“FENWAY'S BEST PLAYERS”

1990-1997 TIM NAEHRING Tim Naehring attended Miami University where he was named to the 1987 Mid-American Conference (MAC) all-conference second team. In 1987, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he competed against several of his future Red Sox teammates, including first baseman Mo Vaughn. Tim was selected by the Red Sox in the 8th round of the 1988 amateur draft. He was about to begin his senior year in college but decided to forgo it and focus on the opportunity to play professional baseball with the Class-A Elmira Pioneers. He began the 1989 season in Class-A Lynchburg, and got off to a great start, impressing members of the Red Sox organization, including Johnny Pesky. He moved up and in his first 24 at-bats with the Pawtucket Red Sox, he hit .333. He was voted the Minor League "Player of the Year" by the Boston baseball writers. The Red Sox everyday third baseman was Wade Boggs, but the front office believed Naehring’s ability to play several infield positions would be useful in the future. So in 1990,Tim was invited to spring training, and in one game against the Cincinnati Reds, he hit two home runs, which impressed Sox manager Joe Morgan. However, the Sox decided it was best for him to return to Pawtucket, where he could play every day, and was chosen that season to play in the International League All-Star game. Tim made his major league debut in July 1990. To make room for him, Dwight Evans, hobbled by a sore hamstring and the back problems he had endured all season, was put on the disabled list. Ellis Burks also had hamstring problems and had sat out several games. Left fielder Mike Greenwell, who had a sore ankle, was in pain but playing through it. So Naehring’s arrival was seen as good news. Tim's first major league hit came the next night he played, as he knocked in the Red Sox's only run in a 1-0 victory over the Twins. The following game, he hit his first home run, marking the beginning of a Red Sox rally that saw them come from being behind 4-0 to win 5-4. But in what became a recurring problem, he began experiencing severe back pain in late July. He missed three games in early August and then returned to the lineup, but his back never improved. By now, the pain was affecting his fielding and causing him to make more errors. During the first few months of the 1992 season, new Sox manager Butch Hobson used Tim as a utility infielder, either at second, short, or third. But in mid-June, he ended up on the DL again, this time with strained ligaments in his right wrist. By 1993, sportswriters and fans wondered if Naehring would ever be healthy for an entire season. During an extended rehab stint in Pawtucket, he hit .307 in 55 games. By mid-September, he had become the team’s hottest hitter, with a 13-game hitting streak. It looked like 1994 would be a breakout year for Tim. He was healthy, and got off to a great start, hitting .379 after the team’s first 18 games. He played in 80 games, mostly at second base, and hit .276 when the player's strike ended the season. In 1995, Tim became the team’s full-time third baseman and finally had the kind of year he had hoped for. He hit .307, with 27 doubles, and 10 homers, as the Sox finished first in the American League East. He also got four hits (including a home run) in the playoffs against Cleveland. He returned to the Sox in 1996 ready to pick up where he left off. In May, he had an 18-game hitting streak. In June, he hit his first career grand slam, against Milwaukee, and in early September, he was hitting .288, with 17 home runs (his personal best). But bad luck seemed to follow him. In late August, he strained a tendon in his left knee, and in early September, he injured his shoulder diving for a ball in a game against the White Sox. Within two days, the shoulder pain was so bad that he could no longer throw. In 1997, he returned to the Sox and got off to a strong start. He hit a game-winning grand slam against Seattle in mid-April, and at the end of the month, he was leading the team with 17 RBIs. In late May, he had a four-hit game against the Yankees and seemed well on his way to a great year. When the Sox were in Toronto in late June, Tim had three base hits and a home run, but then he injured ligaments in his elbow as he made a throw, and for the seventh time in seven years, he ended up on the DL. Although he was only 30, it seemed that he had played his last major league game. The Red Sox did not pick up his option in 1998, and he took a minor league contract from the Reds. Over the years, Naehring became a fan favorite at Fenway. Throughout it all, he had always given generously to the community. He founded Athletes Reaching Out, which brings athletes together with children to teach them to stay in school and remain drug-free. In addition, he has shown his dedication to the Red Sox by building a small version of Fenway Park on his old Little League field outside of Cincinnati. Mo Vaughn, Jose Canseco, and Roger Clemens all donated $5,000 for the Cincinnati "Little Fenway," and Mike Stanley was among 30 other Red Sox players and employees who purchased bricks for the ballpark. He also plans to build a similar park in the Boston area.