#98

Brian Daubach, 1B

"Dauber," as he is affectionately called in Faithful, is possibly one of the more beloved characters of the 21st century Red Sox. He also holds the distinction of being one of the very few "replacement players" from the 1994 strike (or lock-out, rather) to have made it to the Show.

Daubach was drafted by the Mets in 1990, and he toiled in obscurity until the strike of 1994 not only cancelled the World Series that season, but threatened the 1995 season. Owners, fooling themselves into believing they would not cave in to player's union demands, then threatened to use replacement players, much as the NFL did in 1987. Let's just say that the plan did not work out for the MLB nearly as well as it did for the NFL. Whereas the NFL was able to break the union, and all the players returned after only 3 games, the MLB owners watched as their shaky relationship with the fans of the game spiralled into an abyss. No games were played with the "scabs," and all who crossed the picket lines have been permanently shunned by the MLBPA. This list includes Dauber and the late Cory Lidle.

Daubach's best years have been as a Red Sock (1999-2002, 2004). He averaged 21 homers and 75 RBI per season with the Sox. A gritty, throw-back type player, he is considered a founding member of the Boston Dirt Dogs, a counter-culture website/organization that first broke news of the A-Rod trade and Nomar not wanting his ring.

Daubach is currently toiling in Memphis, part of the Cardinals' organization. He earned a ring for being a member of the 2004 World Championship Sox team, though he batted only .227 and hit only 2 home runs in 30 games.