#93 Doug Mientkiewicz

Mientkiewicz arrived in Boston courtesy of the Nomar Garciaparra trade on 7/31/2004. He hit .215 for the Sox in 49 games (107 ABs) with only 10 RBI, but hitting was not his forte. He was acquired for his defense, and to fill that gaping hole at first base in 2004. He managed only 5 ABs in 8 games through the LCS andWorld Series in 2004, as he was mostly a defensive replacement.

Playing first in the bottom of the ninth in Game 4 of the 2004 World Seires, he recorded the final out for the Sox first title in 86 years. He kept the ball.

This created controversy and animosity between Mientkiewicz and the team. Traditionally, the balls are kept by the palyers, mbut this ball seemed to have significanse beyond the horsehide & twine comprising it. The Sox wanted the ball, Mientkiewicz kept the ball, and name-calling began among the Faithful. The Sox and the fans were and are wrong. The ball belongs to Mientkiewicz.

The story ends well, though, as he agreed in 2006 that the ball would go to the Hall of Fame. He was traded to the Mets on 1/27/2005, just four days short of the six-month-aversary of his arrival in Beantown.