Thanks Mike Lowell
Nov 21st, 2007 by Curt Schilling
Got to thinking about the repsonse here, and around the city of Boston, to Mike Lowells return for the next 3 years. Anyone that wants to post a thank you, say what you want under this thread, when its run its course I will print it out, and forward to him. I think he’d get a kick, and a good laugh, out of it.
LATE EDIT!
I wanted to also give anyone interested a heads up. On December 12th Shonda and I will be attending this event:
http://www.shadefoundation.org/bubbles/index.php
If you are interested please sign up! Look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you so much for coming back to Boston even if they never offered you a 4th year. I hope the Red Sox have another great season this year and they keep everyone else just the way it is.
Thanks Mikey.
Curt, what a cool idea…
Mike Lowell, welcome back to the Red Sox. There is no other place on earth like Fenway, and no other team like the Red Sox. And now, there is no other third baseman like Mike Lowell…
We’re still celebrating!
I am thrilled. It may be the day before Thanksgiving, but it feels like Christmas to me!
Thank you Mike!
Like to say thanks mike for the return to BOSTON you have been a class act here and I still think we have the best team in baseball “WELCOME BACK” ans also thanks to you schill and the rest of the “07″ team
I would like to say coming from a guy who grew up in western Massachusetts and has been a sox fan through thick and thin, words can’t describe how happy I am to see that Mike Lowell is coming back to Boston. I made the trip from CT to the parade this time after missing 2004 and the support from the fans around town for Mike to come back was very nice to see. I am glad Kurt is coming back, he will go down as an icon in the city, and I am proud to say that I am a lifelong Red Sox fan and support a team that has risen from the depths and really built something very special. Not only are the Red Sox a great team, the organization as a whole has really embraced the city and the fans and given us not only two championships, but a feel that we are part of a family. Thanks guys, and thanks Mike Lowell for coming back, we appreciate what you do.
Mike, thanks for resigning with the Sox!!! Thank you for letting RSN know that there are players out there that care about their fans. Looking forward to three great years of cheering you on ( and hoping for more after that! ).
My best to you and your family, Marc
(Thanks, Curt!)
Dear Mike,
It always takes me a little while to get used to seeing a new player in a Red Sox uniform — in fact, I have a rule where I don’t really become a fan until a player has a season or two under his belt. But it didn’t take me long to decide that I was going to like the new third baseman. Time to make it official: I’m a Mike Lowell fan! Where’s my t-shirt?
with respect and admiration
Ben
New Haven, CT
p.s. Tell Pedroia he’s next.
Mr. Lowell,
Your professionalism and leadership in the clubhouse, crossing racial and cultural lines, is clearly important to both your teammates and your fans. Your play on the field, as a Gold Glove caliber 3b and a RH run producer were vital cogs in the machine that swept through the playoffs this season. Overlooked, to some extent, is your durability. You’ve not been on the DL as a Sox player, and you’ve been able to provide consistent production hitting behind Manny and Papi over the past few seasons.
It is a joy to watch you play, and I just want you to know that our whole family was excited when they learned that you were coming back to the Red Sox. You are part of a special team of men, and your accomplishments on the field and your character off the field make for a wonderful (and easy to root for) combination.
Congratulations on the MVP for the World Series, and enjoy your Thanksgiving!
JAS
Thank-you Mike Lowell, and Curt Schilling, for re-signing with the Red Sox. Now we can all go into next season knowing the Red Sox have the best possible pitching staff, infield, outfield and bullpen, and a great shot at repeating as world series champions. What a relief! So Thank-you!!! for the wonderful season gone by, and for your commitment to the future.
Red Sox nation is the best
Mike, thanks for coming back for 3 more years, I couldn’t imagine you coming back to get your ring next year like Derek Lowe did in 05 in jeans and a jersey it will be nice to see you fighting after you get that ring on April 8 for another one……thanx Mike your the best
Shane
Central N.H.
Curt, awesome idea! Mike, so glad you are coming back! Thank you for all of your efforts, for your appreciation of Red Sox Nation, and for the next three years!
Denise
Welcome back home, Mike- we’re glad you and your family are staying in the fold. Can’t wait to see what the next three years (and beyond?) will bring- but I know it will be exciting with you in those home whites.
Thanks for all the memories you’ve helped create for me and every other Sox fan so far- and here’s to all the ones you’ll be a part of in the future!
Mike,
Thanks for seeing the forest instead of the (extra green) trees. I hope that when the crowd gives you a standing-O on the first day, you’ll know how happy we are that you stayed.
- Rob
Dear Mike,
Every team has a player or two that everyone roots for. He’s the guy that plays the game the way it should be played; is passionate about what he does; loves the game of baseball; and appreciates the opportunity that has been given to him.
While the Red Sox have a number of those players on the team, you seem to be the one they look to.
How many “Sign Mike Lowell” chants and signs did we see on Parade Day?
“Nuff said. Welcome home. The hot corner is waiting for you.
Don M.
Revere (Reveeyah Kiiid), MA
yeah for Mike lowell, we love you in Western Mass.!!
Mike-
Instead of thanking you for returning to the Sox (which I am incredibly happy about), I’d like to thank you for a few other things.
Thank you for being an impenetrable wall at 3rd base.
Thank you for all the clutch RBIs and hits.
Thank you for your leadership in the clubhouse and on the field.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A KEY PART OF THE RED SOX 2007 W.S. RUN!
Matt
Arlington, MA
P.S. - I have confidence that I will be thanking (all of) you again a few more times for the last one before your contract is up!
Mike,
I’m sure you’re aware that the entirety of Red Sox Nation, from Larry Lucchino on down to the 2-year-olds in tiny jerseys, are thrilled to see you return. I’m no exception, and I can’t believe our luck to have the opportunity to watch you play for our team for a few more years.
Thanks so much for returning!! You’ll always be a hero to Sox fans, and to me especially.
Enjoy your off-season, and well see you in Spring Training!!
All the Best,
Rachel
Brookline, MA
Mike -
Thanks for sticking around, man. That’s a shit ton of money to turn your back on and it’s admirable that you deemed it a worthwhile sacrifice!
There was a boston.com poll going on and it asked why we (the fans) were most excited you stuck around (and why it is better to have you than a-rod), and the number one reason (60%) was because you’re a CLASS ACT. Not the high batting average, not the low(er) price tag, not the fielding excellence. I thought it was an interesting indicator of what the average Sox fan is concerned with…keep it up MiLo.
Dear Mike,
It is wonderful from a fan perspective to have you back. We all know the story, the $9 million throw in for us to get Josh Beckett. For a while there in 2006, when Beckett struggled, you were coming into your own in Boston and folks around me were beginning to say that Beckett was the throw in in the Mike Lowell trade!!! Needless to say we’re glad Beckett came to form this year and you stepped it up in a big way, producing in clutch situations when guys were down and runs were needed.
Thank you for an awesome run in 2007 and I look forward to more in 08, 09, and ‘10
MVP!!! MVP!!! MVP!!!
