An excellent second baseman with an above-average arm, Barrett was known as a smart player and a great contact hitter, striking out only 209 times in 3378 at-bats, and collecting a significant number of big hits by driving tough pitches to the opposite field. He often was used as a specialist in bunting situations, leading the American League in sacrifice hits for three consecutive years (1986–88).
In a ten-year career Barrett was a .278 hitter with 18 home runs and 314 RBI in 941 games. Barrett successfully pulled off the hidden ball trick three times, including twice in July 1985.[1]
In 1984, Barrett batted a career-high .303 in his first full season. But his most productive year was 1986, when he posted career-highs in RBI (60), hits (179), doubles (39), triples (4), stolen bases (15) and games played (158).[2]
He starred in the 1986 postseason, when he set a major league record with 24 hits in 14 postseason games, and was named the ALCSMost Valuable Player. In the 1986 World Series Barrett had 13 hits in 30 at bats (.433 BA), and posted an on-base percentage of .514 against the New York Mets. Near the conclusion of Game Six, he had been selected by the NBC Television broadcast team as the Player of the Game. He was the final batter in the series, striking out against Mets closer, Jesse Orosco.
Barrett held the starting second baseman position with the Red Sox for most of the 1980s. On June 4, 1989, he suffered a serious knee injury while tripping over first base following a ground out. Jody Reed took over as the starter, and Barrett played only sporadically following his recovery.[citation needed] During the final game of the 1990 ALCS, Red Sox pitcher, Roger Clemens, was ejected in the bottom of the second inning. Barrett protested the call by heaving plastic water containers onto the field, and also was thrown out of the game.[3] It was his last game for the Red Sox and he was released following the season.
Barrett signed with the San Diego Padres in 1991. In his National League debut he was called upon as a pinch hitter to face the San Francisco Giants' Dave Righetti, with two outs in the ninth inning. Barrett, not known for his power stroke, hit the ball into the left field stands for a three-run home run.[4] He would only appear in 11 more games with the Padres, the same knee injury that he had suffered in 1989 ending his career.[citation needed]
