View source for Jason Varitek

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name        = Jason Varitek
| image       = Jason Varitek on June 30, 2009.jpg
| width       = 250
| caption     = Varitek in 2009
| position    = [[Catcher]] / [[Coach (baseball)|Coach]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1972|4|11}}
| birth_place = [[Rochester, Michigan]], U.S.
| team        = Boston Red Sox
| number      = 33
| bats        = Switch
| throws      = Right
|debutleague = MLB
| debutdate   = September 24
| debutyear   = 1997
| debutteam   = Boston Red Sox
|finalleague = MLB
| finaldate  = September 25
| finalyear  = 2011
| finalteam  = Boston Red Sox
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label  = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value  = .256
| stat2label  = [[Home run]]s
| stat2value  = 193
| stat3label  = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
| stat3value  = 757
| teams       = 
;As player
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1997}}–{{mlby|2011}})
;As coach
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|2021}}–present)
| awards = 
* 3× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2003]], [[2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2005]], [[2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2008]])
* 2× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|2004}}, {{wsy|2007}})
* [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove Award]] (2005)
* [[Silver Slugger Award]] (2005) 
* [[Golden Spikes Award]] (1994)
* [[Dick Howser Trophy]] (1994)
* [[Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame]]
}}
'''Jason Andrew Varitek''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|ær|ᵻ|t|ɛ|k}}; born April 11, 1972), nicknamed "'''Tek'''", is an American professional [[baseball]] [[coach (baseball)|coach]] and former [[catcher]]. He is the game planning coordinator, a uniformed coaching position, for the [[Boston Red Sox]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/20/sports/jason-varitek-has-new-role-with-red-sox/ |title=Red Sox name Jason Varitek to coaching staff for 2021 season |first=Julian |last=McWilliams |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=November 21, 2020 |quote=It’s the first time Varitek, who was listed as the team’s special assistant to the general manager, has a formal role on the Red Sox’ coaching staff.}}</ref> After being traded as a minor league prospect by the [[Seattle Mariners]], Varitek played his entire 15-year career for the Red Sox. A three-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] and [[Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove Award winner]] at [[catcher]], as well as a [[Silver Slugger Award]] winner, Varitek was part of the [[2004 World Series]] and [[2007 World Series]] Championship teams, and widely viewed as one of the team's leaders. In December 2004 he was named the [[Major League Baseball Team Captains|captain]] of the Red Sox, only their fourth captain since 1923.<ref>[[List of Boston Red Sox captains]]. ''[[Wikipedia]].''</ref> He was a [[switch-hitter]].<ref name="bbr"/>

Varitek is one of three players, along with pitcher [[Ed Vosberg]] and outfielder [[Michael Conforto]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Albanese|first=Laura|date=October 22, 2015|title=Mets rookie Conforto reaches 3rd World Series|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/michael-conforto-has-now-reached-the-little-league-college-and-mlb-world-series-1.10997732|access-date=October 23, 2015|website=[[Newsday]]}}</ref> to play in the [[Little League World Series]], [[College World Series]], and Major League [[World Series]].  He also participated in [[Baseball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Baseball]] and the [[World Baseball Classic]]. His [[Lake Brantley High School]] baseball team won the Florida State Championship his senior year in 1990 and was named the number one high school baseball team in the nation by a ''USA Today'' poll.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Varitek|first=Jason|title=Jason Varitek biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110003446/http://www.jason-varitek.com/biography.htm|url=http://www.jason-varitek.com/biography.htm|archive-date=January 10, 2012|access-date=May 16, 2021|website=JasonVaritek.com}}</ref> Varitek caught four [[no-hitter]]s, an MLB record later tied by [[Carlos Ruiz (baseball)|Carlos Ruiz]].<ref name=RSNPViRB>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/sports/baseball/21redsox.html|title=Red Sox' No-Hitter Puts Varitek in Record Books|access-date=May 13, 2010|date=May 21, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Kaplan, Thomas}}</ref><ref name="no-no">{{cite web|last=Petraglia|first=Mike|date=May 20, 2008|title=No-hitter a record fourth for Varitek Red Sox catcher enters history books with Lester in Boston|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530184731/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080519&content_id=2733852&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080519&content_id=2733852&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos|archive-date=May 30, 2008|access-date=February 3, 2009|work=[[Boston Red Sox]]}}</ref>

==Little League career==
Varitek played in the [[1984 Little League World Series]], leading his [[Altamonte Springs, Florida]], team to victory in the United States Championship bracket in a 4–2 victory over [[Southport, Indiana]].

