With the imminent arrival of Southpaw phenom (and cancer survivor) Jon Lester, I wondered who the best Red Sox lefty of all time might be. Whenever you come up with a list like this, you have to break it into two groups: those most dominant over a given span, and those with the most impressive body of work. Here are the Sox most stupendous Southpaws...
Best single seasons with the Sox:
#6- Mickey McDermott (1953)
McDermott- who looked like a malnourished giraffe, went 18-10 with a 3.01 ERA in '53. He was supposed to be the next Lefty Grove, but he never put it together beyound this season. This famous Norman Rockwell painting was based on McD's rookie call up in 1948, when he was 19.
#5- Bill Lee (1973)
'73 was a breakout season for Lee. Tabbed as a regular starter for the first time in his career, he responded with a 17-11 record and 18 complete games and 120 strikeouts. This was the only season in the "the Spaceman's" 14-year career that he ever whiffed more than 100 hitters. To appreciate the Spaceman, check out his quotes.
#4- Robert Moses Lefty" Grove (1937)
Grove never really had a a dominant season with the Sox. He won 20 games once with the Sox ('35), but he was better in 1937. As I wrote that , I feel the need to assure you that I do have a life. A girlfriend, even. In any event, in 1937, Grove stuck out 153 and won 17 games while posting a 3.02 ERA. Bottom line- either 1935 or '37 could be called his best year in Boston, but neither season exhibited his greatness that he showed in earlier campaigns with the Philly A's.
#3- Bruce Hurst (1988)
His only all-star campaign came the year before ('87), but all in all, I'll take this 18-6 season as his best, which sadly, was the lefty's last in Boston. I think '88 was really the year that I started watching the Sox, and I liked that Hurst threw the ball from the correct side. I respected that about him. He also whiffed 166 batters in '88. Hurst's best year probably would have been the 1986 AL Championship season had he not gotten hurt- he posted a 2.99 ERA in 25 starts.
#2- Mel Parnell (1949)
For some reason his nickname was "Dusty". If anyone knows why, keep it to yourself, smart ass. Mel's best season was undoubtedly 1949. He went 25-7 with a 2.77 ERA. Those numbers woud stand up in any era. He only K'd 122 in 295 innings, but he completed, wait for it...TWENTY SEVEN games in thirty three starts. Lets not rain on my parade with any of those "well, thats what they did back in those days" arguments.
#1- Babe Ruth (1916)
At the age of 21, Ruth started 41 games, and went 23-12. His 170 strikeouts were third in the AL and his 6.4 hits allowed per nine innings was by far and away the best in the league. Ruth's 1.70 ERA was also the best in the junior circuit. Downside- he only hit three homers. "No no Nanette" was a sucky play, and Ruth's '16 season was the best ever by a Sox southpaw.
Best Careers with the Sox:
#5- Bill Lee (1969-1978)
"The Spaceman" got his nickname when, looking at the Green Monster for the first time, asked, ""Do they leave it there during games?" He also admitted to sprinkling marijuana on his cereal. Whatever. Lee won 94 games while losing 68 for the Sox in his decade in Boston. This lefty won 17 games in three straight seasons as the Sox contended in the mid-seventies.
#4- Robert Moses "Lefty" Grove (1934-1941)Admittedly, Grove's best year's were behind him when he came to Fenway (he was the MVP in 1931), but the guy was still awesome for the Sox as he closed out the last eight seasons of his career in Boston. He was 41 when it was all said and done, compiling a 105-62 record. He was inducted into Cooperstown in 1947.
#3- Babe Ruth (1914-1919)
He's not the fattest Sox pitcher ever. For info on that particular player, scroll to my previous post. Ruth was 89-46 with the Sox in six years. His career ERA was 2.28. Even in the deadball era- these numbers are great. Despite what you may have heard, he retired after a tidy career as a dependable starter for the Sox.
#2- Bruce Hurst (1980-1988)
Hurst is the not only the best Sox lefty of the last thirty years, but he's one of the finest pitchers in Boston history. His 88 wins place him 19th on the Sox all-time, but more impressively, his 1,043 Ks are the most by any lefty to wear a Red Sox uniform. I was surprised by how high he is (6th) on this list- right behind el Tiante and ahead of Joe Wood, Bill Monboquette and Jim Lonborg.
#1- Mel Parnell (1947-1956)
Parnell played every game of his major league career for the Red Sox and is the club's all-time winningest lefty (123-75). The team's ace and workhorse during the Ted Wiliams era, he actually saved three games in the same season he threw 21 complete games. Different era, I know, but still- he's the best lefty in Sox history.
Honorable mention:
Sparky Lyle-He was a quality reliever as a rook on the '67 "impossible dream" team 2.28 ERA in 27 appearances, and was the team's bullpen ace for the next few seasons. He was much better as a Yankee. I think it had to do with growing this moustache.
Dick Ellsworth- Went 16-7 for the '68 Sox. He was nicknamed "tricky Dick" after he bit a chunk of flesh out of Dick Williams cheek. Clearly, I made that up. Just seeing if you are still reading.
Gary Peters- Won 16 games for the 1970 Sox. Congratulations, Gary- you made someone's blog. Thats likely a first.
Frankie Viola- Well past his prime, the three-time All-Star managed to win 24 games for the Sox between '92 and '93, when he posted impressive ERAs of 3.44 and 3.14 respectively.
