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| (Exclusive FenwayNation Photo) |
There were plenty of
characters on the 2004 World Series Champion Red Sox—and more than a few guys
with character. Perhaps the classiest player on that fabled roster was third baseman
Bill Mueller—who turns 43 years old today. In his three-year stint with Boston, Mueller batted .303, with a .378 OBP and an .853 OPS—all better than his career marks over his 11-year MLB career. In 2005, we awarded Bill our very first
'First Citizen' Award. At the time we said:
"Since
becoming a Red Sox Player in 2003, Bill Mueller has demonstrated the
'Quiet Class' that all of us in the Nation instinctively want in players
who wear Red Sox 'laundry'. He does his job day in and day out without
fanfare. In the process, he has become one of the most reliable players
in recent Sox history—and a clutch performer with few peers. The
game-tying hit in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, the season-turning home run
off Mariano Rivera in the 'Brawl Game' of 2004, and an amazing batting
average with the bases loaded in 2005 (.526)." Happy birthday, Bill!
