Editor's note: NESN.com is teaming up with WhatIfSports.com to crown the greatest Red Sox team of all time with the "Red Sox Showdown for the Ages." For more information on the 16-team tournament, click here.
The "Red Sox Showdown for the Ages" is two rounds in, and the search for the best all-time Red Sox lineup has just begun.
Two of the most popular figures in the history of the Red Sox have stood between second and third base at Fenway Park as a Boston shortstop. Johnny Pesky is arguably the most beloved player ever to put on a Sox uniform. Roughly 50 years later, Nomar Garciaparra captivated a new generation of Red Sox fans, as he elevated himself to arguably the best shortstop in the game for a handful of years. And until Garciaparra came along, it was Rico Petrocelli that put up some of the best shortstop seasons in franchise history as a member of some memorable teams in the '60s and '70s. And then before any of them, it was Joe Cronin patrolling the left side of the infield on his way to five All-Star selections during his time in Boston.
Be sure to vote below. Also, click here or tweet @NESN to share your all-time Red Sox lineup.
Who is the best shortstop in Red Sox history?survey software