==High school and college==
Varitek was [[Lake Brantley High School]]'s third baseman and relief catcher. In 1990, the Patriots won the state championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fhsaa.org/records/rec_ba.pdf |title=History of Florida State Champions |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227234431/http://www.fhsaa.org/records/rec_ba.pdf |archive-date=February 27, 2008 }}</ref>

Varitek attended [[Georgia Institute of Technology|Georgia Tech]], where he helped lead the [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball|Yellow Jackets baseball team]] to the [[1994 College World Series]] title game, along with future Red Sox teammates [[Nomar Garciaparra]] and [[Jay Payton]] (they lost to the [[Oklahoma Sooners baseball|University of Oklahoma]]). In 1994, he received the [[Baseball America College Player of the Year Award|''Baseball America'' College Player of the Year Award]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Georgia Tech's Varitek nabs player of the year award|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=June 3, 1994}}</ref> and won the [[Dick Howser Trophy]] for National Collegiate Player of the Year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pNogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UWsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4029,4338332&dq=jason-varitek+dick-howser&hl=en|title=Varitek receives Howser award|agency=Associated Press|page=12|newspaper=McCook Daily Gazette|date=June 8, 1994|access-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref> Varitek graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in management and was the first Tech baseball player to have his number (33) retired.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wrdw.com/2020/08/07/varitek-headlines-college-baseball-hall-of-fame-2020-class/ |title=Varitek Headlines College Baseball Hall of Fame 2020 Class |publisher=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |website=[[WRDW-TV]] |date=August 6, 2020 |accessdate=August 8, 2021}}</ref>

In 1991 and 1993, Varitek played [[collegiate summer baseball]] in the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]] (CCBL) for the [[Hyannis Mets]]. In 1993, he hit .371 for Hyannis, won the league batting title, and was named the league's MVP. In 2002, he was inducted into the [[Cape Cod Baseball League#Hall of Fame and Museum|CCBL Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|date=June 9, 2002|title=Twelve Legends to be inducted into CCBL Hall of Fame|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/hofnews/?article_id=241|access-date=August 3, 2019|website=Cape Cod Baseball|publisher=}}</ref> Varitek was a member of the [[United States national baseball team|U.S. national baseball team]] at the [[Baseball at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83080145/varitek-headed-to-the-olympics/ |title=Varitek headed to the Olympics |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |page=C-1 |date=July 15, 1992 |accessdate=August 8, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Early professional career==
Varitek was drafted 21st overall in the first round by the [[Minnesota Twins]] in 1993,<ref name=":0" /> but opted to return for his senior year of college. Following graduation, Varitek signed with agent [[Scott Boras]] and was drafted by the [[Seattle Mariners]] in the first round of the {{Baseball year|1994}} amateur draft, with the 14th pick overall.<ref name="six">{{cite web|date=November 14, 2002|title=Varitek, Garciaparra Inducted Into Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312232423/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/111402aaa.html|url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/111402aaa.html|archive-date=March 12, 2007|access-date=May 16, 2021|website=Ramblin' Wreck}}</ref> A pioneer of the loopholes in the draft process, Varitek signed with the [[St. Paul Saints]] in the independent [[Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010)|Northern League]]<ref>{{cite web|date=April 26, 1995|title=Varitek, Seattle finally agree; MLB averts lawsuit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923060043/http://www.jason-varitek.com/articles/varitekseatleagree.htm|url=http://www.jason-varitek.com/articles/varitekseatleagree.htm|archive-date=September 23, 2006|access-date=May 16, 2021|website=JasonVaritek.com|publisher=[[Baseball Weekly]]}}</ref> before agreeing to terms with the Mariners, and consequently did not enter the Mariners' [[minor league]] system until {{Baseball year|1995}}. When he finally did join the franchise, Varitek was sent to the Double-A affiliate [[Port City Roosters]] where he first met [[pitcher]] and longtime teammate [[Derek Lowe]]. He was traded with Lowe to the Red Sox during the {{Baseball year|1997}} season in return for [[relief pitcher|reliever]] [[Heathcliff Slocumb]], often cited as one of the best trades in the Red Sox's favor in recent history.<ref name=20090130mlb/>

