A Tribute to Tek: The Captain’s Top 10

There will be plenty of space used throughout the print world and blogosphere regarding the decision to resign Jason Varitek or pursue other options behind the plate. Eventually, those opinionated pieces will dominate the headlines and RSS feeds, and ultimately, the front office will make a decision, followed by an inevitable flood of second guessing and subjective journalism.

Before that storm hit the horizon, it seemed appropriate to present a preemptive look at the captain’s most nostalgic moments with the team.
Here are the top ten moments of Jason Varitek’s career with the Boston Red Sox, presented by Fire Brand of the American League. Take advantage of the comments area to give us your personal ranking and moments that didn’t make the list.


May 20, 2001 – Varitek hits 3 HRs in 1 game

Jason filled the box score during a 10-3 win versus the Kansas City Royals. From the 8 spot in the lineup, Tek went a perfect 4-4 with 3 HRs, a single, 7 RBIs, and 3 runs scored. The game raised his average to .307 for the year. Unfortunately, he would appear in just over a dozen more games the rest of the year before breaking his elbow making a catch that would be named the “Web Gem of the Month” for June. When Varitek was injured, the Red Sox were in first place in their division at 34-24, 28-19 in games that he started, and won eight of its last ten games. The team would finish barely above .500 at 82-79 and fire manager Jimy Williams near the end of the 2001 campaign.


April 22, 2007 – Tek finishes off historic home-run streak

Championships are won in September and October, not April. However, there are a few April games every year and looking back set the tone for the rest of the 150+ games. Early in 2007, the Yankees were struggling, at 8-8 while the Red Sox were on a four game winning streak and looking for a sweep to finish off the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees had a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth when Manny Ramirez went deep with the bases empty. Four pitches later, JD Drew hit another home run. Mike Lowell went yard next, and two pitches later, Tek hit the historic back-to-back-to-back-to-back homerun to give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead in a game they would eventually win, sweeping away the Yankees on their way to a division title. At the time, it was only the fourth time in baseball history the feat had been accomplished.

April 4, 2001 – Hideo Nomo’s no-hitter

In Nomo’s first start wearing a Boston uniform, Tek called an efficient 105 pitch complete game no-hitter. Nomo ended the game with 11 strikeouts to only 3 walks in the earliest no-hitter in the history of baseball and the first for the Boston Red Sox in 31 years. The no-hitter electrified the Boston fans who were still shocked by Nomar Garciaparra’s spring training wrist injury. After the game, Nomo gave credit to Varitek saying through a translator that all he had to do was concentrate on throwing strikes. He had confidence in the catcher to call the right pitches and locations in every situation.

October 2, 2005 – Varitek wins silver and gold

The local nine failed to defend their championship from the previous year, but it was not at the fault of their newly adorned captain. Tek became the first Red Sox player since 1991 to win a Gold Globe, and the first Red Sox catcher ever to win a Silver Slugger award. Tek also made his second all-star team in 2005, the first coming in 2003. Varitek hit .281 with a .366 OBP, 22 HRs and 70 RBI while finishing in the Top 30 of the MVP voting for the third consecutive year. 2003, in which Jason hit more home runs and had more runs batted in, was clearly the better statistical year, but 2005 was his overall best offensive year for the Boston Red Sox.

June 13, 2005 – Jason Varitek named the team captain

From the A-Rod shove, to the ALCS heroics, there is little chance
Boston would be where it is today without Varitek’s leadership in 2004.
In tribute to his contributions to the team, the Boston organization
named Tek their third captain since 1923; the highest honor a player
can receive from the front office. Theo Epstein surprised Jason with
the captainship by presenting him a home and away jersey at the press
conference with the captain’s “C” on the chest. Epstein said, “It’s not
every day you’re lucky enough to sign a player that embodies everything
you want your franchise to be.” It is interesting to note that his
agent, Scott Boras, was demanding a five year, $55 million dollar
contract for Tek, but he personally authorized the acceptance of 4
years, $40 million.

