Second base
Pedroia, 37, spent his entire 17-year career with the Red Sox after being selected by the club in the second round of the June 2004 draft. Three-time World Series champion (2007, ’13, ’18), was named American League debutant in 2007 and most valuable player in 2008. Won four All-Star Game selections (2008-10, ’13), four Gold Glove Awards at second base ( 2008, ’11, ’13 -14) and a 2008 Silver Slugger Award and is the only second base member ever named the Red Sox MVP by Boston Baseball Writers (2008, ’12). In 2012, Pedroia was named the All-Fenway’s second baseman.
“Dustin is far more than his award for the most valuable player in the American League, his All-Star game selections and the gold gloves he has amassed throughout his impressive 17-year career in our organization.” , said owner John Henry.
“Dustin came to represent the kind of passion, passion and competitive momentum that resonates with baseball fans everywhere and especially with Red Sox fans. He played the game he loves in the service of our club, its principles and in pursuing the championships. Above all, we are forever grateful to him for what he has brought to our club and our region as an important model that shows us all how much can be achieved with determination and hard work. ”
“Dustin has been an integral part of our club from draft day to retirement,” said president Tom Werner. “During my time with the Red Sox, we had the opportunity to see Dustin evolve into one of the best second base players in the game as a player and watch him grow up as a husband for Kelli and a father for the three children. its incredible. The full impact of the Pedroia family extends beyond the walls of Fenway Park and the Boston community through their work with military families and the Jimmy Fund. We congratulate Dustin on an extraordinary career and thank him and Kelli for their contributions to our club and community. ”
“Through championships and injuries, Dustin’s disciplined approach has never faltered,” said President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “His work ethic is incomparable and I saw him attack his rehabilitation during the last chapter of his career with the same intensity in which he approached the box of the old drummer. I know that closing its peaks is not an easy decision for a competitor of its quality. We are lucky to have had him in the Red Sox uniform for so long and look forward to receiving him back at Fenway Park to celebrate his career. ”
In the history of the major leagues, Pedroia is the only player to ever win a World Series title and win MVP, Rookie of the Year and Gold Glove awards in the first two full seasons, after achieving this in 2007-08. The only other players to have achieved all of these achievements at any point in their careers are National Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench and Cal Ripken Jr., as well as Pete Rose, Thurman Munson, Albert Pujols, Buster Posey and Cody. Bellinger.
Pedroia was nominated for the Red Sox for the MLB Players’ Heart and Hustle Award in seven consecutive 2010-16 seasons and was named MLB’s overall winner in 2013. The award is given annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game. baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game. He also received the Jackie Jensen Award for Boston Baseball Writers in 2011 and 2014, given annually to a Red Sox player for spirit and determination.
In the 120-year history of the Red Sox, Pedroia’s 1,506 games have played 11th of all time and are second only to the club’s second member, following only Bobby. Doerr (1,865). Pedroia played in 14 major league seasons from 2006-19, tied with Doerr and David Ortiz in seventh place in franchise history, behind only Carl Yastrzemski (23), Dwight Evans (19), Ted Williams (19) , Tim Wakefield (17), Jim Rice (16) and Jason Varitek (15). Pedroia made 11 consecutive opening starts in 2007-17, following only Yastrzemski (12 in the left field) for the longest series ever by a Red Sox player in any position. In the 11 seasons before 2007 (1996-2006), 10 different players started the opening day at second base for Boston.
In her major league career, Pedroia beat .299 (1,805-for-6,031) with a .365 base, 140 home runs, 394 doubles, 725 RBI, 922 run runs, 138 stolen bases and only 30 fewer walks (624) than shots (654). In Red Sox history, he ranks among the top 10 of all time in hits (8), doubles (6), runs (10), steals (6), extra-base hits (8, 549), total bases (8, 2649)) and bats (9th). During his 10-year period in 2007-16, 50.6 victories over the substitute ranked sixth in the majors behind only Robinson Canó (57.6), Adrián Beltré (56.2), Albert Pujols (55 , 3), Miguel Cabrera (54.8) and Clayton Kershaw (53.9), according to Baseball-Reference. In that 10-year period, Pedroia beat .303 and placed second in the AL doubles (371), fourth in strokes (1,666) and fourth in marked races (869).
Pedroia hit at least .300 in a season five times and was the only major league player to beat at least .275 in each of the 11 seasons of 2007-17 (min. 300 PA). His five games with at least five hits are the most in Red Sox history and he is the only player in the franchise to have recorded up to six lines of 10 or more games in a single season (2016). The biggest hit of 25 games in 2011 is the longest ever recorded by a second baseman for the Red Sox, while his 138 steals are the largest in the franchise in his position. Pedroia is the only second base player in Red Sox history to record at least 200 hits and 100 runs in a season (2008, ’16). He still holds one-season franchise records in the average of beats (.326), runs (118), hits (213), doubles (54), total bases (322) and extra-base hits (73) of a second baseman, it all came down to his 2008 MVP season. Pedroia joins Yastrzemski and Mookie Betts as the only Red Sox to ever reach 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases.
In addition to the four Gold Glove Awards, Pedroia was named a runner-up in second base in 2012, 2016 and 2017. Her winning percentage of .991 at second base is the highest in AL history; he holds eight of the 12 highest single-season championships at second base in Red Sox history, including a .997 franchise mark in 2014. Pedroia has won 439 consecutive chances without making a mistake during a stretch from 2009-10 and played 114 consecutive error-free games since 2016-17, both of which the Red Sox record at second base. He also holds Red Sox records in a single season for most games (160) and starts (159) at second base, both achieved in the club’s 2013 World Series championship season.
Pedroia was the second base member of the Red Sox in all of the club’s 51 postseason games in 2007-17, with Mark Lemke (Braves, 55) and Robinson Canó (Yankees). , 51) as the only players to ever start at least 50 consecutive postseason games at second base for a single team. During his debut season in 2007, Pedroia won 3 to 5 with a home and five RBI in Game 7 of the ALCS, as he still holds the debutant record for most RBI in an ALCS game. He is one of two newcomers to ever play in Game 7 of an ALCS with Randy Arozarena in 2020. Pedroia made it to the bottom of the first half of Game 1 of the 2007 World Series in Fenway Park; he is still the only rookie to ever win a starting round in the World Series.
In 2014, Pedroia launched the Pedroia’s Platoon program as a way to invite military members to Fenway Park during households, meeting with them before games and offering them tickets to their seats. He has also been involved in countless Jimmy Fund events, met several children as part of the Make-A-Wish program, and participated regularly in Red Sox Foundation events.
Pedroia and his wife, Kelli, have three sons, Dylan, Cole and Brooks. I live in Arizona.