2003 Boston Red Sox season
Encyclopedia
The Boston Red Sox
' 2003 season
included the Red Sox attempting to win the American League East division
, the ALDS
, and the American League
.
Game 2: Oakland 5 – Boston 1
Game 3: Boston 3 – Oakland 1
Game 4: Boston 5 – Oakland 4
Game 5: Boston 4 – Oakland 3
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
' 2003 season
2003 Major League Baseball season
*World Series MVP: Josh Beckett**American League Championship Series MVP: Mariano Rivera**National League Championship Series MVP: Iván Rodríguez*All-Star Game, July 15 at U.S...
included the Red Sox attempting to win the American League East division
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
, the ALDS
American League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series...
, and the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
.
Offseason
- On November 25, 2002, Theo EpsteinTheo EpsteinTheo Nathan Epstein is the President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs.On November 25, 2002, he became the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball when the Boston Red Sox hired him at the age of 28...
, 28, was hired as General Manager of the Boston Red Sox. The vacancy occurred because Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy BeaneBilly BeaneWilliam Lamar "Billy" Beane III is a former Major League Baseball player and the current general manager and minority owner of the Oakland Athletics...
accepted the Red Sox job and then resigned shortly afterward. Epstein's hiring made him the youngest general manager in major league history. Larry Lucchino, Red Sox' President and CEO, wanted Epstein to be hired. Prior to the appointment, Epstein was Boston's assistant general manager.
- October 9, 2002: Brandon Lyon was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox from the Toronto Blue Jays.
- November 6, 2002: Chris CosteChris CosteChristopher Robert Coste is an author and Major League Baseball catcher who is currently a free agent. Coste was on a Major League Baseball team for the first time in his career at age 33...
signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox. - December 6, 2002: Wayne Gomes was released by the Boston Red Sox.
- December 31, 2002: Ramiro Mendoza signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
- January 10, 2003: Bill Mueller was signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
- January 22, 2003: David OrtizDavid OrtizDavid Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...
was signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox. - February 15, 2003: Kevin Millar was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Florida Marlins.
Regular season
Notable transactions
- April 11, 2003: Bill Haselman signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox.
- June 28, 2003: Gabe KaplerGabe KaplerGabriel "Gabe" Stefan Kapler is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.He has played portions of 13 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Tampa Bay Rays...
was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Colorado Rockies. - July 22, 2003: Brandon Lyon was traded by the Boston Red Sox with Anastacio Martinez to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Mike Gonzalez and Scott Sauerbeck.
- July 31, 2003: Freddy Sanchez was traded by the Boston Red Sox with Mike Gonzalez and cash to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Brandon Lyon, Jeff Suppan, and Anastacio Martinez.
Opening Day Lineup
| 18 | Johnny Damon Johnny Damon Johnny David Damon is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter. From 2000–2008, he was third among active players in runs and seventh in hits and stolen bases . He is currently second among active leaders in triples , five behind Carl Crawford... |
CF |
| 12 | Todd Walker Todd Walker Todd Arthur Walker is a former Major League Baseball infielder.-College:Walker attended LSU where he led the Tigers to the 1993 national championship. He also earned the 1993 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award. In 2006, Walker was elected to the LSU Hall of Fame... |
2B |
| 5 | Nomar Garciaparra Nomar Garciaparra Anthony Nomar Garciaparra is a former Major League Baseball player. After playing parts of 9 seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played third base, first base, and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics, first base and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and... |
SS |
| 24 | Manny Ramírez Manny Ramírez Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28... |
LF |
| 15 | Kevin Millar Kevin Millar Kevin Charles Millar is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current analyst for MLB Network and New England Sports Network. Millar played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he continues to reside in the off-season. Millar is the nephew of former... |
1B |
| 29 | Shea Hillenbrand Shea Hillenbrand Shea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League.... |
3B |
| 25 | Jeremy Giambi Jeremy Giambi Jeremy Dean Giambi is a left-handed, former Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Red Sox. He also played in the minors for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. He is the younger brother of Colorado Rockies first... |
DH |
| 7 | Trot Nixon Trot Nixon Christopher Trotman Nixon is an American retired professional baseball right fielder. He played from 1996-2008 for three different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the Boston Red Sox... |
RF |
| 33 | Jason Varitek Jason Varitek Jason Andrew Varitek is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Boston Red Sox... |
C |
| 45 | Pedro Martínez Pedro Martínez Pedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion... |
P |
Roster
| 2003 Boston Red Sox cc | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Designated hitters |
Manager Coaches (Bench) (Bullpen) |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|
ALDS vs Oakland
Game 1: Oakland 5 – Boston 4Game 2: Oakland 5 – Boston 1
Game 3: Boston 3 – Oakland 1
Game 4: Boston 5 – Oakland 4
Game 5: Boston 4 – Oakland 3
ALCS: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
New York wins the series, 4–3| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Red Sox – 5, New York Yankees – 2 | October 8 | Yankee Stadium | 56,281 |
| 2 | Boston Red Sox – 2, New York Yankees – 6 | October 9 | Yankee Stadium | 56,295 |
| 3 | New York Yankees – 4, Boston Red Sox – 3 | October 11 | Fenway Park Fenway Park Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"... |
34,209 |
| 4 | New York Yankees – 2, Boston Red Sox – 3 | October 13 | Fenway Park Fenway Park Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"... |
34,599 |
| 5 | New York Yankees – 4, Boston Red Sox – 2 | October 14 | Fenway Park Fenway Park Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"... |
34,619 |
| 6 | Boston Red Sox – 9, New York Yankees – 6 | October 15 | Yankee Stadium | 56,277 |
| 7 | Boston Red Sox – 5, New York Yankees – 6 (11 innings) | October 16 | Yankee Stadium | 56,279 |