The Boston Red Sox are known as being the key rival of the New York Yankees and continue the tradition of Boston and New York-based teams not liking one another. In addition to overcoming what many considered to be a curse, the Red Sox also happened to turn around their season in 2021, after starting miserably.
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With the history of the club, it's neat to look at which players landed the best trading cards in MLB The Show 21's Diamond Dynasty mode and what players were disrespected or forgotten about.
Lefty Grove, 87 (SP)
Not only is Lefty Grove in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but his name might land him in the name Hall of Fame as well. As his name would suggest he batted and threw left-handed and finished his career with 300 wins. His best years came as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics, but his eight seasons with the Boston Red Sox were solid enough to land him a spot in their Hall of Fame as well.
As one of the game's greatest pitchers to ever step on the mound, it's nice to see his 87 overall card introduce a new generation to his greatness.
Pedro Martinez, 88 (SP)
Pedro Martinez was a solid starting pitcher in the MLB for several years but cemented his legacy in Boston when he helped the Red Sox end their curse and brought home a World Series title. Looking over his career resume nothing stands out and makes him seem special, but what he helped accomplish for fans and the organization was enough to get his #45 jersey retired.
At an 88 overall his card seems like the right balance of honoring what he meant to the team, but also not inflating the reality of what he accomplished.
Xander Bogaerts, 88 (SS)
Playing shortstop in the MLB is a dream for many kids out there, and doing so in a Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees jersey is at the peak of that specific dream. Xander Bogaerts is currently living out that dream as the 28-year-old is working on bringing the club another trophy.
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The "X-Man" as he is called, seems to have earned his 88 overall card in MLB The Show 21 thanks to his level of consistency throughout most of his career. He's currently closing in on 150 career home runs and 600 career runs batted in.
Matt Barnes, 88 (CP)
Most sports fans hear the name Matt Barnes and they think about the gritty and controversial small forward from the NBA, but that's also the name of the closing pitcher of the Boston Red Sox. At 31 years old Barnes has managed to play each of his eight seasons in the MLB for the red and blue of Boston.
Here's hoping his 88 overall card sees an upgrade as he's playing the 2021 season on a one-year deal and is well on his way to earning a big contract considering he won the AL Reliever of the Month award in April of 2021 following a collection of six saves in the month.
Chris Sale, 88 (SP)
Chris Sale is a pitcher that made his start with the Chicago White Sox, but in recent years has been a member of the Boston Red Sox. He's currently recovering from Tommy John Surgery and is sitting right above 2,000 career strikeouts.
His 88 overall card in this year's Diamond Dynasty for MLB The Show 21 may not have a stellar overall, but it's pretty good, especially considering he hasn't pitched in a game since 2019. Fans are hoping he comes back stronger than ever and helps stabilize the pitching rotation.
Rafael Devers, 88 (3B)
Rafael Devers is a Dominican-born star on the rise for the Boston Red Sox that has a lot of baseball in front of him considering he's only 24 years old as of 2021. He was signed by the club in 2013 when he was just 13 years old and is now the owner of an 88 overall card in MLB The Show.
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He's not the only one in his family to make it to the MLB as his cousin named Jose Devers was able to crack into the big leagues in 2021 via the Miami Marlins. This likely won't be his last Diamond Dynasty card in an MLB The Show title.
Rick Porcello, 91 (SP)
In a rare case, Rick Porcello happens to be a player who is no longer on the Boston Red Sox but was gifted with a solid 91 overall card as a member of his former team. This card is based on his 2016 season, a campaign in which Porcello won the AL Cy Young award, the AL Comeback Player of the Year award, and led the MLB in wins.
He also happens to be one of only 95 pitchers to ever pitch an immaculate inning. This is an inning in which a pitcher strikes out three successive batters in nine total pitches.
Jimmie Foxx, 93 (1B)
Jimmie Foxx was a first baseman for the Boston Red Sox from 1936 to 1942. Despite not winning a World Series with the club he managed to make the organization's Hall of Fame after finishing his career. His card in MLB The Show 21 is a 93 overall, with its strengths being in plate discipline and batting against left-handed pitchers.
Though his name is rather forgettable he happened to have two incredible nicknames, those being "Double X" and "The Beast" which were due to him hitting over 30 home runs in 12 consecutive seasons.
David Ortiz, 99 (1B)
In the modern era of baseball, it's hard not to think of David Ortiz when the Boston Red Sox are mentioned, just like it is with Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, the player is known as "Big Papi" made his mark on the game and helped the Red Sox win 3 titles.
Oritz's 99 overall card is more than deserved and it wouldn't be surprising if it was one of the most desired cards in all of MLB The Show 21 considered how charismatic and popular he became.
Zac Grotz, 99 (SP)
This 99 overall Zac Grotz card is probably the hardest one to explain in terms of why it exists. Grotz is a starting pitcher that appeared in five games for the Seattle Mariners in 2020 and finished with an ERA of 14.73. He is currently 1-0 as of June 2021 and hasn't done anything close to deserving a card listed at an overall of 99.
This seems like a card that's meant to excite fans and play as more of a joke or troll than it is to be taken seriously. It is a bummer that one of the two 99 overall Red Sox cards doesn't feel justified in its existence, though.
NEXT: MLB The Show 21: The Best Players On The Boston Red Sox
