One-Year Wonder Pt. 21: Sean Casey

Every once in awhile, the Red Sox pick up a veteran player for a year, or just the stretch run that was a star at one point that I become fascinated with. It's a player that is basically only a role player at that point in their career, but may show flashes of their old brilliance. It's so unusual to see them as a member of the Red Sox, that I try to find as many of their cards as possible. This series will be about some of those players.

Sean Casey had been a high-average first-baseman for the Cincinnati Reds for several seasons in the late 1990's and early 2000's.  He was a three-time All Star for the Reds and had his best season in 2004 when he hit .324/.381/.534 with 24 home runs and 99 RBIs.  Casey was also a good defensive first-baseman and was very popular with teammates and opposing players alike.

Casey was on the decline for a few years while bouncing from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh to Detroit and finally to Boston in 2008.  Casey was brought in as injury insurance for Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell.  Casey was just 33, but it was pretty clear that he was not the player he was before.  He did hit .322 with a .381 OBP, but his slugging percentage was just .392.  He had virtually no power in 2008.  He did not hit a single home run and only picked up 14 doubles in 218 plate appearances.  He also struck out in his only two postseason at-bats.

2008 was his final season in the Major Leagues.