30. Tadahito Iguchi

 

 

(6 of 27 lists - 72 points - highest ranking #4 Milkman delivers)

 

bio by knightni -

 

What's not to love about Gooch?

 

The guy gave everything he could out there on the field for the Sox.

 

I remember when he signed, it was like a new door opened to the Sox. Suddenly, we were noticed by another country.

Even more than we were when Takatsu signed. A whole new fan base for the Sox.

 

This was "our Ichiro".

 

Of course, we knew that Iguchi wasn't the same type of player as Ichiro, but he was the last piece of what would be the World Championship puzzle. Kenny Williams signed him only after watching just videos of Gooch playing in Japan.

 

That HR in the '05 ALDS vs. Boston was the proverbial nail in the coffin of the Sawks and ESPN.

He ended up being the first everyday Japanese player to play on a World Series-winning team.

He's one of the big reasons that they won it all in 2005.

 

Gooch was, and is, a truly special player in Sox history.

 

 

 

Very good synopsis, Jeremy. You have to love the Gooch!

Old pic I had on my Photbucket from '05; I loved his bat flip.

 

Thanks Tadahito!

 

You could really never hate the guy, either. Always hustled, and then 2005 was just incredible. IIRC, he didn't have a very good WS but hitting that HR in game 2 of the ALDS was symbolic of our season- anytime, any inning, any player.

 

Gooch was, and is, a truly special player in Sox history.

 

Well said. Cheers to Iguchi.

IMO Gooch was the most versatile player on the 05 squad. On offense, there was nothing he couldn't do well to extremely well.

Iguchi never turned into the fan favorite for me. I liked him, but he was never one of my favorites. The HR vs the BoSox was huge, but I think the 2 defining moments for me was the Grand Slam against the Cubs after the Barrett/Pierzynski incident, and the play photographed above.

Two words is all I need to describe Tadahito. Consumate professional.

Two words is all I need to describe Tadahito. Consumate professional.

I have 2 other ones. "OH NO!"

 

- Chris Berman, after the error in the 5th inning of game 2 against the Red Sox in the 05 ALCS, right before Iguchi hit the GW 3 run bomb in the "Don't stop believin'" inning.

I'm honored to have voted the highest for him.

He always gave it his all and had that knack for the opposite field big hit. Plus who can ever forget that fantastic play he made when he was dang near vertical and threw out the runner at first?