Statistically speaking, very few players who dream of making it to the “big leagues” actually do. Even rarer are those instances of making it to the big leagues and playing for the “home team.” For the following seven players born in the New England state of Maine, however, they were able to make their dreams come true, by making it to the majors and getting to wear a Red Sox uniform.
Maine Red Sox Players
Clarence Blethen
Clarence Blethen was born in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine in 1893. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 1923. The right-hander pitched a total of 17 2/3 innings over five games that season. He struck out two, walked seven, and allowed 15 runs (14 earned) on 29 hits. He finished his Red Sox career with a 7.13 ERA. It would be six seasons before Blethen would see the major leagues again. He appeared in two games for Brooklyn during the 1929 season.
Bill Carrigan
Bill Carrigan spent his entire 10-year career with the Boston Americans (The predecessor to the Red Sox moniker). The Lewiston-born Carrigan had his most productive season offensively in 1910 when he appeared in a career-high 114 games. As the Red Sox backstop that year, Carrigan batted .249, with career highs of three home runs and 53 RBIs. Carrigan would also go on to two stints as manager of his “hometown” team. He was a player/manager from 1913-1916. He then served as manager from 1927-1929.
Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, Oct 11, 1916 – Red Sox player/manager Bill Carrigan is choked up on the bat a good 6 inches as he hits in Game 4 of 1916 World Series vs Brooklyn Robins. Red Sox won 6-2 to take 3-1 games lead in series and next day took Game 5 for their 4th series title pic.twitter.com/iIuSBIxd08
— Old-Time Baseball Photos (@OTBaseballPhoto) January 29, 2020
Curt Fullerton
Ellsworth’s Curt Fullerton spent parts of six seasons with his hometown Red Sox. The righty debuted with the Red Sox in 1921. He would see parts of the next four seasons with the club with little success. After bouncing around the minor leagues over the following eight seasons, Fullerton would once again see the major leagues with the Red Sox in 1933. For his career, Fullerton was 10-37 with a 5.11 ERA in 423 innings throughout 115 major league appearances, all with the Red Sox.
Harry Lord
Harry Lord was born in Porter in 1882. The primary third baseman, and sometimes left fielder, spent nine seasons in the big leagues. Lord spent parts of his first four major league seasons (1907-1910) with the Red Sox. Lord set his Red Sox career-high batting average in 1909 (.315). He had his Red Sox career highs in RBI (37) and home runs (two) in 1908, helping the Red Sox to a World Series championship. During the 1910 season, Lord was traded to the Chicago White Sox.
Charlie Small
Mainly used as a pinch hitter, and occasionally a center fielder, Charlie Small played 25 career major league games, all with the Red Sox during the 1930 season. The Auburn-born Small batted .167 in 22 plate appearances. He had three hits while walking twice and striking out five times. He was 1-for-1 in stolen bases.
George “Squanto” Wilson
Squanto Wilson played a total of six Major League games. He made his only official appearance for the Red Sox during the 1914 season, as a pinch runner. The Old Town-raised Wilson also played five games for the Detroit Tigers in 1911.
Bob Stanley
Arguably the best player born in Maine, the pride of Portland had a successful 13-year career (1977-1989) all with the Red Sox. Bob Stanley was a two-time All-Star (1979, 1983). For his career, the right-hander was 115-97 (1,707 innings) with a 3.64 ERA. His best season for the Sox came in 1978, when he was 15-2 with a 2.60 ERA, in 141 2/3 innings, over 52 appearances. Stanley is seen in the image above reminiscing on his career at a September 2023 event.
Takeaway
The Pine Tree State has produced a multitude of players who would go on to see action in the major leagues. Of the many, only seven were able to realize their dream of making it to the major leagues and getting the opportunity to play for the “home team”, the Boston Red Sox.
Photo Credit: © Deb Cram / USA TODAY NETWORK