==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>

==Post-playing career==
On September 27, 2012, then-Red Sox general manager [[Ben Cherington]] announced that Varitek was named special assistant to the general manager.<ref name="Red Sox Press Release">{{cite web|date=September 27, 2012|title=Boston Red Sox name Jason Varitek Special Assistant to the General Manager|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015075609/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120927&content_id=39124638&vkey=pr_bos&c_id=bos|url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120927&content_id=39124638&vkey=pr_bos&c_id=bos|archive-date=October 15, 2012|access-date=January 24, 2013|website=[[Boston Red Sox]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref name="Clubhouse Insider">{{cite web|title=Red Sox name Jason Varitek as special assistant to the GM|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/red_sox/index.php/2012/09/27/red-sox-name-jason-varitek-as-special-assistant-to-the-gm/|access-date=September 27, 2012|work=[[The Boston Herald]]}} {{Dead link|date=May 2021}}</ref>  In that role, Cherington said Varitek would be involved in areas such as "major league personnel decisions, evaluations, and mentorship and instruction of young players."<ref name="Clubhouse Insider"/> His role by March 2018 was "Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations".<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Sox Front Office|url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/team/front-office|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315222719/https://www.mlb.com/redsox/team/front-office|archive-date=March 15, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2018|website=[[Boston Red Sox]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]|via=[[Wayback Machine]]}}</ref> After not appearing in the team's front-office directory during the 2019 season, in 2020 he was listed as "Special Assistant / Catching Coach".<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Sox Front Office|url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/team/front-office|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708052416/https://www.mlb.com/redsox/team/front-office|archive-date=July 8, 2020|access-date=July 8, 2020|website=[[Boston Red Sox]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]|via=[[Wayback Machine]]}}</ref> On November 20, 2020, Varitek was named to the uniformed coaching role of game planning coordinator on the coaching staff of manager [[Alex Cora]]. His title was changed to Player Information Coach before the 2021 season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Browne|first=Ian|date=November 20, 2020|title=Bench coach Venable completes Boston staff|website=[[Boston Red Sox]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]|url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/will-venable-hired-red-sox-bench-coach|access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref> On November 2, 2022, Varitek signed a three–year contract extension to remain on Boston's coaching staff.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jason Varitek signs new 3-year deal to remain on Red Sox coaching staff|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2022/11/jason-varitek-signs-new-3-year-deal-to-remain-on-red-sox-coaching-staff.html?outputType=amp|access-date=June 29, 2023|website=masslive.com| date=November 3, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==Records and awards==
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===Georgia Tech records ===
* Most career games played (253)
* Most career [[runs scored]] (261)
* Most career [[Hit (baseball)|base hits]] (351)
* Most career [[Double (baseball)|doubles]] (82)
Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/lettermen.html |title=Georgia Tech all-time records |publisher=Ramblinwreck.cstv.com |date=October 24, 2011 |access-date=November 2, 2011 |archive-date=April 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420145507/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/lettermen.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===College awards and achievements===
* His number 33 is only the second number ever retired by Georgia Tech; the first was number 44, worn by Coach Jim Luck
* [[Baseball America]]'s 1993 player of the year
* Named by Baseball America to "All-Time College All-Star Team"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=123660 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814035745/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=123660 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 14, 2004 |title=Jason Varitek player bio from RedSox.com |website=Boston Red Sox|publisher=MLB |date=January 1, 2011 |access-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref>
* 1994 [[Golden Spikes Award]]
* 1994 [[Rotary Smith Award]]
* 1994 [[Dick Howser Trophy]]
* Three-time consensus All-American ([[1992 in sports|1992]], [[1993 in sports|'93]], [[1994 in sports|'94]])<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/111402aaa.html |title=Varitek, Garciaparra Inducted Into Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame |publisher=Ramblinwreck.cstv.com |access-date=November 2, 2011 |archive-date=March 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312232423/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/111402aaa.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Inducted into Georgia Tech Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/geot-m-basebl-spec-rel.html |title=Georgia Tech Archives |publisher=Ramblinwreck.cstv.com |access-date=November 2, 2011 |archive-date=September 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914212950/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/geot-m-basebl-spec-rel.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Inducted into [[Cape Cod Baseball League]] hall of fame
* 1994 [[College World Series]] runner-up

===MLB career===
* Three-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] (2003, 2005 and 2008), one-time starter (2005)
* Two-time World Series champion (2004, 2007)
* 2005 [[Silver Slugger Award]] winner
* 2005 [[Gold Glove]] winner
* 2006 Heart and Hustle Award
* Has caught four [[no hitter]]s, a record now shared with [[Carlos Ruiz (baseball)|Carlos Ruiz]].<ref name=no-no/> * Ruiz has 1 team no hitter and 3 solo no hitters.
* Only catcher to catch four no-hitters by four different starting pitchers.

