 1995-1999, Jefferson had a batting average of .316, along with 50 home runs, 215 RBI, 207 runs scored. Making him one of the most productive designated hitters the Sox have ever had.
Known to Red Sox fans as “The Greatest Clutch Hitter in the History of the Boston Red Sox,” Big Papi has certainly carved out a niche in the hearts of Sox fans. Since joining the Sox back in 2003, Ortiz has managed to make seven All-Star games and earn ALCS MVP honors for his back-to-back game-winning home runs against the New York Yankees on the road to their first World Series title in 86 years.
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