Baseball fans pick best Boston Red Sox players of past 100 years

To celebrate the centennial of Fenway Park, the club conducted an online election, the results of which are sure to be debated.

The older any major-league team is, the harder it can be to pick the best players during its existence. So when the Boston Red Sox decided to let fans select an All-Fenway Park 100th Anniversary Team, it offloaded a lot of potential controversy in choosing from an incredibly deep reservoir of all-stars, from Babe Ruth, who pitched for the Red Sox from 1914 to 1919, to David Ortiz, the team's current sultan of swat.

Here is the lineup as chosen in online balloting and announced at the team's final home game of the season on Sept. 26: 

Right-handed pitcher – Pedro Martinez

Also on the ballot: Dennis Eckersley, Tex Hughson, Jim Lonborg, Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens Bill Monbouquette, Luis Tiant, Tim Wakefield, and Smoky Joe Wood.

Left-handed pitcher – Lefty Grove

Also on the ballot: Ray Collins, Bruce Hurst, Bill Lee, Dutch Leonard, Jon Lester, Mel Parnell, Herb Pennock, and Babe Ruth.

Catcher – Carlton Fisk

Also on the ballot: Rick Ferrell, Rich Gedman, Birdie Tebbetts, Jason Varitek, and Sammy White.

First base – Jimmie Foxx

Also on the ballot: Bill Buckner, Stuffy McInnis, George Scott, Mo Vaughn, and Kevin Youkilis.

Second base – Dustin Pedroia

Also on the ballot: Mike Andrews, Marty Barrett, Bobby Doerr, Pete Runnels, Dustin Pedroia, and Jerry Remy.

Third base – Wade Boggs

Also on the ballot: Larry Gardner, Mike Lowell, Frank Malzone, Bill Mueller, and John Valentin.

Shortstop – Nomar Garciaparra

Also on the ballot: Rick Burleson, Joe Cronin, Johnny Pesky, Rico Petrocelli, and Everett Scott.

Left field – Ted Williams

Also on the ballot: Carl Yastrzemski, Mike Greenwell, Duffy Lewis, Manny Ramirez, Jim Rice, Ted Williams.

Right field – Dwight Evans

Also on the ballot: Tony Conigliaro, J.D. Drew, Harry Hooper, Jackie Jensen, and Trot Nixon.

Center field – Fred Lynn

Also on the ballot: Johnny Damon, Dom DiMaggio, Jimmy Piersall, Reggie Smith, and Tris Speaker.

Designated hitter – David Ortiz

Also on the ballot: Don Baylor, Orlando Cepeda, Cecil Cooper, Mike Easler, and Reggie Jefferson.

Pinch hitter  – Bernie Carbo

Pinch runner  – Dave Roberts

Also on the ballot, but as generic "Bench" candidates : Jerry Adair, Alex Cora, Billy Goodman, Dalton Jones, John Kennedy, Ted Lepcio, Rick Miller, and Dave Stapleton.

Closer – Jonathan Papelbon

Also on the ballot for general bulllpen duty: Ike Delock, Tom Gordon, Ellis Kinder, Derek Lowe, Sparky Lyle, Dick Radatz, Jeff Reardon, Bob Stanley, and Mike Timlin.

Manager – Terry Francona

Also on the ballot: Bill Carrigan, Joe Cronin, Joe Morgan, Dick Williams, and Don Zimmer.

First reserves (across all categories) – Jason Varitek (C), Mo Vaughn (1B), Bobby Doerr (2B), Mike Lowell (3B), Johnny Pesky (SS), Carl Yastrzemski (LF), Dom DiMaggio (CF), Trot Nixon (RF), Roger Clemens (P), Luis Tiant (P), Tim Wakefield (P), Dennis Eckersley (P), Dick Radatz (pitcher), and Joe Cronin (manager).

Second reserves (across all categories) – Rich Gedman (C), George Scott (1B), Jerry Remy (2B), Frank Malzone (3B), Rico Petrocelli (SS), Jim Rice (LF), Reggie Smith (CF), Tony Conigliaro (RF), Babe Ruth (P), Smoky Joe Wood (P), Curt Schilling (P), Bill Lee (P), Jim Lonborg (P), and Dick Williams (manager).