BOSTON, MA – Former Red Sox players Johnny Damon, Jon Lester, and Mike Timlin have been selected as the 2026 Red Sox Hall of Fame inductees. Sherm Feller, who served as the public address announcer at Fenway Park for 26 seasons from 1967 through 1993, has been chosen as the non-uniformed inductee.
In addition, Bill Mueller's game-winning 2-run home run on July 24, 2004, has been selected as the "Memorable Red Sox Moment," a moment in Red Sox history that is regarded for its special significance.
This year's selections were made by a committee headed by Red Sox Team Curator Sarah Coffin Ottinger and comprised of club executives, local and national media members, historians, and fan representatives. The class of 2026 will be honored in the Spring of 2026, and more details will be announced at a later date.
Damon spent four seasons with the Red Sox from 2002-05, appearing in 597 regular season games for the club. A two-time American League All-Star with Boston (2002, 2005), he was a key contributor to the Red Sox' 2004 World Series championship. Acquired by the club prior to the 2002 season, Damon quickly established himself as a fixture atop the lineup, playing primarily in center field. He delivered one of the most iconic performances in franchise history during Game 7 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, hitting two home runs and driving in six runs in Boston's 10-3 victory to clinch the pennant. In four seasons with the Red Sox, Damon hit .295 with a .803 OPS. Damon's 27 Postseason games in center field rank second in Red Sox history, while he also lands among the club's all-time Postseason leaders in stolen bases (second, eight), hits (ninth, 32), and runs scored (tied for ninth, 18). His consistency, durability, and postseason impact were central to the club's success during a historic championship era.
Lester was selected by Boston in the second round of the 2002 June Draft and spent parts of nine seasons with the Red Sox from 2006-14, establishing himself as one of the premier homegrown starting pitchers in franchise history. A three-time American League All-Star (2010-11, 2014), he was a key member of two World Series championship teams, helping Boston capture titles in 2007 and 2013. Over his Red Sox career, Lester recorded 110 wins, which rank ninth all-time in team history, while his 241 games started rank fourth. His 1,386 strikeouts are most ever by a Red Sox left-handed pitcher and fourth on the club's all-time list, trailing only Roger Clemens, Tim Wakefield, and Pedro Martinez, and his 8.21 strikeouts per nine innings rank third in franchise history (minimum 1,000.0 IP). He went 6-4 with a 2.11 ERA (18 ER/76.2 IP) in 13 Postseason games (11 starts) for the Red Sox, including 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA (1 ER/21.0 IP) in three World Series starts. A cancer survivor, Lester returned to the mound after being diagnosed with lymphoma early in his career and went on to become a leader on and off the field. He later founded the NVRQT Foundation, supporting cancer patients and their families, further cementing his legacy in the Boston community.
Timlin spent six seasons with the Red Sox from 2003-08, appearing in 394 games for the club. A two-time World Series champion with Boston (2004, 2007), he was a key member of the bullpen during one of the most successful stretches in franchise history. His 394 pitching appearances rank fifth in team history and third among relievers. The right-hander posted a 3.76 ERA (171 ER/409.0 IP) over his six seasons in Boston and led the American League with 81 appearances in 2005, providing durability and consistency out of the bullpen. A trusted late-inning option, Timlin was a fixture in high-leverage situations throughout his tenure. The Red Sox' all-time leader in Postseason games pitched (28), he appeared in six of the eight World Series games the Red Sox played during his time with the club, contributing to both championship runs. Timlin's reliability and Postseason experience helped anchor Boston's bullpen during a historic championship era.
Sherm Feller, who served as the public address announcer at Fenway Park for 26 seasons from 1967 through 1993, became one of the most recognizable and enduring voices in the ballpark's history. The longest-serving public address announcer in Fenway Park history, he helped define the fan experience for generations of Red Sox fans. He was behind the microphone for three World Series at Fenway Park; the 1967, 1975, and 1986 Fall Classics. Known for his warm and welcoming delivery, Feller's signature introduction - "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to Fenway Park" - became synonymous with baseball in Boston. Through nearly three decades at the microphone, Feller's steady presence and unmistakable voice made him an essential part of Fenway Park's identity, leaving a lasting imprint on the history of the Red Sox.
In addition to the players and non-uniformed inductees, a "Memorable Red Sox Moment" is also chosen by the panel. This year's selection is Bill Mueller's walk-off home run on July 24, 2004, one of the most dramatic regular-season moments in franchise history. In a nationally televised game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park, Mueller hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Red Sox an 11-10 victory. The walk-off came against future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera and followed a benches-clearing brawl earlier in the game, adding to the intensity of a classic rivalry. The moment also foreshadowed Mueller's pivotal at-bat against Rivera later that season, when his ninth-inning game-tying RBI-single in Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series scored Dave Roberts to spark the Red Sox' historic comeback against the Yankees and paved the way to the club's first World Series championship in 86 years.
The Red Sox Hall of Fame was instituted in 1995 to recognize the outstanding careers of former Red Sox players and managers. To be eligible for nomination, players/managers must have played at least three years with the Red Sox and must also have been out of uniform as an active player/manager at least three years. The non-uniformed personnel and the memorable moment selected are chosen by a unanimous vote of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame Selection Committee.