Mike Napoli

Whether you knew him as “Porterhouse” or “the Beard,” or you cheered him on in big game moments shouting NA-PO-LI, Mike Napoli was a force to be reckoned with at the plate and a consistent, dependable presence in the field. Standing 6-feet-1 and weighing 225 pounds, Napoli was a free-swinging power hitter who struck fear in opposing pitchers. A career .246 hitter, he hit 267 home runs with a .346 on-base percentage (OBP) over a 12-year career that included stints with the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians. Red Sox Global Scouting Supervisor Todd Claus summed up Napoli by saying, “I just think he’s an animal. He’s even keeled. He strikes out a lot, but he goes about his business. And every time he comes to the plate, he’s dangerous.”1

Michael Anthony Napoli was born in Hollywood, Florida, on October 31, 1981. He and younger brother Joey were raised by mother Donna Rose Torres in the western suburbs of Fort Lauderdale.2  “My mom worked two jobs to make sure I had everything — me and my brother. She always made sure I was at practice on time. She made sure I had the right equipment. There’s a real strong bond between me and my mother.”3 

Mike attended Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, where he earned high school All-American first team honors in 2000. That same year, he signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Louisiana State University but was also selected in the 17th round of the amateur draft by the Anaheim Angels.

After signing with the Angels, Napoli reported to the Butte (Montana) Copper Kings of the Pioneer League (rookie ball). However, a lower back strain limited him to 10 game appearances divided between first base and catcher. He finished his brief maiden pro season with a .231 batting average (6-for-26) and mediocre defensive stats (combined .955 fielding percentage).

Napoli started the following season with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the Class A+ California League but was soon sent to the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kernels of the Class A Midwest League. In 43 games there, he showed some pop: 16 extra-base hits in 155 at-bats while batting .232 overall.

Returning to Cedar Rapids in 2002, Napoli split time between designated hitter (60 games) and catcher (37 games). He upped both his batting average (.251) and power numbers (10 home runs/50 RBIs) and graduated back to Rancho Cucamonga at season’s end.

Hampered by injury, Napoli appeared in only 47 games for the Quakes in 2003, batting .267 with 15 extra-base hits. He subsequently underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

Once restored to health, Napoli blossomed with Rancho Cucamonga in 2004. He batted .282 with impressive power numbers: a league-best 29 homers and 118 RBIs, plus a .539 slugging percentage. Again he demonstrated versatility, playing 72 games behind the plate, 36 games at first, and even filling in occasionally at third base. He was thrice selected California League Player of the Week and captured his first professional all-star team berth as well.

Promoted to the Arkansas Travelers of the Class AA Texas League, Napoli continued to progress. He led the circuit in home runs (31) and RBIs (99) while placing second in extra base hits (55), slugging percentage (.508), and runs scored (96). For the second consecutive season, Napoli was selected to his league’s all-star team. He began the ensuing campaign with the Salt Lake Bees of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League but did not stay there long. In early May, he was called up to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (as the club had become known).4

On May 4, 2006, Napoli made his major league debut against the Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit, catching right-hander Kevin Gregg. Facing rookie pitcher Justin Verlander in his first at-bat in the top of the third inning, Napoli proved to be a quick study. As he later told it, “I saw what Verlander did with Howie (Kendrick). He went ahead and pulled it away with the corner,” Napoli said. “I got down, 1-2, and looked for a curveball.”5 Fed a 1-2 change-up, Napoli launched a shot that traveled 395 feet into the Angels’ bullpen, putting his team up, 1-0.6 Angels TV announcer Steve Physioc reacted by saying, “Can you believe this?  His first major league at-bat and Mike Napoli has hit a home run!”7 

After the 7-2 Angels victory, manager Mike Scioscia praised his new catcher, saying, “Mike did a good job behind the plate and got us going with a big hit.”8  Modestly, Napoli said of his first big-league homer, “Just trying to put a good swing on a pitch in the zone.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.”9 Years later in an interview with the Boston Globe, Napoli recalled, “I was tired, and I think it relaxed me a bit. It was pretty exciting, all the guys in the dugout were going crazy. It’s something I’ll never forget.”10

In his first two months with the Angels, Napoli hit .310 with 10 home runs. But AL hurlers adjusted their approach to the newcomer; Napoli struggled as the season wore on. Still, his rookie season stats were promising: 16 homers, 42 RBIs, and a .228/.360/.455 slash line in 99 games.

