Editing Jason Varitek (section)

==Major league career==

===1997&ndash;2004===

Varitek was called up for a single game on September 24, 1997, collecting a single in his only at-bat. During the 1998 season, Varitek split time with incumbent catcher [[Scott Hatteberg]], playing in 86 games.<ref name="bbr">{{cite web|title=Jason Varitek Statistics and History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/v/varitja01.shtml|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> Varitek showed signs of things to come in the season, and with a strong [[spring training]] the following season, earned the starting catcher position.

The year {{Baseball year|1999}} was a breakout season for the catcher. Varitek played in 144 games, hitting for a .269 average with 20 [[home run]]s and 76 [[Run batted in|RBI]]s.<ref name=bbr/> Varitek went 5–21 with 3 RBI in the [[1999 American League Division Series|1999 ALDS]] against the Cleveland Indians<ref name="bbr"/> and 4–20 with one RBI in the [[American League Championship Series|ALCS]] against the [[New York Yankees]].<ref name="bbr"/> During the ALDS, he set a postseason record by scoring five runs in a game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Golen |first1=Jimmy |title=POSTSEASON BASEBALL: BoSox blowout evens series |url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/10-11/0033_postseason_baseball__bosox_blowou.html |access-date=21 October 2020 |work=[[Kitsap Sun]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=October 11, 1999}}</ref>

Looking forward to building more success upon the year before, the 2000 season was a disappointment offensively, producing a .248 average with only 10 home runs and 65 RBI, as the Red Sox did not qualify for post-season play.<ref name="bbr"/> Prior to the {{Baseball year|2001}} season, Varitek signed a three-year, $14.9 million contract with Boston. Varitek went on a hitting hot streak, having a .310 average at one point and on May 20, 2001, he homered three times in a single game before a broken left elbow injury sidelined the catcher for nearly the rest of the season, as Varitek dove to catch a foul ball on June 7. The play went on to be a top [[Web gem|Web Gem]] for the month of July 2001. Varitek finished the season with a .293 average, seven home runs, and 25 RBI in 51 games played.<ref name="bbr"/>

Varitek returned to the Red Sox lineup full-time in the {{Baseball year|2002}} season. The return did not go smoothly, however, as Varitek struggled to find himself at the plate. Despite not reaching his full offensive potential,<ref name="bbr"/> pitchers and coaches alike began to notice how much Varitek's preparation and knowledge of the game was helping the pitchers. His study habits and extra hours of work with pitchers would soon become his defining attribute. Varitek and the Red Sox entered the {{Baseball year|2003}} season with a renewed fire to reach the playoffs after missing in the previous three years. Varitek instantly became a leader in the clubhouse which management tried to portray as working class, featuring new faces such as [[Kevin Millar]], [[David Ortiz]], [[Bill Mueller]], and [[Todd Walker]] along with original players [[Trot Nixon]] and [[Lou Merloni]]. The 2003 season was Varitek's best to date and he earned his first All-Star selection after the fans voted him in with the [[All-Star Final Vote]]. He was hitting .296 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI<ref>{{cite web|title=2003 Varitek, Jenkins are All-Stars|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jspymd=20030709&content_id=417344&vkey=allstar2003&fext=.jsp}}{{Dead link|date=May 2021}}</ref> going into the All-Star break and finished the season off with a solid .273 average, 25 home runs and 85 RBI,<ref name="bbr"/> all career highs. The Red Sox earned a [[MLB Wild Card|Wild Card]] berth and their first playoff appearance since 1999, before losing the 2003 ALCS to the Yankees.

In {{Baseball year|2004}}, Varitek compiled a career-high .296 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] with 18 [[home run]]s and 73 [[Run batted in|RBI]]. During a nationally televised game on July 24, Varitek shoved his glove into the face of the Yankees' [[Alex Rodriguez]] after Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and gestured towards pitcher [[Bronson Arroyo]], causing a bench-clearing brawl. Though he was ejected (along with Rodriguez) from the game, the Red Sox, spurred on by the fight, came back to win 11–10.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shaughnessy|first=Dan|date=July 25, 2004|title=Red Sox win slugfest with Yankees after brawl|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2004/07/25/red-sox-win-slugfest-with-yankees-after-brawl/fqUMuoJC7mdZUW93gHKy0J/story.html|access-date=May 17, 2021|website=[[Boston Globe]]|language=en-US}}</ref> It is also sometimes regarded as the turning point in the Red Sox' season, as they posted MLB's best record after the melee. Boston culminated the season with its [[Curse of the Bambino|first World Series championship in 86 years]], after being the first MLB team to overcome a three games to none deficit, doing so in the [[2004 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] against the Yankees. Varitek went 3-for-4 in the crucial Game 6 (the "Bloody Sock game" of the ALCS which Boston won 4-2).<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 19, 2004|title=2004 American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 6, Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees, October 19, 2004|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA200410190.shtml|access-date=February 19, 2020|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|language=en}}</ref>

