Red Sox Legend Reveals Surprising Pick For Best Team He Ever Played On
Fred Lynn played on a lot of great Boston Red Sox teams during the 1970s, helping them top 90 wins four times in five years from 1975 to 1979. He was surrounded by iconic players during his seven seasons with the Red Sox from 1974 to 1980, including Hall of Famers Jim Rice, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk and Dennis Eckersley.
Despite its championship-level talent, Boston was unable to get over the hump in October, losing to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1975 World Series and failing to return to the playoffs until 1986.
While the star-crossed 1975 and 1978 squads are the most memorable ones from that era, Lynn doesn’t believe either one was the best team he ever played for. Instead, he declared the 1977 Red Sox the best club he played for during his 17-year Major League career in a recent post on X.
At first glance, it seems like a curious choice. Boston didn’t make the postseason that year and finished with two fewer wins (97) than the 1978 team.
However, the 1977 Red Sox were one of the greatest offensive teams in franchise history. Their 859 runs scored were their most in any season between 1951 and 1996.
Looking at their lineup, it’s not hard to see why. Boston clubbed 213 home runs — a franchise record at the time — and sent six hitters to the All-Star Game, including Lynn. Eight players mashed double-digit homers, with five surpassing 25. Four players cleared 100 RBI.
The Red Sox were less formidable on the mound, but still had a solid rotation of Luis Tiant, Fergie Jenkins, Reggie Cleveland, Rick Wise and Bill Lee, plus Bob Stanley and All-Star closer Bill Campbell in the bullpen. With seven All-Stars, Boston tied the Reds for the most in baseball that year.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, they finished 2.5 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East despite playing incredible baseball that year. They had a 16-1 stretch at one point and spent much of the summer in first place, but ultimately fell just short despite going 22-8 to close out the season.
The following year would bring even more heartache for Boston, which squandered a double-digit lead in the standings and lost a one-game tiebreaker to the Yankees at Fenway Park to end the season.
While the 1977 Red Sox may not be remembered as well as they should, at least Lynn is giving them the credit they deserve.