Jason Varitek — 33 | C
Fast Facts about Jason Varitek
Date of Birth: 11 April 1972
Place of Birth: Rochester, MI
Height: 6-2 Weight: 230
College: Georgia Tech
Drafted: 1994 (Seattle Mariners)
Years Pro: 12
Years with Red Sox: 12
Bats: S
Throws: R
Batting Statistics for Jason Varitek through 2008 Season
SEASON
AB
R
H
HR
RBI
BB
SB
AVG
1997 — BOS
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
.000
1998 — BOS
221
31
56
7
33
17
2
.253
1999 — BOS
483
70
130
20
76
46
1
.269
2000 — BOS
448
55
111
10
65
60
1
.248
2001 — BOS
174
19
51
7
25
21
0
.293
2002 — BOS
467
58
124
10
61
41
4
.266
2003 — BOS
451
63
123
25
85
51
3
.273
2004 — BOS
463
67
137
18
73
62
10
.296
2005 — BOS
470
70
132
22
70
62
2
.281
2006 — BOS
365
46
87
12
55
46
1
.238
2007 — BOS
435
57
111
17
68
71
1
.255
2008 — BOS
423
37
93
13
43
52
0
.220
TOTAL
4401
573
1156
161
654
529
25
.263
More about Jason Varitek
- The veteran catcher played for Georgia Tech in college alongside future Red Sox players Nomar Garciaparra and Darren Bragg and was named Baseball America's College Player of the Year in 1993. He also represented Team USA during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
- Varitek was part of one of the best trades ever made by the Red Sox; in 1997, he came to Boston along with pitcher Derek Lowe in exchange for closer Heathcliff Slocumb. After splitting time Scott Hatteberg during the 1998 season, "Tek" became the regular catcher in 1999. The only significant time he has missed since then was in 2001, when he injured his shoulder chasing after a foul ball at Fenway Park in June, limiting him to just 51 games.
- During his tenure in Boston, Varitek has been behind the plate for four no-hitters, a major league record: Hideo Nomo on 04 April 2001 in Baltimore, Lowe on 27 April 2002 against Tampa Bay at Fenway Park, the first no-hitter thrown at home by a Boston pitcher since Dave Morehead in 1965, Clay Buchholz on 01 September 2007 against Baltimore at Fenway in the rookie pitcher's second major league start, and Jon Lester on 19 May 2008 against Kansas City at Fenway.
- In 2003, Varitek was chosen by fans as the 30th player to represent the American League in the 2003 All-Star Game, though he was never inserted into the lineup during that contest. In 2005, he was voted in as the starter and went 1-for-1 with a walk and a run scored.
- Always considered a clubhouse leader, Varitek was named just the third captain for the Red Sox since 1923 in December of 2004 after signing a four-year contract that will keep him in Boston through the 2008 season. The only other players since then to earn that recognition were Carl Yastrzemski (1969-1983) and Jim Rice (1985-1989). Varitek responded with one of his best seasons, hitting 22 home runs and driving in 70 runs while batting .281.
- In 2005, Varitek earned a Gold Glove award as the American League's best defensive catcher, the first Red Sox player to earn the award at any position since former Boston catcher Tony Pena in 1991.
- On 18 July 2006, Varitek surpassed Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk as the all-time leader in games caught for the Red Sox with 991. He helped celebrate the occasion by catching a combined one-hitter thrown by rookie starter Jon Lester and rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon and scored the lone run in Boston's 1-0 win over Kansas City.
Memorable Moments for Jason Varitek
- 31 July 1997 - The Red Sox perhaps make the best deal in franchise history when they send Heathcliff Slocumb to the Mariners in exchange for future All-Stars Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe.
- 6 October 2003 - Boston completes the comeback from an 0-2 series deficit with a 4-3 win over Oakland in Game Five of the division series. Jason Varitek and Manny Ramirez both homer to score all four Boston runs and Derek Lowe comes from the bullpen to record the final three outs.
- 24 July 2004 - Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez rumble after the latter is hit by a Bronson Arroyo pitch in the third; Boston gets the last laugh and rallies to win 11-10 over New York at Fenway Park thanks to Bill Mueller's two-run home run in the ninth off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.
- 24 October 2004 - Boston wins Game Two of the 2004 World Series 6-2 over St. Louis at Fenway Park thanks to another surprising performance from starter Curt Schilling, who allows an unearned run in six innings of work with blood leeching through his sock from his reconstructed right ankle. Jason Varitek leads the offensive attack for the Red Sox with a two-run triple.
- 11 May 2005 - One day after teammate Kevin Millar wins the game for Boston with a walk-off, two-run home run for a 3-2 Red Sox win over the Athletics, Jason Varitek victimizes Oakland reliever Octavio Dotel with a two-run walk-off home run of his own as the Red Sox win 7-6.
- 22 April 2007 - Manny Ramirez, J. D. Drew, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek hit four consecutive home runs in the third inning, the first time in Red Sox history this feat has occurred. All four home runs were off of 10 pitches from Yankees rookie Chase Wright, making just his second major league start. Boston eventually wins 7-6.
- 30 April 2008 - For the second game in a row, Boston beats Toronto with a ninth-inning, two-out base hit that scores the winning run; catcher Jason Varitek singles home Manny Ramirez to give the Sox a 2-1 win one day after Kevin Youkilis plates David Ortiz in a 1-0 victory over the Blue Jays.
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