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===Red Sox milestones and achievements ===
* Became 26th player to hit 100 home runs for club on April 14, 2005
* Third Red Sox catcher to win a Gold Glove ([[Carlton Fisk]] and [[Tony Peña]])
* First Red Sox at any position to win Gold Glove since Tony Peña in 1991
* 1,488 games caught – most in 106-year Red Sox history – breaking Fisk's club record of 990 on July 18, 2006 vs. [[Kansas City Royals|Kansas City]]
* Has caught a Major League record four official no-hitters
** [[Hideo Nomo]]: April 4, 2001, vs Baltimore
** [[Derek Lowe]]: April 27, 2002, vs Tampa Bay
** [[Clay Buchholz]]: September 1, 2007, vs Baltimore (Buchholz's no-hitter was his second Major League start)
** [[Jon Lester]]: May 19, 2008, vs Kansas City
** Does not count the five-inning, rain-shortened no-hit game by [[Devern Hansack]] in 2006 (which is not considered an official no-hitter).<ref name=RSNPViRB/>
* Most postseason home runs for a catcher (11)
* One of only six catchers to have at least two triples in the playoffs (2)
* Has played in more postseason games than any other Red Sox player.
* Most opening-day starts for a Red Sox catcher
Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=123660 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814035745/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=123660 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 14, 2004 |title=RedSox.com player bio |website=Boston Red Sox|publisher=MLB |date=January 1, 2011 |access-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref>

===Notable firsts===
* In the [[2004 World Series]], Varitek batted against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]' [[Jason Marquis]], the first time two former [[Little League World Series]] participants have faced each other in the [[Major League Baseball]] World Series. Varitek had played for [[Altamonte Springs, Florida]], in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.littleleague.org/media/jasonvsjason.asp|title=Jason vs. Jason: LLB World Series Participants Square Off in MLB World Series|website=LittleLeague.org|access-date=May 2, 2017}}</ref>
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==Personal life==
{{Asof|2005}}, Varitek identified as an [[evangelical Christian]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hohler |first1=Bob |title=Faith binds many on Sox |url=https://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/08/31/faith_binds_many_on_sox |access-date=16 April 2022 |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=August 31, 2005 |language=en}}</ref>

Varitek has three daughters from his previous marriage: Ally, Kendall and Caroline. He and his first wife, Karen Mullinax, divorced in 2008. He married Catherine Panagiotopoulos on November 26, 2011,<ref name="Flaherty">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/03/05/the-bizarre-history-of-rumored-relationships-between-red-sox-and-media-members/|title=The bizarre history of rumored relationships between Red Sox and media members|last=Flaherty|first=Bryan|date=March 5, 2016|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=May 21, 2016}}</ref> and their first child, Liv, was born on May 26, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 29, 2012|title=Jason Varitek, Wife Welcome Baby Girl|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/05/29/jason-varitek-wife-welcome-baby-girl/|access-date=May 2, 2017|website=[[CBS Local]]}}</ref> They reside in [[Hingham, Massachusetts]].<ref name="d452">{{cite web | title=Home Team: Behind the plate with Catherine and Jason Varitek | website=New England Living | date=2020-06-19 | url=https://newenglandliving.tv/home-team-behind-the-plate-with-catherine-and-jason-varitek/ | access-date=2024-12-26}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball|Michigan|Biography}}
{{Commons category}}
{{div col}}
* [[1992 College Baseball All-America Team]]
* [[1993 College Baseball All-America Team]]
* [[Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame]]
* [[List of Boston Red Sox award winners]]
* [[List of Georgia Institute of Technology athletes]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career games played as a catcher leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a catcher leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise]]
* [[List of people from Detroit]]
{{end div col}}
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==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/18/sports/what-exactly-does-jason-varitek-do-red-sox-game-planning-coordinator/ |title=What exactly does Jason Varitek do as the Red Sox 'game planning coordinator'? |first=Alex |last=Speier |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |url-access=limited |date=March 18, 2021 |access-date=March 21, 2021}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats |mlb=123660 |espn=3760|br=v/varitja01|fangraphs=217|brm=varite001jas|retro=V/Pvarij001}}
*{{IMDb name|1742584}}

{{Boston Red Sox roster navbox}}
{{2004 Boston Red Sox}}
{{2007 Boston Red Sox}}
{{Boston Red Sox team captains}}
{{Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame}}
{{Navboxes|title=Jason Varitek – additional honors and accomplishments|titlestyle=background:navy;color:white;|list1=
{{United States roster 2006 World Baseball Classic}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Year navbox}}
{{1992 College Baseball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1993 College Baseball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1994 College Baseball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Golden Spikes Award}}
{{Dick Howser Trophy}}
{{Rotary Smith Award}}
{{ABCA National Player of the Year Award}}
{{Baseball America CollegePOY}}
{{AL C Gold Glove Award}}
{{AL C Silver Slugger Award}}
{{1993 MLB Draft}}
{{1994 MLB Draft}}
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