Now that the tears have subsided and the deluge of tributes has slowed, we can ask the question: Where does Jason Varitek rank all-time among Boston Red Sox captains?
Nineteen men have worn the "C" for the Red Sox franchise (some were Boston Americans), beginning in 1901 and stretching all the way to 2011. They have played all manner of positions (including a couple player-managers) and have had seasons wildly varying in quality.
What must be factored in when considering these players is the era in which they played. Many of them played in the deadball era, where offense was pitiful and the pitchers dominated. Big numbers from that era would translate much differently now.
We must also acknowledge that 15 of the 19 captains played before racial integration. There were many great players from abroad as well as the Negro Leagues that we will never know about, simply due to MLB’s early exclusionary policies.
It is difficult, then, to compare across eras when we know that many of these players did not face the best competition in the world. While it is not fair to punish the players themselves for this, this list will nevertheless reflect the fact that the playing field was not level.
It is also important to remember that the playing conditions were vastly different between eras. While Varitek only knew the luxury of five-star hotels and chartered airplanes, the earlier players stayed in far cheaper locations and were riding trains across the country.
Though these various factors make a comparison difficult, we can nevertheless take a look at how these players compared to their peers in order to determine where they fit in the scheme of the greatest Red Sox captains.
