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 an American professional baseball coach and former catcher. He currently works as a game planning coordinator for the Boston Red Sox. Jason played his entire 15-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Red Sox.
Varitek was a three-time All-Star. He also won a Gold Glove Award (for best defensive player) and a Silver Slugger Award (for best offensive player at his position). He was a key part of the Red Sox teams that won the 2004 World Series and 2007 World Series. In 2004, he became the team captain, a rare honor for a Red Sox player. Jason was a switch-hitter, meaning he could bat from both the left and right sides of the plate.
He is one of only three players ever to play in the Little League World Series, College World Series, and Major League World Series. He also played in the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic. Varitek holds an MLB record for catching four no-hitters, which means the opposing team got no hits during the entire game.
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Early Baseball Years
Playing in the Little League World Series
Jason Varitek played in the 1984 Little League World Series. He led his team from Altamonte Springs, Florida, to win the United States Championship. They beat Southport, Indiana, with a score of 4–2.
High School and College Achievements
In high school, Varitek played third base and was a relief catcher for Lake Brantley High School. In 1990, his team won the state championship.
He then went to Georgia Tech. There, he helped the Yellow Jackets baseball team reach the 1994 College World Series final game. They lost to the University of Oklahoma. In 1994, he won the Baseball America College Player of the Year Award and the Dick Howser Trophy for National Collegiate Player of the Year. Varitek earned a degree in management from Georgia Tech. His number 33 is the only baseball number retired by the school.
Varitek also played in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) in 1991 and 1993. In 1993, he was named the league's MVP. He was later inducted into the CCBL Hall of Fame in 2002. He was also part of the U.S. national baseball team at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Starting His Professional Career
Varitek was first drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1993, but he chose to finish college. After graduating, he was drafted again by the Seattle Mariners in 1994. Before joining the Mariners' minor league system, he played for the St. Paul Saints in an independent league.
In 1995, he joined the Mariners' minor league team, the Port City Roosters. There, he met pitcher Derek Lowe, who would become his longtime teammate. In 1997, Varitek and Lowe were traded to the Boston Red Sox. This trade is often seen as one of the best trades for the Red Sox in recent history.
Playing in Major League Baseball
Becoming a Red Sox Star (1997–2004)
Varitek played his first Major League game on September 24, 1997. In 1998, he shared playing time with another catcher. By 1999, he became the Red Sox's main catcher.
The year 1999 was a great one for Varitek. He played in 144 games, hitting .269 with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs (runs batted in). He even set a postseason record by scoring five runs in one game.
In 2001, Varitek signed a new contract with Boston. He started the season very well, even hitting three home runs in one game. However, a broken elbow injury in June sidelined him for most of the season.
By 2002, Varitek returned full-time. Even though his hitting wasn't at its best, coaches noticed his amazing preparation and knowledge of the game. He spent extra hours studying and working with pitchers. This dedication soon became his most famous quality.
In 2003, Varitek became a strong leader for the Red Sox. He had his best season yet, hitting .273 with 25 home runs and 85 RBI. He was also selected for his first All-Star team. The Red Sox made it to the playoffs but lost to the New York Yankees.
The 2004 season was historic. Varitek had a career-high .296 batting average. On July 24, during a game against the Yankees, Varitek famously shoved his glove into the face of Yankees star Alex Rodriguez after a heated moment. This caused a big fight between the teams. Many people believe this fight actually motivated the Red Sox. After this, they played their best baseball and went on to win the 2004 World Series. This was the Red Sox's first World Series championship in 86 years! They made history by being the first MLB team to come back from being down 3-0 in a playoff series, which they did against the Yankees.
After the 2004 season, Varitek signed a new four-year contract with the Red Sox.
Captain and Champion (2005–2011)
In 2005, the Red Sox named Jason Varitek their team captain. He was only the fourth Red Sox player to receive this honor since 1923. Varitek wore a "C" patch on his uniform, showing he was the captain. He remained captain until he retired in 2012.
In 2005, Varitek won his first Gold Glove Award and his first Silver Slugger Award. He was also selected for his second All-Star team.
In 2006, Varitek played for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. He hit a grand slam against Team Canada. On July 18, 2006, Varitek played his 991st game as catcher for the Red Sox, breaking Carlton Fisk's club record. He received a standing ovation from the fans at Fenway Park.
In 2007, Varitek and the Red Sox returned to the World Series and won again! This was their second championship in four years. On May 19, 2008, he caught Jon Lester's no-hitter. This gave Varitek an MLB record for catching four different no-hitters in his career.
After the 2008 season, Varitek became a free agent. He signed a new one-year deal with the Red Sox in 2009. Later that season, he became the backup catcher when the Red Sox got Victor Martinez.
In 2010, Varitek signed another one-year deal to stay with the Red Sox for the 2011 season. He mostly came off the bench in 2011, playing in 68 games.
On March 1, 2012, Jason Varitek officially announced his retirement from baseball.
After Playing Baseball
On September 27, 2012, Jason Varitek was named special assistant to the Red Sox general manager. In this role, he helps with decisions about players and helps mentor young players. By 2020, he was also listed as a catching coach. In November 2020, Varitek became the game planning coordinator for the Red Sox coaching staff. He signed a new three-year contract extension in 2022 to continue coaching for Boston.
Records and Awards
Georgia Tech Records
College Awards and Achievements
MLB Career Highlights
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Red Sox Milestones
Cool Firsts
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Personal Life
Jason Varitek has three daughters from his first marriage: Ally, Kendall, and Caroline. He married Catherine Panagiotopoulos on November 26, 2011. Their first child, 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