Mike,
Obviously, all fans cheer for the laundry — but there are exceptions, as you well know. I am sure you have seen the ovations that former Sox good guys and former Sox champions get. Thanks for ensuring that you will get receptions like that for the rest of your life.
And - going beyond the laundry for a second - it is so much easier to cheer for nice guys. Mike - I know what a good catholic you are. And anyone who quietly puts God first is a good guy in my book. The fact that you were at Mass in Colorado the morning of the final game of the World Series says it all.
Welcome back. Thank you.
-John
Hi, Mike we have been fans since you started in Boston. Seeing all those doubles that first season had me calling you “Smokin Mike” my daughter would roll her eyes. Although this did not stop her from wanting a shirt with your name and number it at the start of the 07 season. Because we live a little outside Boston and can’t just walk over to the Fenway store I eventually had to order her a shirt from the Yawkey Way store. Most retailers had none to be found (somehow I am guessing that may change) She would have been heartbroken if you left, and so would I.
Congratuatlions of the MVP and Thank you for showing integrity so rare these day in professional sports.
I have written on this blog three days in a row and have made a request each time. How about some of the sox going to Foxboro when the Patriots are there and showing off some of those world series trophies. If you were there the crowd would go nuts.
Anyway Happy Thanksgiving. And thank you again for restoring my faith that some players really are loyal to their fans. Roni in Marlborough PS What time do you wake up to do this Curt??
I can’t express how happy I was when I found out Mike Lowell resigned! Everyone said J.D. Drew would be that number 5 spot power hitter and you came in and took over that role instead since Drew had a little bit of an off year. We have all seen what kind of years he’s capable of. Its great to have that core team of players that stick around to cheer for year after year. Its safe now for me to go buy my new Mike Lowell, World Series MVP Jersey. We love you! Thanks Curt Schilling for passing these messages and of course for also resigning for another Red Sox World Series Championship.
Mr. Lowell,
Mr. Schilling has graciously allowed us to post our thank you’s to you here on his blog page. I was a fan of your when you were in Florida. When I heard you were coming here with Josh Beckett, I was ecstatic. I was not at all surprised at the type of year you had here and was hoping beyond hope that you as well as Curt re-signed with the Red Sox this year.
Thank you so much for being a stand-up guy and remaining here in Boston! Curt, I said the same to you in another post, not to worry my friend. Having all of our most important loose ends tied up now is such a relief and not something I’m used to as a lifelong Red Sox fan. I can’t say enough about the current ownership and management we now have here. Between they themselves, the moves they have made for the most part and the type of stand-up good guys they have brought in and signed is unbelievable.
Life is good right now for Red Sox Nation and the Boston sports fans in general.
Mike,
Very very happy and thankful that you and Schill came back - but you both should have held out for a little bit more. We would still have loved you guys! Considering some of the contracts already signed in this early off season and that you are both great players, great club house guys, and fan favorites you both should have / could have gotten a bit more. I’d be happy to have the front office pay Mike Lowell or Curt Schilling what Mariano Rivera is getting paid. But, then, that’s precisely why we love you guys. And, hell, who can complain about the millions you both deservedly make. Thanks in advance for the third ring in six years in ‘08. Psssst…and don’t tell JD, but Mike needs to keep batting fifth.
Mike,
Thanks for coming back to the Sox for another year. It’s pretty awesome of you to take a three year deal even though we know you wanted a fourth.
Anyways, all I ask is that you do the hidden ball trick sometime during these next seasons on the team. We know you’ve done it while other teams. Do it for us now.
Thanks,
Dylan
Thank you Mike. I am so impressed by what you’ve done for the team and your fans. I am so impressed by the character that you showed by making a choice that defines happiness and satisfaction as more than about money. You are an outstanding player and a great example to us all. I love the Red Sox and I love watching you play, you add so much to the team.
Thanks so much!
Hey Mike,
I already posted a thank you but what I forgot to say is:
WOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Denise
Mikey!
We are so glad to have you back here in Boston and I hope that with you we can repeat 2007 next year! We love you!
Jamie Hutchings
Barrington,NH
Curt,
Thank you for allowing all of Red Sox Nation to thank Mike Lowell for coming back. We must also say thanks to you too.
For many years I’ve watched the Red Sox, but not until 2004 were we able to walk around with our heads held high. I think because of Mike and you signing back on, we will be able to hold our heads high and be proud of the team that Mike, you and all the other players have made a “name”, a team to be reckoned with.
Speaking for many Red Sox fans, it’s our turn to gloat and we deserve it in part to players like you and Mike Lowell.
THANK YOU, BOTH FOR RE-SIGNING.
to: mike lowell
from: nate martinez-wayman
re: joy in mudville
mike ~ i know you’re looking at dozens of pages of comments from your fans and supporters right now, and you’ll probably only have the chance to skim through and read here and there, but in case your glance falls here…THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
you have brought a little bit of joy to the hearts of sox fans everywhere. not only did you have a stellar season, and a post-season of which most players can only dream, but as others have noted, you bucked the professional sports trend and bypassed a more lucrative contract to remain with the good guys. between the actions of you and curt this past week, you both have helped lifer sox fans over the betrayal we felt after a certain sell-out left our center field for the evil empire. i know you don’t harbor the same ill will toward those damn yanks as the rest of red sox nation does, and i understand your reasons, but it would have a nightmare come true if we had to see you in pinstripes next year.
so, on behalf of nation members everywhere, thank you for your commitment to your teammates, your fans, and to many future world series victories in those wonderful red socks!
Oh well, I must join this parade of thanks, Mike. I admired you a lot in 2006, loved you even more in 2007 (yours was the 2nd Globe photo I perched in the corner, other being Tek) and bought a Lowell shirt at end of October (my anticipation of your return). Your quiet, steady and dignified yet very enthusiastic presence is such a gift to the team in addition to your playing skills. You, Curt, Tek and others are such wonderful positive role models for all the kids — it’s just really great that YOU chose US this time!! Looking forward to spring.
Thanks Curt!
Mike,
Thanks for coming back to Beantown for the right reasons. We appreciate all your hard work and leadership. Here’s to a great season and more great seasons (and World Series rings!) to come.
Cheers,
Beth
Syracuse, NY
Thank you for showing us what kind of man and baseball player you really are by taking less money to stay in Boston.
To me it shows us that not everyone out there is money hungry like some other former Sox free agents.
Looking forward to the next three years with you at the hot corner.
And a thanks to Curt for doing this as well.
Hello Mike,
Surely most sports fans ifind it quite impressive that you chose what you viewed as best for yourself and family over money…… a lot of money.
Bill Burt from the Gloucester Daily Times succinctly said it all when he posted this:
“A-Rod is not Boston.
Lowell is.
Everyone, especially Lowell, got this one right.”
Congratulations to you and may you prosper and receive the recognition that you so richly deserve.
