Former Red Sox, Brewers slugger Scott dies

George "Boomer" Scott, an eight-time Gold Glove first baseman for the Red Sox and Brewers in the late 1960s through the '70s, died Sunday in Greenville, Miss.

Washington County coroner Methel Johnson confirmed Scott's death to the Delta Democrat Times. He was 69.

A right-handed power hitter with a smooth glove that belied his large frame that exceeded 200 pounds, Scott was a member of Boston's "Impossible Dream" team that went to the World Series in 1967. He won the first of his Gold Gloves that season, his second in the Major Leagues, while batting .303 and driving in 82 runs.

"I never met him personally. I know he was here for a very special year at the beginning of his career in '67," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "I think any time that you're a member of a team's Hall of Fame speaks volumes for the type of players and production he had on the field. The baseball world lost a very good player."

During that Impossible Dream summer of '67, Scott hit .303, fourth best in the American League, and hit .326 from the start of August through the end of that pennant-winning season. He played every inning of all seven World Series games.

Scott was known for referring to home runs as "taters."

He spent nine seasons with the Red Sox, divided into two segments on either side of a five-season stay with the Milwaukee Brewers. He played briefly for the Royals and Yankees late in his career, which ended in 1979.

"In losing George Scott, we have lost one of the most talented, colorful, and popular players in our history," said Red Sox vice president/emeritus and team historian Dick Bresciani, who has been with the club since 1972. "He had great power and agility, with a large personality and a large physical stature. He could light up a clubhouse with his smile, his laugh, and his humor -- and he was the best defensive first baseman I have ever seen. We will miss him, and we send our condolences to his family."

He hit 154 of his 271 career home runs while with Boston and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a popular player in both Boston and Milwaukee. The Brewers held a Scott bobblehead giveaway at Miller Park in April.

Scott broke into the Majors in 1966 and went on to finish tied for third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, while also making the first of three All-Star appearances. The following season, he finished 10th in AL MVP voting.

After winning two more Gold Gloves over the next four seasons, Scott was traded to the Brewers in October 1971 as part of a 10-player swap in which Jim Lonborg, Billy Conigliaro and Ken Brett went to Milwaukee and Tommy Harper and Marty Pattin went to Boston. He spent the next five years with the Brewers, earning a Gold Glove each season, while also putting on an offensive showcase in 1975, when he led the AL with 109 RBIs and tied Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson with an AL-best 36 home runs.

He was traded back to the Red Sox following the 1976 season in a deal for Cecil Cooper that also brought Bernie Carbo back to Boston. Scott spent the next two seasons with the Red Sox before splitting his final big league season in '79 between the Sox, Royals and Yankees.

Scott played all 162 games in 1966, still the last time a Red Sox infielder played every game in a season.

The three Gold Gloves Scott won with the Red Sox are the most in team history for a first baseman. His eight Gold Gloves are third all time among first basemen, behind Keith Hernandez (11) and Don Mattingly (nine).