Boston Red Sox: Top 5 displaced homegrown players in history, ranked

Boston Red Sox: Top 5 displaced homegrown players in history

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 25: A detailed view of the logo on the helmet of Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox during batting practice prior to MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 25, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts /

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Tris Speaker sits with third baseman Larry Gardner at Cleveland’s League Park. /

Top 5 Displaced Homegrown Red Sox Players in History

Tris Speaker | 55 WAR in Boston

Before Babe Ruth, there was Tris Speaker, a homegrown member of the Boston Red Sox and the best player on his team for a number of years. In his time in Boston, Speaker won two titles and an MVP award.

He’d slash .337 / .414 / .482 as a member of the Red Sox before being traded to the Cleveland Indians for Sad Sam Jones, Fred Thomas, and a mere $55,000. That would be like the Milwaukee Brewers trading away Christian Yelich for a starter who’s ERA hovers around 4, a minor leaguer and $1.4M.

Speaker would go on to solidify his Hall of Fame career as a member of the Indians, Washington Senators, and Philadelphia Athletics by slashing a combined .349 / .437 / .512. What’s more, while with Cleveland in 1920, Speaker won his third World Series title, leading the Indians to defeat the Brooklyn Robins in 7-games.

More. The Pre-Tom Brady Boston Red Sox. light

At the time of his retirement in 1928, Speaker was 2nd on the all-time hits list with 3514 H. Today, he has dropped three notches to the 5-spot.

Unlike Fisk, Speaker’s Hall of Fame bust features him in a Cleveland Indians ball cap. His plaque proclaims him “the greatest center fielder of his day.” It’s hard to disagree with that.

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