At the end of the year, Varitek became a [[free agent]] and signed a four-year, $40-million contract with the Red Sox.<ref name="40Mdeal">{{cite news|date=December 24, 2004|title=Varitek to make $40 million over four years|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1953052|access-date=February 3, 2009}}</ref>

===2005&ndash;2011===

After re-signing, the Red Sox appointed Varitek team [[List of Boston Red Sox captains|captain]], only the fourth Red Sox player so honored since 1923, following Hall of Famers [[Jimmie Foxx]] ({{Baseball year|1940}}–{{Baseball year|1942|42}}), [[Carl Yastrzemski]] ({{Baseball year|1966}} and {{Baseball year|1969}}–{{Baseball year|1983|83}}) and [[Jim Rice]] ({{Baseball year|1986}}–{{Baseball year|1989|89}}).<ref name=40Mdeal/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Edes |first=Gordon |date=December 24, 2004 |title=Sox have deal to keep Varitek |url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2004/12/24/sox_have_deal_to_keep_varitek/ |access-date=February 19, 2020 |website=[[Boston Globe]] |language=en}}</ref> Varitek was one of just three captains then in MLB (the others were [[Derek Jeter]] of the New York Yankees and [[Paul Konerko]] of the Chicago White Sox). Varitek remained captain until his retirement before the 2012 season. He wore a "C" patch on his uniform, making him the first player to do so in a World Series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-26 |title=Uni Watch: The 13 kings of the C |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19459650/uni-watch-flashback-mlbers-don-c |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

In {{Baseball year|2005}}, Varitek won his first [[Gold Glove Award]], his first [[Silver Slugger]], and his second All-Star selection.

In {{Baseball year|2006}}, Varitek represented the United States in the [[World Baseball Classic]], playing in three games. He made the most of his playing time, hitting a [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] against Team Canada allowing [[USA Baseball|Team USA]] to narrow an 8–2 lead down to 8–6. Team Canada, however, kept the lead in the [[Upset (competition)|upset]] victory.

On July 18, 2006, Varitek played his 991st game at catcher for the [[Boston Red Sox]], breaking [[Carlton Fisk]]'s club record. That game was a home game against the [[Kansas City Royals|Kansas City]], during which his achievement was recognized before the bottom of the fifth inning (when the game became official and could not be cancelled due to weather). Varitek received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at [[Fenway Park]] for a few moments before play resumed.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brunell|first=Evan|date=October 22, 2008|title=A Tribute to Tek: The Captain's Top 10|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/72298-a-tribute-to-tek-the-captains-top-10|access-date=May 17, 2021|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|language=en}}</ref> On July 31, 2006, Varitek was injured rounding the bases in a 9–8 victory over the Cleveland Indians (his 1,000th career game as catcher),<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 1, 2006|title=Usual suspect: Ortiz's walk-off blast wins it for Red Sox|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/260731102|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517063717/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/260731102|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2021|access-date=May 17, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref> but said he believed the initial injury to the knee occurred while he was blocking home plate to make the tag against the Angels [[Mike Napoli]] on July 29, 2006. He had surgery on August 3, 2006, to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. Varitek returned to the Red Sox lineup on September 4 following a short rehabilitation assignment in Pawtucket.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cafardo|first=Nick|date=September 4, 2006|title=Nixon, Varitek hope return leads somewhere|work=[[Boston Globe]]|url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/09/04/nixon_varitek_hope_return_leads_somewhere/|access-date=May 17, 2021}}</ref>

On September 19, 2006, Varitek was honored during a [[pre-game ceremony]] as the first Red Sox catcher to catch 1,000 games. He was presented with a special award by Fisk, who held the Boston club record with 990 career games caught before Varitek surpassed it. Varitek caught his 1,000th game on July 31 and by the evening of the ceremony had appeared in 1,009 games behind the plate. That same night, Varitek also received the 2006 Red Sox Heart and Hustle Award from the local chapter of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, which is presented to a player exemplifying the values, tradition, and spirit of the game of baseball.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petraglia|first=Mike|date=September 19, 2006|title=Varitek awarded for catching milestone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418205518/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060919&content_id=1671508&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060919&content_id=1671508&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos|archive-date=April 18, 2008|access-date=May 17, 2021|website=[[Boston Red Sox]]}}</ref>

[[File:Jason Varitek 3.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Varitek at bat in 2008]]

