Jason Varitek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jason Varitek |
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Varitek in 2009
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| Boston Red Sox – No. 33 | |||
| Catcher / Coach | |||
| Born: April 11, 1972 Rochester, Michigan, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 24, 1997, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 25, 2011, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .256 | ||
| Home runs | 193 | ||
| Runs batted in | 757 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Jason Andrew Varitek (born April 11, 1972), often called "Tek", is a famous American baseball player. He was a catcher for the Boston Red Sox for 15 years. Today, he works as a coach for the Red Sox.
Jason Varitek was a true leader on the field. He helped the Red Sox win two World Series championships in 2004 and 2007. He was also chosen as an All-Star three times. He won a Gold Glove Award for being a great defensive catcher and a Silver Slugger Award for his hitting. In 2004, he became the captain of the Red Sox, a special honor.
Varitek is one of only three players ever to play in the Little League World Series, the College World Series, and the Major League World Series. He also played in the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic. He even caught four no-hitters in his career, which is a Major League Baseball record!
Contents
Jason Varitek's Early Baseball Journey
Playing in Little League
Jason Varitek started playing baseball at a young age. He played in the 1984 Little League World Series. His team from Altamonte Springs, Florida, won the U.S. Championship. They beat a team from Southport, Indiana, with a score of 4–2.
High School and College Success
In high school, Jason played for Lake Brantley High School. His team won the state championship in 1990.
He then went to Georgia Tech. There, he helped his college baseball team reach the 1994 College World Series title game. They played against the University of Oklahoma but lost. In 1994, he won several big awards, including the Baseball America College Player of the Year Award. His jersey number, 33, was even retired by Georgia Tech, which means no other player can wear it.
Varitek also played in a summer baseball league called the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 1993, he was the best hitter in the league and was named its Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was later added to the CCBL Hall of Fame.
Starting His Professional Career
Jason Varitek was first drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1993. But he decided to stay in college for another year. After graduating, the Seattle Mariners drafted him in 1994.
He started his professional career in the minor leagues. In 1997, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox. This trade was a big deal for the Red Sox, as Varitek became a key player for them.
Becoming a Major League Star
First Years with the Red Sox (1997–2004)
Jason Varitek played his first Major League game on September 24, 1997. In 1998, he shared playing time with another catcher. But by 1999, he became the main catcher for the Red Sox.
The 1999 season was a great one for Varitek. He played in 144 games, hitting 20 home runs and bringing in 76 RBIs. He helped the Red Sox reach the playoffs.
In 2001, Varitek signed a new contract with Boston. He was hitting very well that year. However, he broke his elbow in June while trying to catch a foul ball. This injury kept him out for most of the season.
Varitek returned full-time in 2002. He worked hard with the pitchers, learning their strengths and helping them improve. His dedication and knowledge of the game became very important to the team.
In 2003, Varitek became a true leader for the Red Sox. He was chosen for his first All-Star team. He had a great season, hitting 25 home runs and 85 RBI. The Red Sox made it to the playoffs that year.
The Famous Brawl with Alex Rodriguez
In 2004, Varitek had his best hitting year, with a .296 batting average. A memorable moment happened on July 24, 2004. During a game against the New York Yankees, Varitek got into a fight with Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. This fight seemed to spark the Red Sox. They started playing much better after that game.
The Red Sox had an amazing end to the 2004 season. They made history by coming back from being down 3-0 in a playoff series against the Yankees. They then went on to win the 2004 World Series, breaking an 86-year championship drought!
A Leader and Champion (2005–2011)
After the 2004 season, Varitek signed a new contract with the Red Sox. He was then named the team captain. He was only the fourth Red Sox player to be captain since 1923. He even wore a "C" patch on his uniform.
In 2005, Varitek won his first Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense. He also won his first Silver Slugger Award for his hitting. He was chosen for the All-Star team again.
In 2006, Varitek played for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. On July 18, 2006, he broke a Red Sox record. He played his 991st game as catcher, passing Carlton Fisk for the most games caught for the team.
In 2007, Varitek and the Red Sox won the World Series again! This was their second championship in four years. During that season, he also got his 1,000th career hit.
On May 19, 2008, Varitek caught Jon Lester's no-hitter. This was his fourth no-hitter caught in his career, setting a Major League record.
Varitek continued to play for the Red Sox until 2011. He was a valuable player and a respected leader throughout his career. On March 1, 2012, Jason Varitek announced his retirement from playing baseball.
After Playing Baseball
After retiring as a player, Jason Varitek continued to work with the Boston Red Sox. In 2012, he became a special assistant to the general manager. In this role, he helped with decisions about players and mentored young players.
By 2020, he was listed as a "Special Assistant / Catching Coach." In November 2020, Varitek was named the game planning coordinator for the Red Sox coaching staff. This means he helps plan strategies for games. He signed a new contract in November 2022 to continue coaching for the Red Sox.
Amazing Records and Awards
Jason Varitek achieved many great things in his baseball career.
College Achievements
- His number 33 is one of only two numbers retired by Georgia Tech baseball.
- He was named the Baseball America player of the year in 1993.
- He won the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy in 1994, both for being the best college player.
- He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame.
- He was inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame.
Major League Baseball Career Highlights
- He was a three-time All-Star (2003, 2005, 2008).
- He won two World Series championships (2004, 2007).
- He won a Silver Slugger Award in 2005 for his hitting.
- He won a Gold Glove Award in 2005 for his defense.
- He caught four no-hitters, which is a Major League record. He is the only catcher to catch four no-hitters by four different pitchers:
- Hideo Nomo: April 4, 2001
- Derek Lowe: April 27, 2002
- Clay Buchholz: September 1, 2007
- Jon Lester: May 19, 2008
- He played in more postseason games than any other Red Sox player.
- He has the most games caught in Red Sox history (1,488 games).
Personal Life
Jason Varitek has three daughters from his first marriage: Ally, Kendall, and Caroline. He married Catherine Panagiotopoulos on November 26, 2011. Their daughter, Liv, was born on May 26, 2012. They live in Hingham, Massachusetts.
See also
In Spanish: Jason Varitek para niños
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
- List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise