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/pusports/local_story_324115713?page=0
Mike,
Good to have you back. As I posted here on Curt’s blog a few weeks back, theres certain players who say “it isn’t about the money” and they actually live up to those words. It started with Tek, Curt continued it, and I just knew you were cut from the same cloth.
When you and Josh came to Boston in the trade, I told my brother “You watch, this is going to be as much about Mike Lowell’s contribution to the team as it is Josh Becket’s”. Here you are, Series MVP. Glad to have you here! Proud to point you out to my kids and say “that man stands for something”.
Great to have both of you back! I know a lot of people were getting concerned that we might not get Lowell back at third. Many happy Red Sox fans now in my area of Maine
What a special year for me! Simply because my 8 year old daughter discovered baseball at the start of the post season and became totally immersed in the Red Sox. I spent two weeks explaining everything from the rules to the game to who was who on the Sox roster.
My daughter is now a Red Sox expert, she even knows the numbers on each players back! What crowned it off for me was when she called me at work and informed me that Mike Lowell was coming back and she found this information on mlbtraderumors.com!! She is counting the day’s to her first trip to Fenway Park to see Mike Lowell…… So Mike - thanks for coming back and being a special part of my daughters introduction to this wonderful game.
Cheers,
Jim
Mike:
Thanks for coming back to the Sox. Having you and Curt sign on again has made this a great off season — great to have you back and great to have the team largely intact to defend. That took alot of guts to turn down the extra year, but I am sure it will work out for you in the long run. There would seem to be a very good chance that in 3 years you will again be positioned for a large contract, and it actually could work out better for you that you are not on the hook for the 4th year. Maybe you will end up with 2 consecutive large 3 year contracts instead of 1 large 4 year contract, and the only way to know for sure is to project yourself into the future, and no one I know has figured out how to do that. So you did the right thing making a decision that will make you and your family happy, and those kinds of decisions tend to work out for the best anyway. Twice in my career I almost left my company to work elsewhere, solely because of $. I ended up staying and it turned out that I was not only happier, but also did alot better financially sticking around. All of us are hoping this turns out for the best for you too. We all appreciate you staying in Boston and are proud to have you as a member of our favorite team. THANKS!
Mark
I just wanted to say thank you to all the Red Sox players for making Boston the premier place to play in MLB. Players do not come for money or fame, they play in Boston because they love the game, the town and thier teammates. Thank you to Curt and Mike for reviving the real reason to play and to watch baseball. The dark cloud over baseball consisting of steriods and huge free agency contracts has been significantly brightened because two Red Sox signed contracts that reminded all fans why we go to games and why we watch on TV.
Good idea, Curt. Mike, you’re one of the good guys…I’ve always known that. Thank you for proving it! You and your team gave us Sox fans in Colorado such a thrill this season, and we’re looking forward to next year!! Thank you so much!!
Happy Holidays, and welcome back!
Holly
Denver, CO (aka Red Sox Nation West)
(Thanks Curt!)
Dear Mr. MVP Lowell,
Thank you for coming to an agreement to stay with the beloved Red Sox. I have followed your career a long time now and cheered on the Marlins when you were on that winning team when our beloved team was not in the running. You are an example of the perfect all around baseball player in so many ways but the class you show on and off the field stands out the most.
Please know that if you had not signed with the Red Sox, all of Red Sox Nation would still be a fan of yours! The fans here in Key West, Florida think you are the icing on the cake! We agree with you that this is the dream team… not only for it’s athletic abilities but for the comradeship of the players. Continued best wishes in Boston. Thank you. Thank you.
This has been the most stressful post season I can remember! I can get up in the morning now and not speak the words “Did Mike sign yet?” I don’t have to hold myself back from bugging Curt on his WONDERFUL blog! I can high five, giggle and smile with fellow fans saying “Oh Yeah… We’re the team…. Spring training here we come!”
The Hunt family
GO SOX!!! The team that keeps fun in baseball.
Mr Schilling and Mr Lowell,
Thank you for what you have done for the Boston Red Sox. I am very excited to see both of your work ethnics back in Boston. I really admire both of you, both of you never let down after a bad year or comments that said you were close to the end of your career. Mike Lowell makes the best plays on the hot corner than anyone does!!
Schilling, good job on transforming yourself from a power pitcher to a new type of pitcher.
Lowell, good job on bringing back your swing and keep on putting dents in the Green monster!
Best of wishes and luck in 2008!
Happy Holidays
Chris
Maryland (wish I lived in MA so i could get tickets easier….)
I’m certainly glad you’re coming back. It’s a privilege to be able to watch a true professional such as yourself in my home city. It’s also a great feeling that Boston is a top destination for talented ballplayers.
Congratulations to you and your family on your new contract, and here’s hoping you have a happy and healthy three years here.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for coming back! Thanks for showing us that working with good people and a good organization is so much more important than the final dollars and cents. Have always believed that you will show truly great stuff and you did that when it counted. Have faith that you will continue to show how great a baseball player you are both on and off the field.
Have another three great years!
Mikey Lowell, what can I say? When you first came to the Sox in 2006, I liked you immediately! I didn’t know much about baseball stats wise then, but I think your positive vibe on and off the field spoke for itself; it is one of your greatest attributes. Throughout your 2 seasons here, I appreciated your eloquent speaking skills during interviews, etc; you’re one of the smartest baseball players in the league! I also loved how you got along with so many different kinds of guys in the clubhouse; your bilingual skills are envious! Now we get to keep you for another 3 years and enjoy all these wonderful things, baseball and non, again!
After watching most of the games on TV, I finally got to see the June 18, 2006 Sox game in person. You guys were playing the Braves and Schilling pitched a stellar game. However, you didn’t start, and I was so disappointed. But then you came in for, surprise surprise, a clutch appearance! You delivered! I guess it was hard to hear me scream, “I love you Mike Lowell” when I was in the nose bleed section of Turner Stadium…
Then came the April 22, 2007 game against the Yankees. I flew all the way from South Carolina to see that game, and you launched 1 of 4 straight homers and then one single homer! WOW! I brought my sign that said, “I love Mike Lowell! Gold Gloves are hot.” Now I have to change that to “Gold Gloves and clutch hits are hot.” Of course, in the nose bleed section of Fenway (is there such a thing?) ESPN never put my sign on TV! I bought my first Mike Lowell t-shirt that night at the Yawkey Way store. The last game I saw in person was the Memorial Day Weekend Saturday game against the Rangers in Texas. I had family kind enough to fly me out to visit and take me to a game! We didn’t get there early enough for batting practice as I was so hoping for a picture or autograph! Maybe during Spring Training?
In short Mikey, thanks for coming back! Words cannot express how happy I, and all of Red Sox Nation, am. We appreciate you beyond words for everything you do, on and off the field. Thanks again! Let’s go and get ‘em again next year! Let’s go 2008 Red Sox!!
Your biggest fan in SC,
Christina
PS - Curt, you rock, too.
I try not to get attached to players because baseball is a business and you never know where they’ll end up (JD - Dec ‘05), but I quickly latched onto the Mike Lowell bandwagon and I don’t even want to tell you how I was going to react if you didn’t come back (LOL). Thank you for re-signing. I hope RSN doesn’t let you down. I will be there on opening day when the Fenway Faithful give you your much deserved standing O! Congrats on a terrific season, WS MVP and for coming back!
To Mr. Schilling - I address you as Mr because I think that you have earned the respect as well. I would also like to add my heart-felt thanks to you. I wanted to see you end your career with Boston as badly as I was hoping to see “Mikey” back. Thank you for your loyalty to Red Sox Nation and thanks for offering us this opportunity to thank both of you.
With baseball being shoved down our throats this off-season from other teams that this is a business, it’s WONDERFUL to know that you chose sentiment and the love for the team and Red Sox Nation. I can assure you that you have our unending appreciation for the rest of your time in Boston. (Well, the real fans anyway, the arm chair QB’s are another story.) RSN can go into ‘08 with heads held high because of men like you!
Mike Lowell!!! It is good to have you back in Boston, where you BELONG!!!
Hi Mike,
I just wanted to say congrats on the new contract. Also, I’ve followed your career since your Marlin days. Also, I went to Epiphany and Christopher Columbus HS with your brother Carlos. I wish you continued success with the Red Sox.
Take care,
Brian
Jupiter, FL
first off, cool idea
Hey Mike,
Well, thanks for coming back! I was really hoping (like a lot of people) that you would. I can’t wait to see you play the next 3 years. I have always loved you whenever I first saw you. I think you are a great person and I hope you have great years to come!!! Happy Holidays!!
Harley Graham
Waterford, CA (i wish i lived in MA to see a live game…
(P.S. Curt is awesome!!!)
Mike,
As a loyal member of the Nation, I can’t even begin to express our gratitude. First of all, for your incredible play this entire season. Secondly for your leadership in the clubhouse and also for the way you have embraced the Nation. It is great to see a person of your integrity leaving money and years on the contract table to show your loyalty to a group of people who have the utmost respect for you, both as a player and as a person. It also goes to show that not everyone is a sellout who cares more about money than anything else. Best of luck (not that you or the Sox need it), and we look forward to seeing you hoist another trophy in the very near future. Congrats, you deserve everything you’ve gotten.
Curt,
First of all, it’s great to have you back and thank you for giving the fans a forum to talk directly to our beloved Red Sox through. Truly an incredible idea by a truly great man!!!
Mike,
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for realizing just how much you mean to Red Sox fans. We all know you could have gotten a sweeter deal with more time somewhere else. But there is no place where you will be admired as much as you are here in Boston. We, as Bostonians, know we have a reputation for having a “what have you done for me lately” attitude, but I think that has slowly, maybe very slowly, gone away. Your leadership on and off the field are second to none and we Red Sox fans truly appreciate what you have done and will continue to do for at least 3 more years.
Thank you!!!
On a lighter note, let me ask if you realized that the short porch in left field may have had something to do with your career best offensive season?
Let’s be honest-it had to be in the back of your mind!!!
Anyway, Thanks again for coming back to Fenway for three more years, and don’t worry abouthat fourth one, just hire Schill as your agent and he will get you a nice one year deal when the time comes!!!
Thanks again to both of you!!!
Mr. Schilling, you are one great guy, thanks for being a first class individual. Thank you Mr. Lowell for coming back for another three seasons with the Sox. We all know you could of got more money from another team, but it shows were you are as an individual and a player to come back. Good luck in 2008 and keep working hard.
Thank you Curt for staying in Boston and for letting us post to Mike. I’ve been a fan of yours since long before you came to Boston and appreciate what you’ve done for this team and appreciate this opportunity!
Mike, thank you so much for staying and honoring this city, your fans and your team. I’ve been a fan of yours since day one and am delighted to have you stay. I look forward to watching you play for another 3 years!
Holiday Blessings to you both and to your families!
~Tina in RI
GO SOX!!
Mike,
I’d like to think that you passed up more money elsewhere because the best baseball fans in the world live here. Or that you wanted to play in front of a sold out crowd at every home game. Or that you wanted to be part of the Red Sox tradition. Or maybe that you just thought you had a chance to win another ring. I suspect it had more to do with the guys in the clubhouse though. That’s okay. Whatever the reason, thanks for staying. Red Sox Nation is better for you being here.
Thank you Curt for doing this..my family is thrlled that you will be back next year.
And to Mike Lowell…
Thank you. It’s inspiring to see players who don’t always put money first. Curt and Mike, you are setting an example of the kind of athlete that I would like my sons to look up to. So often sports news is filled with stories of greed and bad behavior.
In these days of free agency when ridiculous amounts of money are offered, it takes a special person to resist that temptation and see what really matters. I sincerely hope that you realize what a class act you are. I wish you all the best!
Mike,
Thanks for resigning with the Sox…you are a class individual along with all the Sox! So from all of us in Red Sox Nation we applaud you and your choice to remain with Boston.
Thank you Mike Lowell for coming back to Boston. You are a class act and an amazing player and we are all happy that you are coming back. To actually think that there is one player (let alone two) on your team that is willing to leave money on the table just to return back is amazing. With all of the things going on in baseball and all of the big contracts people are getting (pay-rod) it is refreshing to see a player stay because they love the team and the city and not just go to the team that offered them the biggest contract (damon). Anyway, welcome back Mikey and I look forward to seeing you play in Boston for the next three years!
Thanks Mike for returning to the Sox. I must say that this century has been very good to New England fans. Thanks again
WOW man i cant beleive that Mikey left 13 million on the table….and after that career year you had im glad that you didnt take the money that you could have gone that really shows how much you want to be back to boston. Glad Mikey’s back.
Wicked awesome idea, Curt.
Mike, you could have taken more money to go elsewhere. But you decided to stay here.
You did just what all fans always ask. I sure hope you’ve earned everyone’s respect and gratitude around here. I’ll be super upset at any Sox fan who boos you, even if you do commit two errors within a week.
Thanks for staying. Congrats on the MVP and on the contract!
Mike,
Simply put….THANKS.
Nice to know Red Sox Nation hasn’t made your experience here unbearable. My wife and I look forward to watching you “do your thing” for the next 3yrs.
Curt,
Thanks for the space and forum.
Thanks again!
Welcome Back Mr. Lowell !! You’re truly a class act and Boston is lucky to have you !
Thank you, Mike, for showing the baseball world and its fans that everything doesn’t have to boil down to money. You are, obviously, a good man.
We’re all so thrilled you’re back!
I hope you and your family have a very happy Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year!
Cyn Donnelly
Boston, MA
And thank YOU, Curt, for giving us the outlet to get our appreciation across to Mike!
Thanks Mike,
Thanks for being the type of player that baseball has been looking for. We all understand that it is every players option to check out the free agent market and we are glad that you did. Deep in every Boston fans heart is what you don’t see around all of the league, its one word, called “PASSION”. The 2007 Red Sox Team enhanced that for all of us, and we thank you and the rest of the guys. When a World Series can bring tears to a grown man, thats when you know it is special. I would also like to thank you for the great picture I have of you and your daughter from the celebration parade. I wish there was a post here where we could all share the pictures we have captured of the heroes of our game, because Curt and yourself are truly two of them. Thanks and keep up the good work !!
P.S. - Do me a favor and duct tape Manny to the dugout post like they use to do to Pedro !! LOL
Jim Munhall
Whitinsville, MA
Sir,
THANK YOU.
I was @ your first spring training game back in ‘06, knew you were meant for greatness back then. See you in Fort Myers ‘08.
Thanks, Mike, for coming back to Boston!
I can’t imagine you in another team’s uniform. I know you haven’t always been a Red Sox player, but from the way you play, you sure wouldn’t know it by watching.
Thank you for dedication to this city, and this team, and your teammates - and thank you for WANTING to stay. We certainly love having you. 2007 wouldn’t have been as special without guys like you on the team.
- Ash
x
Mike,
Living in Lincoln, Nebraska you would not believe the number of Sox and
Lowell fans. I’ve been an associate principal in a middle school for 13 years.
Two years ago I was offered a SUBSTANIAL increase in pay to work for a
company called Talent + almost double my current salary. It only took me a
few days to decide that I loved being around kids. You should the baseball
that it is truly not about the money but what is right for you and your
family.
When I told my boys about your resigning they went crazy. My oldest
plays third base and believe me he watches all your plays at third.
GOOD LUCK next season and we will see you in KC in August!!!
Ralph C
Curt,
forgot to mention - I CAN’T GET THE WOMEN AT MY JOB TO SHUT UP ABOUT THIS GUY! Three co-workers in particular swoon at the thought of him. The name “George Clooney” is often heard when they talk about Mike.
Regarding the previous post about politics…I don’t get the impression Mike is a political guy, but I do believe he is NOOOOOOOOO fan of Castro. Considering the Cuban-American transplant community in southern florida vote overwhelmingly Republican, I think you and Mike have more in common than just the team you play for. Sorry Massachusetts.
Mike, I doubt that you’ll read this comment as there will probably be hundreds by the time mine gets here. But I just wanted to say anyway that my previous admiration for you has increased ten times over with your decision to stay here. I hope you realize by now how much Red Sox fans appreciate you as a person and a player. You are a true class act and you have been since the day you arrived here. I loved the story of how you and Dustin brought the food to the people in the ticket line. All the best to you and your lovely family.
PS-you and David are my favorites
Regina
Mike,
Living in Lincoln, Nebraska you would not believe the number of Sox and
Lowell fans. I’ve been an associate principal in a middle school for 13 years.
Two years ago I was offered a SUBSTANTIAL increase in pay to work for a
company called Talent + almost double my current salary. It only took me a
few days to decide that I loved being around kids. You should the baseball
that it is truly not about the money but what is right for you and your
family.
When I told my boys about your resigning they went crazy. My oldest
plays third base and believe me he watches all your plays at third.
GOOD LUCK next season and we will see you in KC in August!!!
Ralph C
Dear Mr. Lowell and Mr. Schilling,
I wanted to thank you so much for all of your efforts both you and all of your team mates have given to Red Sox Nation over the years that you’ve worn the Red Sox jersey. It has been a pleasure to watch, root and admire you both on, and off the field.
Back in the early 70’s I became a Red Sox fan and my father brought me to see my first game in 1975. I got to see Yaz, Fisk, Rice, Lynn, Bommer, El Tiate, and so many more great players. It was a memery that I hold very dear to me. I got to pass along our love for the Red Sox to my son, and in 2003 he got to see his first game. It was as he put it, ” The bestest day of my life”. He saw Pedro, Tek, Manny and Big Papi and all of there great teammates.
He soon had to learn about trades, free agency and how they can take away the players you root for, such as his favorite player Nomar. I know that the effects of a trade, or changing teams through free agency are felt far worse on a player and his family that us fans, but the effects on my 8 year old’s world were harsh. He has learned to move on and now his favorite players include both numbers 25 and 38.
It is for him that I want to thank you for putting off more money and longer security and remain with Red Sox Nation. Countless young eyes can look out to you on the field and beam with pride and admiration, and cheer you on to hopefully many more wins and if were all lucky enough many more championships.
Thanks again, and enjoy the Holiday seasons with your families.
Mike,
Living in Lincoln, Nebraska you would not believe the number of Sox and
Lowell fans. I’ve been an associate principal in a middle school for 13 years.
Two years ago I was offered a SUBSTANTIAL increase in pay to work for a
company called Talent + almost double my current salary. It only took me a
few days to decide that I loved being around kids. You showed baseball
that it is truly not about the money but what is right for you and your
family.
When I told my boys about your resigning they went crazy. My oldest
plays third base and believe me he watches all your plays at third.
GOOD LUCK next season and we will see you in KC in August!!!
Ralph C
Curt, what a great idea. Thanks *so much* for the opportunity to send word to Mike. With all the chatter back and forth on the web I was hoping there would be a way to put some words in front of Mike.
Mike, thank you so much for staying. I was hoping that this wasn’t prophetic:
http://groups.msn.com/DaughtersofKevinYoukilis/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=509
(Taken by one of my coworkers when we were at the parade.)
I sometimes feel like you guys ‘pass through’ the Red Sox as temporary custodians of ‘our’ team. Well, I couldn’t ask for a better representative of what we always hope that the Sox are about. (And yeah, I know it’s a business, but businesses can be run in different ways.) I don’t know if you realize or understand what the Red Sox mean to us - I don’t even understand it - but thank you for the respect and appreciation you’ve shown for playing on this team.
Even after ‘04 (Thank you Curt!) this year’s team was special, and you were a huge part of that. I know that this was a career/business decision and you didn’t do it for us, but thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! The fans appreciate you - the player and the man - more than you can know, and I promise you will feel that appreciation every single day and never regret your decision to stay.
Francine
Mike & Curt,
It is awesome to have you both sign for less money to be with teammates and fans you appreciate. What a big difference the Boston/New England sports scene has become since the turn of the millennium. The Patriots started this selfless “team” mantra back in 2001 and the Red Sox continued it in 2004. Now even the Celtics seem to be coming around to that idea with the acquisitions of key selfless players like KG and Ray Allen.
What a privilege it will be to see the same core team next year. The only problem is that the media (and some fans) are going to accept nothing less than another Championship. Do your best and have fun. My family will enjoy watching a group of guys that we know are doing their best each and every game because they love playing as a team for the City of Boston and New England.
Now, let’s get Varitek’s contract extended another year or two and get Timlin signed. Two great dirt dogs!
Tom Sisson
Litchfield, NH
Thanks, Curt, for the opportunity to make these comments.
And thanks, Mike Lowell, for your play on the field, your comments before and after the game, your apparent leadership in the clubhouse, and for giving us the opportunity to applaud your performance for three more years.
What must be going through your head this Thanksgiving? Two years ago, you were portrayed as “the guy the Red Sox had to take to get Josh Beckett,” and now you’re the coveted World Series MVP.
We Sox fans all feel we have a lot to be thankful for this year. But, man, you’ve got to be feeling pretty grateful, too, after the season you’ve enjoyed!
Congrats, Mike. You’ve earned your accolades, and you’ve been a pleasure to watch at the ballpark. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Same to you and your family, Curt. You’ve given a lot to your fans this year, and this blog is high atop that list. Thank you.
best,
Tom
Mike,
Welcome back to the Sox!!! One thing I hoped for in the off season was they bring you back! It’s great to see guys like you who display class coming back to a team I love! Thanks for returning and making it not just about the money!!! Now kick some Yankee butt next year! I hope to take my son who will wear nothing but his Red Sox hat to a game in Minneapolis!
Mark Brindamour
Grand Forks, ND
Growing up South of Boston, the first Red Sox game I saw was in August of 1946. I can still recite the starting line up and batting averages of that AL championship team. In those days, it was radio only and with the use of your imagination, you created heroes. Naturally my first was Ted Williams. Through all the long years of winless suffering, it was the “heroes” that kept us going. After Ted stopped playing, I picked a different hero every year and the very first thing in the morning, I still check the sports pages to see how “my hero” did the night before.
In the ’80s and ’90s we lived in South Florida…where my son, the same age as Mike Lowell….played baseball. My son played against Mike Lowell and a guy by the name of Alex “what’s his name”. We have several pictures of these kids on the same field in High School and College games.
Starting in 1999 when he was traded from the “damn Yankees” to the Marlins, “my hero” became Mike Lowell and he will continue to be. When Mike came to the Red Sox in 2005, I was exited beyond words; he has become the heart and soul of the Red Sox nation and he will be the last baseball hero for this old timer.
Mike and Curt, thanks for resigning! Much of the heart ache of not resigning/or trading magnificent players over the past 60 years has been wiped away for the “nation” by the resigning of Mike Lowell and Curt Shilling.
Go Sox!
Mike,
Going to keep it short and sweet here. I big thank you for coming back to RSN. As you’ve seen while playing for this great team they are truly a team. That’s the great thing about New England sports, all the teams here have so many great players, and they do shine on their own, but they shine even brighter as a team. Thanks for coming back and I look forward to wathcing you play next season and on.
Nate from Cape Cod, MA
Hey Mike!
So happy to know you’re back on for these next three years. My whole family was celebrating at the news…everybody loves ya! Can’t wait to see you barehanding those ground balls again soon!
Thanks,
Beth
Carlisle, MA
Mike,
First, welcome back. Although you never really left, so I guess this should be more of congrats on your raise and three-year security blanket!
Second, I had the pleasure of watching you guys win Game 4 in Denver. Through most of the early innings the Rockies’ fans were giving me crap about how old you are and nicknamed you “Grandpa.” Of course, after you doubled and scored in the 5th and then lead-off the top of the 7th with a HR, they didn’t have much to say about you or anything else. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy the final few innings with relatively quiet Rockies fans.
Again congrats on the new contract, Grandpa, and I look forward to seeing you around for the next 3 seasons.
DM
Thanks, Curt for passing these on to Mike for all of us! Cool idea!
Mike,
Thanks for resigning with Boston, in spite of better offers elsewhere. Sometimes it’s more than the money, and thanks for being true to the game and to the Sox! It’s a huge sigh of relief we all breath to have you and Curt back!!! You both have made this a very Happy Thanksgiving for the RS Nation!!
Looking forward to seeing the team in Seattle in July!!!!
Thanks again!
Kris in Boise
Thank you Curt!! You teh roxor!!!11!!!!1!!one!!!eleven!
Dear Mike,
It takes a very special kind of athlete to play in Boston. You have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are a Dirt Dog. You have won over the hearts and minds of Red Sox Nation with your constant professionalism on and off the field.
I never viewed you as a “toss in.” Sure you had an off year before you joined the Sox. But your previous record indicated that you had potential. And boy did that potential pay off huge for the Sox in your time here with the Sox! Plus your defense is a pure joy to watch.
Thank-you very much for returning to Boston. Maybe you can convince Ortiz to be in a D’Angelo’s commercial so you too can have a guy dressed up as a steak and cheese sandwich follow you too!
Thank-you very much for picking the Sox. You teh roxors 2!!!!
Diane M. Martin
Cranston, RI
Great Idea Curt! It’s great to be a Red Sox fan these days! Welcome back Mike Lowell, You are a class act, I wish more athletes would do the same. But we are happy your back and I will continue to follow the Sox (from St Pete, Fla) for years to come.
Thanks for a GREAT season!
Thanks Schill,
As others have already stated, we cannot Thank You enough for following your heart and remain with Boston. I’m sure many were a little nervous when the word reached them regarding the yankees longer offer, with more money. You’ve made the right decision, we <3 ya Mike.
Thanks,
Eric M. Eveland
Mike,
Thank you so much for staying in Boston. Your attitude, your sportsmanship, your play on the field are so important to all of the fans. We realized that you could have gone elsewhere for more money and a longer contract, and I know I at least are very thankful to have you back to help us win another World Series in ‘08!
Thank you for giving Red Sox Nation to be thankful for (I know, that’s redundant), and thanks for the early Christmas present!
Have a great offseason and see you in the spring!
Melissa
Mike,
Glad you are back with the Sox for 3 more wonderful years! Thanks for a super season with both the bat and glove!
The postseason was magic and you earned a well deserved WS MVP! Red Sox Nation has no boundaries and we say Thank You from Maryland!
I hope both you and Curt and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow and holiday season!
Go Sox!
Elvis & Family
Glen Burnie, MD
We love you, Mike. Here’s to another successful three years.
And, as I forgot to say, thank you Curt for re-signing with us and for giving us this chance to leave a note for Mike! You guys should always know how much we appreciate you.
I’m so thankful you came back to a town you have only gotten to know for a short time. I think after this contract you will realize you found home, they might even name a town after you or something….
It was great to see the support your teammates showed as they clearly knew who they wanted as their “third baseman”. You most certainly have many things to be thankful for this holiday as have been thru so much both personally and professionally. What a comeback, I’m sure you still can’t believe these last few months.
Congrats and a big thanks for making the next 5 months about enjoying the previous 5 instead of worrying about who was coming back (both you and Curt deserve my thanks for that one). Hell my wife and I just planned a road trip to Santa Barbara wine country on Saturday so we could listen to all the games on the XM Radio in the car and I CAN’T WAIT.
Enjoy the holiday and see you in April! Dave
Dear Mike,
I’m not a GM, but I am a shopper and I know value when I see it. It shouldn’t go unnoticed that they almost blew this one.
Now that you’re a hometown here, do me a favor and don’t let those jerks on WEEI get to you. They are funny and fat, but know absolutely nothing about sports. They get big names like Tom Brady and Curt to call in, and then they ask them stupid questions.
Happy Thanksgiving and Congratulations to you and your family!
Mike,
I wanted to say thank you for following your heart instead of your wallet and staying in Boston. It means a lot to us.
Semper Fidelis,
OB
Curt and Mike,
Thank you so much for coming back. You guys are great and someone people can actually look up to in pro sports in so many ways. Living in Illinois it is tough to see many games, but I was lucky enough to see three of the four played at the White Sox this year. Mike, you were on FIRE that series, and I knew this was a special year. I am so pumped to see you coming back. Can’t wait to see you guys play again, and another spanking of the White Sox this August.
Hope all of Red Sox nation has a wonderful Thanksgiving and Holidays. You both have given us so much to be thankful for already. We in RSN are so lucky to have you. Thank you everyone on the 07 and 08 team. I am thanking you ahead of time for what I know is going to be a great season this year, it already is since you guys are back in a Sox uni.
Thanks, and go get ‘em in 08!
Sean, Springfield, IL
(Dylanmarsh, did you tell the fans how old he actually is? Hee.)
Mike,
Thanks for not making my T-shirt obsolete less than six months after I finally found it. (You’re popular around here.) Thanks for staying and making the team what it is. Thanks for loving Boston’s fans as much as we love you.
Jaimi
Mike,
I am very glad that you’re staying with us. It seems like you’ve been with us forever. People are right, you’re a wonderful fit here. Thank you so much.
(Besides, pinstripes?)
Ericka
Manchester, NH
I just want to say thank you for rejoining the Boston Red Sox. Seeing a player resign for less then he would have gotten elsewere is a true Athelete who enjoys the game.
A-Rod and his $350 mil make it impossiable for teh average fan to afford tickets to the games and with out fans you all would look funny playing in a huge stadium. So thats for being a true baseball player and not going after all the green.
Curt,
Thanks again for your insights and personal feelings on many subjects. Congrats to you and the team on another great World Series victory. My father never saw one but I have been lucky enough to see both in the last 3 years. It makes me proud as hell to be a Red Sox fan. Thanks to you and the team.
Mike Lowell what can you say? Class guy, great ballplayer, a gamer as I would say, left money on the table to stay here and win a few more championships. Two of the best right here right now. Lowell has been my favorite player since that dive on a bunt attempt back in early ‘06. Super player with a great attitude and loves the team, city and fans. Thanks for the chance to thank you guys. I look forward to the Series trophy coming to my town. I missed it in ‘04.
Best to you all and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Leo Yorkell
Thanks Mike and Curt,
Your abilities, professionalism, and tenacity have helped make Boston, and the greater Massachusetts area into the “Vienna of Professional Sports.”
Mr. Shilling, you do Boston a great honor by giving us fans the last years of your pitching career. We all hope you and the Red Sox have a strong association long after your final pitch. Maybe we will see you in a Red Sox uniform in Cooperstown?
Mr Lowell, in many ways you are a hub that binds the Red Sox together, not dissimilar to Mr. Schilling and Mr. Veritek. Your qualities of leadership, loyalty, and fortitude not only create the luster on the Red Sox logo, but also make you the Pride of Boston.
Thank you both for making the Boston Red Sox the Jewel of Major League Baseball.
Mike… Thank you so much for coming back to The Red Sox. You are such an important part of that wonderful chemistry.The best all around third baseman in baseball will now be playing here for (at least) the next three years. Congrats on the MVP!! Oh no!! now what will I worry about until spring?? My team is complete(almost). SIGN MIKE AND DOUG !!
Mike,
We’re thrilled you re-signed. It’s terrific to see a sox team full of guys with such respect for each other. Of course we only get the media view of you guys, but the strength of character, and incredibly positive role model that you exhibit shows through every time. Can’t wait to hear the ovation you get in April. Hope you and your family have a great off-season.
Dave
I am so excited for the ‘08 season! The ‘07 series was definately a good way to wrap up my high school career. I’m really pleased that Lowell opted to stay for three more years, and in my dorm, it is believed that the decision that has been made here has shown how he is a TRUE Red Sox player! It’s been a great past season, and i look forward to a fabulous season in 2008.
Thanks for coming back Mr. Lowell!!!
~Abby Friedman
Mike,
Thanks for returning. It makes it so much easier for Lena as she does not have to choose a new favorite player. I was struggling to find something to say that might help me stand out from the outpouring of drooly love you must be receiving right now, and it’s occured to me that that must be something like standing out in a city like Boston which has such a storied history and history in the making, and if you can stand out in a place like this, surely I could find a way to stand out amidst the throng.
Yeah, so much for that idea. Welcome back. I look forward to another 3 years of watching you dominate at 3rd by your explosive combination of double plays on defence and doubles on offense.
Curt,
Everyone’s said this, and I think I might have commented something the same myself on previous posts, but it’s great that you’re coming back and that you’re so much a part of the RedSox fanbase as well as the Red Sox team.
Mike, I’m pleased you’re back with the Sox for three more. I have enjoyed watching you over the last couple of years. You’ve dealt with the nattering nabobs who were concerned about your bat speed coming into 2006 spring training and shown them exactly what you’re made of as a player.
You’re a guy I’m glad is on “my team” and I could not be happier you’ve chosen to come back.
Thanks Curt for such a cool idea.
Mr Lowell,
If you make it down to my response I’m pretty impressed at your patience, and diligence. haha.
Understand I was a huge Billy Mueller fan, and was pretty bummed out when he was traded. I’ve always admired ball players who show up, play the game right and leave everything out on the field. Billy seemed like a good teammate, great hitter, kept his nose clean and played great 3B. So when you came in, I needed winning over. Nothing personal.
Well, It didn’t take very long. You’ve been a great fit with the team, and this crazy city since the start. I quickly became a fan of your work…
Thanks for your clutch hitting this year, professionalism, time you gave to the fans. That doesn’t get lost or forgotten here. Glad your back.
cheers,
.
Mike,
I would personally like to thank your George Clooney lookin’ ass. I was ecstatic seeing you traded to the Sox with Beckett and always had the utmost faith in your ability. Here’s to you, three more years, and three more MVPs! Anything less, and Boston Dirt Dogs will eat you alive. Just a heads up.
-Ray
Thanks Kurt and Mike!
I have been a RS fan since I was 4 years old (and frankly that was a while ago). Despite the fact that I have a RS Pink hat, I am no pink hat.
I love watching ‘my guys’ on the field and I am THRILLED to see both of you coming back. Go Sox!
With the players we have now, Red Sox Nation is perfectly represented. All of you guys are the best. It is so hard to choose a favorite.
Love you all!
Best to you and your familys during the holidays!
Anna
Thanks Curt for this great idea!
