I'd guess you could say the first Red Sox closer was The Monster, Dick Radatz
Since then there have been 15 other relievers with 47 or more saves for the Sox. Why 47 for a cutoff? Because that lets us include all 4 World Series closers. Why use saves as the criteria? Because I'm not sure what other stat defines a Closer, and this thread is about Best Closer, not Best Reliever.
Listed here in alphabetical order are those 16. Remember, nobody knew what a "Save" was when Radatz and some of the other pioneers of the back end of the bullpen were closing games, their stats were compiled retroactively.
Bill Campbell
Mike Fornieles (pre save era)
Keith Foulke
Tom Gordon
Craig Kimbrel
Ellis Kinder (also pre-save era)
Derek Lowe
Sparky Lyle (partially pre-save)
Jonathan Papelbon
Dick Radatz (pre save era)
Jeff Reardon
Heathcliff Slocumb
Lee Smith
Bob Stanley
Koji Uehara
Ugueth Urbina
Just missing the cutoff, but also in the top 20 are Jeff Russell, Dick Drago, Tom Burgmeier and Mark Clear
So, who was the best closer for the Boston Red Sox? For purposes of this discussion, only their time in Boston should be considered.
You can nominate ONE closer in your post, so think carefully. Any and all supporting stats, facts, memories, and feelings are welcomed. Nominees do not have to be these 16 (or 20) if you have a good reason to nominate someone else. Like a guy who actually closed out a World Series, even though he didn't get the save.
Put your nominee in BOLDFACE. I'll take the 10 Closers with the most nominations and put them into a poll sometime next week. I expect the first 3 WS closers will get the most nominations and votes, but I'll be happy to be surprised.
Since then there have been 15 other relievers with 47 or more saves for the Sox. Why 47 for a cutoff? Because that lets us include all 4 World Series closers. Why use saves as the criteria? Because I'm not sure what other stat defines a Closer, and this thread is about Best Closer, not Best Reliever.
Listed here in alphabetical order are those 16. Remember, nobody knew what a "Save" was when Radatz and some of the other pioneers of the back end of the bullpen were closing games, their stats were compiled retroactively.
Bill Campbell
Mike Fornieles (pre save era)
Keith Foulke
Tom Gordon
Craig Kimbrel
Ellis Kinder (also pre-save era)
Derek Lowe
Sparky Lyle (partially pre-save)
Jonathan Papelbon
Dick Radatz (pre save era)
Jeff Reardon
Heathcliff Slocumb
Lee Smith
Bob Stanley
Koji Uehara
Ugueth Urbina
Just missing the cutoff, but also in the top 20 are Jeff Russell, Dick Drago, Tom Burgmeier and Mark Clear
So, who was the best closer for the Boston Red Sox? For purposes of this discussion, only their time in Boston should be considered.
You can nominate ONE closer in your post, so think carefully. Any and all supporting stats, facts, memories, and feelings are welcomed. Nominees do not have to be these 16 (or 20) if you have a good reason to nominate someone else. Like a guy who actually closed out a World Series, even though he didn't get the save.
Put your nominee in BOLDFACE. I'll take the 10 Closers with the most nominations and put them into a poll sometime next week. I expect the first 3 WS closers will get the most nominations and votes, but I'll be happy to be surprised.