Two stints on the disabled list restricted Napoli’s sophomore season to 75 games in 2007. But over that somewhat reduced span, his offensive numbers were comparable to the previous year’s: 10 home runs, 34 RBIs, and .247/.351/.443.

He started the 2008 season strong, smacking his first career grand slam off right-hander Paul Byrd in a 9-5 victory over Cleveland on April 9. Splitting catching duty with Jeff Mathis and again sidelined by time on the disabled list, Napoli was limited to 78 games. But he made good use of his appearances, with his hitting numbers surging.  An 18-for-27 season-ending batting explosion lifted his average to .273. He also improved his RBI total to 49 and doubled his long-ball count to 20. Behind the plate, Napoli’s hands were good (.994 fielding percentage with only seven passed balls) but his arm was weak (only 17.5% of 63 base-stealers thrown out). Once the season was over, Napoli underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder.

In 2009, Napoli broke the century barrier for games played (114) and strikeouts (103) for the first time. With more playing opportunity, his uptrend continued in extra-base hits (43) and RBIs (56), while his batting average held steady at .272. In the season’s final game, Napoli took Oakland left-hander Brad Kilby deep, tying his previous year’s mark of 20 homers. It was also his 66th career round-tripper, setting a new club home run standard for an Angels catcher.11 Defensively, Napoli permitted only five passed balls in 96 games behind home plate, but his throwing (22.1% of 95 base-stealers caught) remained substandard.

The Angels (97-65, .599) captured the AL West, so Napoli got his first postseason action. But he was a non-factor (1-fo-9, .111) in the ALDS as Los Angeles was dispatched in six games by the New York Yankees.

During the offseason, Napoli was traded along with outfielder Juan Rivera to the Toronto Blue Jays in return for outfielder Vernon Wells.12 Four days later, the Jays swapped Napoli to the defending AL champion Texas Rangers for Frank Francisco. Napoli later told ESPN that the trade to Texas ended a “crazy couple of days.”  He added, “I’m proud to be a Texas Ranger. I’m excited and can’t wait to get to spring training and try to win a job and help these guys win.”13

Rangers brass was also pleased with the acquisition. “He complements what we’re doing. He can catch, play first base, is a power right-handed bat and gives Wash [manager Ron Washington] a lot of versatility. He’s a big-time competitor who plays hard and plays to win,” said general manager Jon Daniels.14 “This is a winning player and a winning piece of the puzzle. We got a taste of the World Series last year, and we want to get back and we think Mike helps us do that.”15  

In 2011, Napoli was a multi-position asset, with starts at catcher (57), first base (27) and DH (18). He greatly helped the Rangers (96-66, .591) defend their AL West crown, posting career-bests in batting average (.320), on-base percentage (.414), slugging (.631), and OPS (1.046). His onslaught continued in the ALDS against Tampa Bay, batting .357 (5-for-14) with a home run, while throwing out two of three would-be base stealers as the Rangers dismissed the Rays in four games.

In the World Series, Napoli starred at bat – .350 (7-for-20), with two homers and 10 RBIs – and behind the plate, handling 39 chances flawlessly, nabbing both enemy baserunners attempting a steal and picking another off base. Sadly, it was not enough – the Rangers fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

That winter, appreciative Rangers management bestowed a one-year, $9.4 million contract on Napoli, up $3.6 million from his previous season’s salary.  Thereafter, he informed reporters that an ankle injury was feeling better, that he had been able to participate in offseason workouts, and that he would be ready for spring training.17 

Eager to reward his club with another standout campaign, Napoli got off quickly, hitting five homers in a four-game set against Boston in mid-April. In the process, he also became just the third Rangers player with at least three base hits and four RBIs at Fenway Park in consecutive games.18 At midseason, his 4,317,718 All-Star votes made him the AL’s starting backstop in Kansas City that July. A month later, however, he had to go on the disabled list, missing more than a month of action. Appearing in only 108 games, Napoli still poled 24 homers but his batting average sank to .227 and his other power numbers declined as well.