Photo by Matthew Stockman

April 27, 2002 – Derek Lowe’s no-hitter

After struggling in his relief role during 2001, the Red Sox organization moved Derek Lowe into the starting rotation for 2002. Under Varitek’s guidance, Derek Lowe responded by going 21-8 and finishing 3rd in the Cy Young voting for the season. In order to make transition of that magnitude, a pitcher must be able to have confidence in himself and his pitches. On April 27th, Derek Lowe gained enough confidence to become a successful starting pitcher for the rest of his career. Guided by Jason’s 2 RBI night and calming presence behind the plate, Lowe went nine hitless innings, striking out six and walking only one. Two interesting notes: Lowe was also six outs away from a no-hitter in his first start of the season. Also, this no-hitter was the first thrown at Fenway Park in 37 years.

July 18, 2006 – Sets team record for most games caught

When he sat behind home plate for his 991st game as the catcher of the Boston Red Sox, Jason Varitek broke the team record set by none other than Carlton Fisk. Once the game, against the Royals, became officially of record in the 5th inning, his achievement was recognized by the organization. The home crowd at Fenway Park gave a standing ovation to their captain and hero. Later in the season, Jason would pass one thousand games behind the plate, an amazing testament to his durability and talent. The MLB Players Alumni Association rewarded Tek with the 2006 Red Sox Heart and Hustle Award which is presented to the player exemplifying the values, traditions, and spirit of the game of baseball.


May 19, 2008 – Jon Lester’s no-hitter

Yeah, we skipped one; in 2007, rookie Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter with Tek behind the plate as well. That was also the last no-hitter thrown before lefty Jon Lester went nine shutout innings without giving up a hit. Put this into perspective: When Hideo Nomo threw his no-hitter it was the first in 31 years for the Boston Red Sox, with Varitek behind the plate, Lester threw the fourth in seven years. There is a lot of debate when considering the validity of some of the earliest recorded no-hitter, but it is safe to say that Jason is the only catcher in the modern era of baseball to record four no-hitters. The record is more than a coincidence, Varitek was not catching Nolan Ryan in his prime; he is one of the game’s greatest students, the ultimate leader and confidant behind the plate.


July 24, 2004 – Varitek shoves Alex Rodriguez during stare-down

2003 was the Don Zimmer-Pedro Martinez fight. The Aaron Boone homerun. The Curse. 2004 seemed more of the same on the morning of July 24th, as the Red Sox sat 9.5 games behind the New York Yankees. After winning the first of a two game series, New York led 3-0 in the top of the third inning against Boston pitcher Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo had two outs and nobody on when he hit third baseman Alex Rodriguez with his third pitch. As A-Rod walked up the first base line and had words with Arroyo and Tek, Jason shoved his open glove into the face of the highest paid player in baseball. Both were ejected and suspended for their actions, but it came to symbolize the 2004 season. The local nine were no longer going to be bullied or intimidated by the crumbling New York dynasty, and it was Jason Varitek who delivered the message.
 

October 20, 2004 – Varitek ’s offense leads historic comeback As the Boston Red Sox became the first team to comeback from a 0-3 series deficit to beat their opponent, nevertheless a hated rival and a commercialized curse, everyone talked about Dave Roberts and David Ortiz. What is often overlooked in the 2004 ALCS is the contributions behind and at the plate by Jason Varitek. In that series, Tek batted .321 (3rd on team), scored 5 runs (2nd), 9 hits (3rd), 2 HRs (2nd), and had 7 RBI (2nd). Varitek went on to play in all four games of the World Series sweep that brought the much-celebrated first championship to the Boston organization in 86 years.

Those are my personal top ten, as I mentioned above, please feel free to post your order of our top ten or any omissions you feel should have been added to the list. In closing, take a minute to watch this video tribute from YouTube about Red Sox Nation’s catcher, hero, and captain, Jason Varitek: