Boston Red Sox Legend Bobby Doerr Passes Away at 99 Years Old
![BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 14: A view of the grandstand during the seventh inning at Fenway Park on September 14, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/fb63ff577ab1e493ab3726ace864a397aef15a3fd3d89f1b8c3d9283db2ecdce.jpg)
Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr passed away on Monday. He was 99 years old.
When considering the all time Boston Red Sox roster, there is no question who would be playing second base. The great Bobby Doerr, the last link to Ted Williams and those teams of the 1940s, would be entrenched at second, ready to make a play on any ground ball hit to his side. His number 1, since retired by the Red Sox, would be in its place of honor.
Recently, Doerr had made his place in baseball as the oldest living former player. He was the last living person to have played in the 1930s, and was the oldest living Hall of Famer after the passing of Lee McPhail in 2012. Sadly, Doerr passed away on Monday at 99 years old.
Over his 14 year career, spent entirely in Boston, he was considered an excellent defensive player, and had uncommon power for his position. A nine time All Star, Doerr had a solid .288/.362/.461 batting line, hitting 223 homers and 381 doubles.
Today we mourn the loss of Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, the nine-time All-Star who spent 27 years in a #RedSox uniform as both a player and a coach.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) November 14, 2017
A statement from the #RedSox: https://t.co/06vj1swld9 pic.twitter.com/CgMzn95lST
As impressive as those numbers were, his career was cut short by back injuries, leading to his retirement at just 33 years old.
While he spent time as a coach and manager for the Red Sox, and was the Blue Jays hitting coach for their first five seasons, Doerr made his biggest impact early in his career.
He was one of the famed Four Friends, along with Williams, Dom DiMaggio, and Johnny Pesky. All four were immortalized in bronze outside of Fenway, a lasting memorial to the bond they shared as teammates.
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Another great of the game has passed on, as Boston Red Sox legend Bobby Doerr passed away on Monday. Our condolences go out to his friends and family.