Full Name : Jason Andrew Varitek
Born : April 11, 1972
Hometown : Rochester, Michigan
Height : 6' 2
Weight : 230 lbs
Bats : Switch
Throws : Right
Major League Baseball debut : September 24, 1997 for the Boston Red Sox
Family : wife, Karen Mullinax; daughters, Kendall, Ally, Caroline
Primary Position : Catcher
Many teams would kill to have a guy like Jason Varitek on their squad. Not only does he possess phenomenal skills behind the plate, but his presence in the dugout as a team leader inspires those around him to perform at his level. Jason was born on April 11, 1972, in Rochester, Michigan. Despite playing for the Boston Red Sox throughout his entire major league career, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners and then eventually traded as a prospect.
Little did Boston fans know that Jason Varitek would soon become the premier athlete of the Red Sox ball club. He played just one game in the 1997 season and wasn't an official rookie until 1998. During that year, he split time catching with teammate Scott Hatteberg and put up respectable numbers for a first-year player. The following season, Varitek broke out as a full-time catcher when he finished up batting .269 with 20 homers and 76 RBI. It was also during this year that Jason got his first taste of post-season action.
Though he did not perform as many expected in 2000, after that year he was awarded a 3-year, $14.9 million dollar contract from the Red Sox. Unfortunate for the organization, Varitek suffered a broken left elbow that shelved him for the majority of the season. He came back healthy in 2002, and scouts (as well as his coaches) began to recognize just how good of a game he called. He was known to be able to communicate well with his pitchers and find the proper pitch placement that would get hitters out. When fans recognized the impact he was having, they made it known when he was selected to the 2003 all-star team as a final vote.
2004 marked a milestone for the Boston Red Sox and Jason Varitek. The team succeeded at winning the World Series for the first time since 1918, ending the dreaded Curse of the Bambino. Following that season, Boston rewarded Varitek with yet another lucrative contract worth $40 million over 4 years. The next season he proved why he was worth the money by winning both the Silver Slugger Award and Gold Glove Award for American League catchers. It was also during the 2005 season that Varitek was named the official team captain of the Red Sox, which was denoted by the large “C” that he wore on his jersey. Boston fans today respect Varitek for his exceptional work ethic, presence in the dugout, and team leadership. He will no doubt go down as one of Boston's most influential catchers in franchise history.
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