Kevin Youkilis announced today that he is retiring today after a career that saw him win two World Series Rings with the Boston Red Sox.
Dubbed “the Greek God of Walks” from the best seller, Moneyball, Youkilis would become one of the more unique players in the game, and amongst Boston Red Sox fans, one of the most popular. Youkilis, who looked anything but an athlete, and had a strange batting stance, was known for his grittiness and intense desire to win, very much epitomizing the Red Sox Championship teams of 2004 and 2007 that he was on.
Drafted by the Red Sox in 2001, Youkilis first played for the big club in the 2004 World Series Championship team in a reserve role, and would emerge as the starting First Basemen in 2006. “Youk” would have three seasons batting over .300, two with an On Base Percentage over .400 and would be chosen for the American League All Star Team three times. 2008 would be his best statistical season, where he finished third in MVP voting and had career highs in Home Runs (29) and Runs Batted In (115) and the following season he finished sixth, sporting a career high bWAR (6.6) and On Base Percentage (.413). That year he was named the American League Hank Aaron Award winner, which is given to the best hitter in each league.
In 2012, Youkilis was traded to the Chicago White Sox, soon after unpopular Manager Bobby Valentine, questioned the desire of the popular Infielder. By this time however, injuries caught up to Youkilis who would have an uneventful half season in Chicago, another season with the Yankees, and his final one this year playing in Japan with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, where injuries only allowed him to play in 21 Games.
Over his career, Youkilis would have a Slash Line of .281/.382/.478 with 1,053 Hits, 150 Home Runs and a bWAR of32.7 over ten seasons in the Majors. These are not numbers that would put him in the Baseball Hall of Fame, however the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame seems like a foregone conclusion, and we expect to be writing about his admission once eligible.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank Kevin Youkilis for his fine career, and for the chants of “Youk” that he inspired at Fenway for years.
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