What’s Wrong With This ‘Perfect’ All-Time Red Sox Lineup?

What would an all-time Boston Red Sox lineup look like?

It’s a fascinating question for Red Sox and other baseball fans to think about, especially given the illustrious history of the Red Sox, a team that has housed many a legend through the decades.

On Friday, X account @fosportz took a stab at the assignment, landing at the following lineup:

2B Dustin Pedroia
OF Mookie Betts
OF Ted Williams
DH David Ortiz
3B Rafael Devers
OF Manny Ramirez
1B Jimmie Foxx
C Carlton Fisk
SS Nomar Garciaparra
SP: Pedro Martinez
RP: Jonathan Papelbon
CP: Aroldis Chapman

Is this the PERFECT All-Time Red Sox Lineup?

2B Dustin Pedroia
OF Mookie Betts
OF Ted Williams
DH Big Papi
3B Rafael Devers
OF Manny Ramirez
1B Jimmie Foxx
C Pudge
SS Nomah

SP: Pedro Martinez
RP: Jonathan Papelbon
CP: Aroldis Chapman pic.twitter.com/TmrIQnRnMo

— Sportz Nation (@fosportz) August 15, 2025

Certain guys on the list (Williams) are impossible to disagree with, but not every player included by @fosportz can be considered a lock.

What changes would you make to this list?

Some interesting notes: Williams is the only Red Sox player in franchise history to win more than one MVP award (1946, 1949). Martinez is tied with Roger Clemens for the most Cy Young awards (3) in franchise history.

Boston’s No. 3 and No. 4 all-time leaders in home runs, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice, respectively, are notable omissions from the above list. Also, who would you elect to manage this club?

The Red Sox have a storied history. More all-time greats have donned a Red Sox uniform than a single lineup has space for.

Nowadays, Boston fans are hoping that elite talents like Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony — both recently extended — will have careers at Fenway Park worthy of inclusion on such an iconic list, but, of course, it’s far, far too early to tell.