 “Obviously, I didn’t have the year I wanted to,” said a disappointed Napoli. “But I feel like I’m a better average hitter than that. My career numbers show that. I had a rough year average-wise and hitting with runners in scoring position, and I struck out more than in past years. It was a weird year for me, mentally and physically. I battled injuries all year.”19 

Meanwhile, the Rangers failed to make a qualifying contract offer of $13.3 million to the free agent, so Boston swooped in and signed him. Napoli observed, “I just want to be in the lineup and play. If it helps at catcher, I’ll catch, or at first base, I’ll play there.”20 

In January 2013, Napoli revealed that both his hips were afflicted with avascular necrosis (AVN), a progressive, degenerative disorder that kills bone tissue. The same condition had curtailed Bo Jackson’s career.

“My heart just sank,” said Napoli’s mother. “We were shocked. Here we thought we were going to a press conference, and all of a sudden Mike finds out there’s something wrong with his hips. I just said lots of prayers.”21 

The revelation caused the Red Sox to withdraw their offer. Seven weeks later, Napoli signed a revised deal: one year at $5 million, with incentives that could increase the payout to $13 million.22 

Coming off a fifth-place 2012 season, the Red Sox and their fans were hoping for a rebound under new manager John Farrell. On April 15, 2013, Napoli’s ninth-inning walk-off double gave the Sox a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Forty-five minutes later, terrorists struck the Boston Marathon.23  In response, the “Boston Strong” logo was emblazoned on Fenway’s Green Monster, T-shirts, and caps. David Ortiz also captured the hearts of New Englanders and the country with his profane yet inspirational proclamation “This is our f*cking city.” This resilience and relentlessness carried the 2013 Red Sox to the World Series.

“I do think these players feel a special bond and connection to this city,” said team president Larry Lucchino. “As human beings, these guys understand what the city, the region, the victims went through, and it helped them bond to each other and the community.”24 

In his first season with Boston, Napoli was stationed at first base, posting a .994 fielding percentage in 131 games there. He was also solid with the stick, lifting his batting average to .259 and finishing second on the club in homers (23), RBIs (92), extra-base hits (63), slugging (.482), and OPS (.842). On the negative side of the ledger, his 187 strikeouts eclipsed the team record set in 2004 by Mark Bellhorn (177). “I wish I didn’t strike out as much as I do. It’s embarrassing,” Napoli said. “But I don’t feel like I’m really helping the team if I get defensive at the plate and cut down on my swing. I have to do what I do.”25 He added, “I know what my approach is and I’m going to stick to it. I might miss some pitches. But something good is going to come from it when I get one.”26  

Napoli fully embraced the team movement to show unity by growing facial hair. He took pride in his luxuriant whiskers. “He does it all himself,” said his mother proudly. “Conditions it, combs it, grooms it, trims it.”27 It even had a brand – “the Napoli” – and sparked witticisms. “Mike Napoli’s beard makes the cast of Duck Dynasty look like the cast of Toddlers and Tiaras,” mused comedian – and lifelong Red Sox fan – Conan O’Brien.28 

More important was how Napoli made his beard a vehicle for helping the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. He made multiple visits to various hospitals – notably the Boston Children’s Hospital – and purchased tickets for patients as part of his “Bearded Bunch” program.29

Boston’s AL-best 97-65 (.599) record set up an ALDS against Tampa Bay.  Napoli struggled at the plate, going 2-for-13 (.154) with four strikeouts, but the Sox managed without him, eliminating the Rays in four contests. His bat remained dormant in the first two games of the ALCS against Detroit but wakened in timely fashion in Game Three. Justin Verlander had a shutout through six innings, but in the top of the seventh, Napoli blasted a 3-2 fastball over the wall just left of center field, giving Boston a 1-0 lead. It was the only mistake of Verlander’s night but spelled defeat because John Lackey and three Sox relievers held the Tigers scoreless.

