Red Sox Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr is being remembered as a great player and team leader. Doerr died Monday at age 99.
Red Sox historian Gordon Edes says the nine-time All Star was undoubtedly the best second baseman in Red Sox history.
"We're talking about a guy who was a seven-time All Star, had some power and was a run producer, which is unusual for the second base position," Edes said. Doerr drove in over 100 runs six times in his career. "In the field he was an outstanding defender at second base, combining with Johnny Pesky to form a terrific double-play combination. And beyond that, he was a remarkable teammate."
Doerr was dubbed the "Silent Captain" by his teammate and friend Ted Williams.
"Bobby was a guy that Ted regarded as a confidant," Edes said. "When Ted was upset he would go for long walks with Bobby on the road and confide in him. And it seems like he had that impact on everyone on that ball club. Just someone who was universally respected."
Edes said other teammates called Doerr the nicest person they'd ever met.
Doerr was the oldest living major league player prior to his passing.
“There is something fitting about Bobby Doerr becoming the patriarch of baseball, outliving all of those he played with and against,” Red Sox President/CEO Sam Kennedy said in a written statement. “Bobby was a special player, to be sure, a Hall of Famer, but he also commanded universal respect from all those fortunate enough to have crossed his path. We celebrated his return every time he came back to us here at Fenway Park, and we now mourn his passing, grateful for the wonderful memories he left.”
Doerr joined the Red Sox in 1937 at only 19 years old, and played 14 seasons with the team. His record of six 100-RBI seasons remained unmatched by another second baseman for 25 years.