And Mike…Thank you for coming back to Boston! Your dedication to the team and to the fans is amazing and inspiring! I hope you have a fantastic season and a ton of fun with the team! Happy Holidays to you both, and your families!
The Duffys on Cape Cod :o)
Mike
Not much more that I could say that has not already been said. You came to us in a trade that was one of the best the Red Sox have ever made. We thought of you, at first, as the man we had to take to get a young pitcher. You were hot sometimes, and then not sometimes. But this last year you were absolutely special. You became family. Sure, it was your performance on the field that endeared us all to you. But then we heard from all your fellow players about what a vitally wonderful guy you are, we all became sick at the thought of you leaving.
Life is about seasons. Seasons come and go. I thought our season with you was over when I heard how much you were offered. The money left on the table is a remarkable reminder of how truly blessed we are that you choose to stay. (It’s like seeing your girlfriend turn down the proposal of a billionaire. uhmm, at least I think it would be) You became our hero with how you played. You have won our hearts when you choose to stay.
Now go get some endorsement deals so we can make you some money! This is Boston man! We can do that!!
Thanks for coming back Mike. I wasn’t sure if you’d be back knowing that you could’ve easily cashed in after such a great year, but you, along with Schill, proved that you are different than most players. You made the decision based on what you wanted to do not on the $ sign. I wanted to get a #25 jersey all last year but didn’t know if you were coming back, now that I know you are coming back it is the first thing on my Christmas list. Thanks Mike!!!
Curt,
Please make sure Mike reads post #78. What a great letter.
Curt, thanks for giving us the opportunity to let Mike know how we feel, although I’m pretty sure he already knows!
Dear Mike,
Those chants about not signing A-Rod and “resign Lowell” were heartfelt and unanimous. Mike, I’m so glad you decided to stay here, alot of our beloved players have left for more money recently and it doesn’t look like it bought them happiness OR a world series ring!!! We LOVE you and can’t wait for opening day to start cheering you all on once again! Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Wendy
Mike,
There’s so much that I’d like to say, but others have said it first. You contribute so much more to this team than what is seen on the field, and in your clubhouse leadership.
As a Christian, a husband, a father of four, and a sports fan, I often struggle to reconcile my faith with the behavior of athletes. I’m always quick to point out to my family when an athlete sincerely gives the glory to God when interviewed, but too often their behavior off the field betrays their true heart. I look for articles, and stories that illustrate how some athletes can use their fame to bless others through selflessness and compassion. I have to tell you, that for a while there, it was hard to find many examples of this that weren’t soon tainted by scandal.
You are as good of an example of a Christian man as I’ve seen in professional sports. You are a warrior on the field, and you seem genuinely humble, and almost embarrassed by the spotlight. The fact that you put your family first in the negotiations with the Sox, and that you were willing to play for less because of the environment, validates that you are a person of character in my eyes.
I think that you’re on to something about the environment. I witnessed the change about four years ago. Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that it happened around the time Schilling came to town. I’ve had this discussion about the change in demeanor of this team over and over again with friends and family. Everyone sees it. It’s contagious.
I’m not necessarily saying that the Lord is a Red Sox fan, but I do think that he rewards the faithful.
You and Curt are worthy of the admiration of the fans. We are lucky to have you.
Thanks,
Rick
Thanks Mike. I was at Game 4, it was beautiful. You killed it all year and were always the man in the clutch, thanks for coming back, we need you.
People always blame players for leaving for more money. I would ask them, wouldn’t you change companies for more money to do the same job? At a certain point though, a person has to judge what makes them happy. Certainly you would have been more financially secure in New York, but you would have been under an immense amount of pressure to produce with the added stress of a new position. After all the people the Sox have lost to the Yankees, I wouldn’t have blamed you for thinking of your financial security.
Thanks for staying. I will be getting a shirt with your name on the back for my favorite Sox player.
Drew (first game at fenway was the date of my user name)
Yeah, Mike, thanks for staying. We all know what you can do and hope to see more of it. I imagine this is the first of more big contracts with the Sox to come.
M
Okay, well it’s obvious you decided to stray in Boston despite getting better offer. Most of us won’t make what you left on the table in our careers, so the sacrifice you’ve made is pretty damned cool to play in Boston. Obviously, your a fan favorite, a great clubhouse guy and a great ballplayer. This fan is psyched to see you back in Beantown for another three years. Thanks Mike, this lifelong diehard appreciates your sacrifice. Have a great offseason and good luck next year and beyond.
Dear Mr. Lowell,
I was at Opening Day in Arlington on April 3, 2006 when the Red Sox opened their season against the Texas Rangers. At the time, I lived in Houston and would make the trip up to Arlington every time the Red Sox were in town. I knew nothing about you, except that you came to the Red Sox through the Josh Beckett deal. You hit a home run to lead off the 8th. Coincidently, our very own blogger extrodinare Mr. Curt Schilling pitched, and he looked fantastic. And the good guys won 7-3.
When you hit that home run, I was cheering at the top of my lungs, and celebrating with a few other New England transplants that were sitting around me and said, “I like this guy already!!”
I definitely did like you, and have become a huge fan of your’s since that very first game. I missed out on the Rolling Rally in 2004 - even though my Dad said he would fly me up to Boston from Houston for it if I could find a plane ticket under $500 (yeah right!) - so there was no way I was missing it this year! Luckily, I am back in Boston now and work a block away from part of the route. It was the greatest day! And there were few things that made me smile more than seeing Mr. Jason Varitek holding a sign that said “Re-sign Lowell” on it, and prompting the crowd to chant louder and louder “RE-SIGN LOWELL! RE-SIGN LOWELL!”
We absolutely love you Mike. You, Curt, and countless other members of this Boston Red Sox team truly embody what it means to be a professional. I love that you put yourself, your wishes, and the happiness of you and your family first in making your decision, rather than more money. We are very very lucky to have you back, along with the rest of the team of course!
Mr. Schilling, Mr. Lowell - have a wonderful holiday and off-season!
Melissa
Peabody, MA
PS…can you put in a good word with the big guys to bring back Mike Timlin? I have a super soft spot in my heart for him too! Thanks!
Mike,
You are a class act. I was starting to get a bit worried that you might leave Boston for bigger $$$ and I was a little irritated that the Redsox were being a little tight.
Between me and you Mike, the Redsox got a bargain.
You were the heart and soul of this team all year long, and you came up real big in game 4. The home run was huge, but that slide you made was a big play when it happened.
I was there in Denver at game 4, sitting right behind John Ellway and I stayed and chanted for 2 hours after the clinching game. The 1st chant I heard was Bring Back Lowell.
I think Fenwy Park is perfect for you and the fans in Boston are all glad you are coming back for another 3 years. Did I mention that we all hate AROD?
He’s like an ex-wife, you never want to bring them back.
A few years back he stood us up, and then signed with the SKANKS.
Upstaging the Redsox in game 4 of the World Series cost him a few millions and forced him to go back to being a Skankey.
Welcome back Mikey!