This week, Xander Bogaerts became the 30th player in Red Sox history to play 1,000 games with the club. And he’s just the 10th Sox player to do it before turning 29 years old. He would have reached the milestone last year, if not for the pandemic-shortened season.
I’m a big Bogaerts’ fan; I think we all are. Bogey is on the short list of greatest shortstops in Red Sox history, a group that also includes Hall of Famer Joe Cronin, Johnny Pesky, Rico Petrocelli and, of course, Nomar Garciaparra.
Cronin retired as a player in 1945, and then went on to a 15-year managerial career. Pesky retied in 1952. Petrocelli exited the game in 1976. Most current fans never saw any of them play. Nomar played for the Red Sox as recently as 2004.
There’s a recency bias that favors both Bogaerts and Garciaparra, but the numbers do too.
Since the two players appeared in nearly the same number of games and had essentially the same number of at-bats with the Red Sox, this is a great time to assess and compare the two. Who is/was better?
Xander (age 28) - 1000 games, 3866 AB, 597 R, 1125 H, 246 2B, 14 3B, 124 HR, 549 RBI, 350 BB, 776 K, 63 SB, .291/.352/.458/.810
As you can see, Nomar appeared in fewer games and had fewer at-bats than Xander, yet has a significant edge in every single category, except walks. Yet, he still had a better on-base percentage.
When it comes to offense, Nomar was clearly the superior player; he was a generational talent who would have been elected to the Hall of Fame had his body not broken down at such an early age. Garciaparra was plagued by a genetic condition (exertional compartment syndrome) that affected his connective tissues. HIs career was over by age 35, and he never played in more than 122 games over his final six seasons. In fact, he appeared in just 55 and 65 games, respectively, over his last two seasons.
Garciaparra was Rookie of the Year, a six-time All Star, won two batting titles and a Silver Slugger. He had five top-ten MVP finishes, including runner up in ’98.
Bogaerts is a two-time All Star, has won three Silver Sluggers, and is a two time World Series champion. He's had one top-five MVP finish.
Neither player was/is particularly noted for their defense. For example, neither ever won a Gold Glove Award.
Over 11 seasons, Garciaparra posted a .968 fielding percentage at shortstop. He had 1606 putouts in 4710 chances and made 149 errors.
Over nine seasons, Bogaerts has accumulated a .977 fielding percentage. He has 1202 putouts in 3573 chances and has made 82 errors.
Slight advantage, Bogaerts.
Bogaerts is just 28 and, barring injury, has roughly another decade to build his case for Hall of Fame consideration. He is certainly on that trajectory at present.
But when it comes to who was better after roughly the same number of games and at-bats, the answer, undoubtedly, is Garciaparra.
Though he was often overshadowed by his contemporaries, Alex Rodriguez (who was PED-enhanced) and Derek Jeter (who won five World Series playing for the Yankees, arguably the most famous and illustrious sports franchise in the world), Garciaparra was better than Jeter and was nearly the equal of the freakish Rodriguez.
Garciaparra’s career, despite its greatness, will always be a matter of what might have been. He averaged just 84 games a season over his final six years.
Nine years into his career, Bogaerts is still in his prime and he is flourishing. He continues to write his story each day, and what a story it is.
Enjoy every moment of it, Red Sox fans. As Nomar knows all too well, you never know when, or how quickly, it will come to an end.
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