Quick Answers
Besides yourself, who do you consider to be the top three all around outfielders in the history of the Red Sox and why?
Williams and Yaz are the two best Red Sox outfielders of all time. No question. They’re Hall of Famers and outstanding all-around players. After that I think it’s between Freddy Lynn and Dwight Evans. Dewey played 21 years in the majors and won 8 gold gloves. He could play a good right field and he had a great arm. I played with Freddy in the Minor Leagues and he could do it all: hit for average, power, play great in the field, he was fast, MVP, and Rookie Of the Year.
We know you had many great years statistically, but which year was the most satisfying for you and why?
HWM
I have to go with my MVP year, 1978.
How long was you longest drive on the golf course?
Paul S.
I don’t know what my longest drive was. I’ve been out on the course with Cotton Dunn and Big Cat Williams and those big drivers came up short back then. That was back in the late 70’s when I was fit and trim. Now I try to keep it in the fairway at about 310-315.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Jim, are you saying Manny isn’t even in the top 5 among all-time Red Sox outfielders? I know you played with Lynn and Evans, but you can’t honestly believe those guys are better players than Manny. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I know Lynn and Evans are better defensively, but I think Manny is adequate out in left and more than makes up for any shortcomings with his hitting.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I think Jim was on Target regarding the outfielders. He humbly left himself off however. In my mind he started off as a “fair” left fielder and worked himself into a well above average fielder. I can’t honestly say anyone did as well as Yaz there, but Jim was certainly better than Williams and Greenwell (also much maligned) and better than Manny though Manny has worked harder of late. And Jim is correct that the wall isn’t millions of pieces of separate (tin?) as it was. It does seem to give a truer bounce then previously.