In 2007, Varitek and the Red Sox returned to the World Series, winning for the second time in four years. During the season, Varitek recorded his 1,000th career hit. On May 19, 2008, he caught [[Jon Lester]]'s no-hitter, giving him a Major League record of having caught four no-hitters in a career.<ref name="no-no" />

In honor of being captain, Varitek released Captain Cabernet, a charity wine with proceeds benefiting Pitching In For Kids and Children's Hospital Boston.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jason Varitek Presents... "Captain's Cabernet"|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509144423/http://www.charitywines.com/varitek.html|url=http://www.charitywines.com/varitek.html|archive-date=May 9, 2008|access-date=May 17, 2021|website=Charity Wines}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Red Sox Charity Wines|url=http://www.pitchinginforkids.org/charity_wine.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009134428/http://www.pitchinginforkids.org/charity_wine.php|archive-date=October 9, 2011|access-date=November 2, 2011|website=Pitching in for Kids|publisher=}}</ref>

At the end of the 2008 season, Varitek opted for free agency.
Reports in the ''Boston Globe'' suggested that his agent [[Scott Boras]] was using New York Yankee catcher [[Jorge Posada]]'s four-year, $52.4 million deal as a benchmark for negotiations.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 5, 2008|title=Boras sees Posada's 4-year, $52m deal as benchmark|work=[[Boston Globe]]|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/thebuzz/|access-date=November 5, 2008|archive-date=October 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012035625/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/thebuzz/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On February 6, 2009, Varitek signed a new one-year deal with the Red Sox worth $5 million with a $5 million club option or $3 million player option for 2010.<ref name="20090130mlb">{{cite web|last=Browne|first=Ian|date=January 30, 2009|title=Varitek, Red Sox have a deal Captain will return for 12th full season behind plate for Boston|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203075337/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090130&content_id=3785356&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090130&content_id=3785356&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp|archive-date=February 3, 2009|access-date=February 3, 2009|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Browne|first=Ian|date=February 6, 2009|title=Sox finalize deal with Varitek|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208085146/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090205&content_id=3801028&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos|url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090205&content_id=3801028&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos|archive-date=February 8, 2009|access-date=November 2, 2011|website=[[Boston Red Sox]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>
During the 2009 season, Varitek's numbers were similar to his dismal 2008 season, with slightly more home runs (14), doubles (24) and runs batted in (51), and a higher slugging percentage (.390) despite a lower batting average (.209) and fewer at bats (425). He eventually became the backup catcher when the Red Sox acquired All-Star [[Víctor Martínez (baseball)|Victor Martinez]] on the July 31 trade deadline.

On December 2, 2010, [[Sports Illustrated]] reported that Varitek signed a one-year, $2 million deal to stay with the Red Sox for the 2011 season.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Heyman|first=Jon|date=December 2, 2010|title=Varitek returning to Red Sox|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|publisher=[[CNN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205023847/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/12/02/red.sox.varitek/index.html?eref=sihp|access-date=December 5, 2010|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/12/02/red.sox.varitek/index.html?eref=sihp|archive-date=December 5, 2010}}</ref>  The deal was finalized on December 10.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 10, 2010|title=Red Sox, Varitek finalize 1-year, $2M contract|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5907412|access-date=May 17, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref> With the addition of [[Jarrod Saltalamacchia]], Varitek usually came off the bench during the 2011 season, playing in 68 games, hitting .221 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI, with a .300 [[on-base percentage]].

After the 2011 season, Varitek became a free agent again, and was offered a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training by the Red Sox.  On March 1, 2012, at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers, Florida, Varitek officially announced his retirement.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 1, 2012|title=Jason Varitek Announces His Retirement|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jason-varitek-announces-his-retirement/c-26941740|access-date=May 17, 2021|website=[[MLB.com]]|language=en}}</ref>

[[Ryan Lavarnway]], fellow catcher and teammate of Varitek in 2011, listed the Boston veteran as his favorite player growing up. "Varitek has set the gold standard for the position, catching four no-hitters and winning two World Series. He’s a true professional in handling a pitching staff and is something I’d like to become as my career progresses."<ref name="Jewish Tribune">{{cite web|last=Borenstein|first=Jack|date=September 27, 2011|title=Young catcher takes advantage of time with Red Sox|url=http://www.jewishtribune.ca/news/2011/09/27/young-catcher-takes-advantage-of-time-with-red-sox|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927220226/http://www.jewishtribune.ca/news/2011/09/27/young-catcher-takes-advantage-of-time-with-red-sox|archive-date=September 27, 2013|access-date=September 14, 2013|work=[[The Jewish Tribune (Canada)|Jewish Tribune]]}}</ref>