With the series tied at two games apiece, Napoli came through again in Game Five. In the second inning, he sent an Aníbal Sánchez offering over the center field fence to put the Red Sox up, 1-0. The next inning, Napoli hit a ground-rule double, took third on a Jonny Gomes roller back to the pitcher, and scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 4-0.

“I take pride in my baserunning,” Napoli said afterward. “I learned at a young age in the Angels organization about baserunning and being aggressive and not being scared. Ninety feet can help you win a ballgame.” He acknowledged, “I’m not a fast guy. But you can still get good reads off the bat and check the fielders and make a play. People think I’m a big, slow guy but you can make yourself a fast guy on the bases if you’re smart and you’re aware of the situation.”30

At Fenway, Boston put away Detroit 5-2 in Game Six, advancing to the World Series for the third time in 10 years. Opposing were the St. Louis Cardinals, in a rematch of the 2004 Fall Classic swept by the Sox. After Pete Kozma’s error allowed Boston to load the bases in the bottom of the first inning at Fenway, Napoli cleared them with a double off the wall in left-center. The Red Sox went on to take the Series opener, 8-1.31 

The Cardinals roared back to win the next two games. Napoli went hitless in Game Two and was removed from the starting lineup in the following two contests. In the ninth inning of Game Four, he was inserted as a defensive replacement at first base with Boston up 4-2. With Carlos Beltrán at bat, Connor Wong on first, and the game on the line, Sox reliever Koji Uehara picked off Wong. Napoli’s tag ended the game.

The Red Sox won the next two games and the Series, with Napoli contributing an RBI single in the clincher. Otherwise, his second World Series was a quiet one: 2-for-13 (.154).

Granted free agency on October 31, 2013, Napoli re-signed with the Sox, inking a two-year, $32 million deal on December 12. Napoli relayed the news on Twitter – “The beard is coming back to Boston!!! Couldn’t be happier!!”32 

Late-season injuries limited Napoli to 119 games in 2014, and his production (17/55/.248) was down across the board. He took action on a longstanding ailment after the season, undergoing bimaxillary advancement surgery. The procedure separates the upper and lower jaw to allow more room in the mouth and prevent obstruction causing the condition.

“I’ve been dealing with sleep apnea my whole career,” he said. “I’ve tried numerous things and none of them worked. It’s just gotten to the point where I have to get this done.”.33

In January 2015, the Boston chapter of the BBWAA presented Napoli with the Tim Wakefield Award in recognition of his community service. Unfortunately, he struggled early in the 2015 season and was still hitting below .200 at the All-Star break.  Combined with a loss of playing time at first base to Travis Shaw, the season was not Napoli’s happiest. “It’s been frustrating . . . just keep fighting and try and get out of it. I’ve been here before,” he said. “It’s been a tough first half. I still have confidence I’m a good baseball player. I’m going to come out of it. I’m going to put in the work to get out of this thing.”34 

Indeed, his bat then heated up: he hit .267, with three homers, 10 RBIs, and an .896 OPS in the first 18 games after the break. In early August, however, Napoli’s time in Boston came to a close. He was returned to the Rangers for either a player to be named later or cash. Sox general manager Ben Cherington wanted to make sure Napoli went to a team that would benefit from his skill set. “Texas ended up being what seemed like the best fit,” Cherington said. “This should suit him to play for a team that’s made a nice run and has a chance to do something down the stretch. Happy for Nap.”35

Napoli played mostly first base or left field for Texas, hitting .295 in 35 appearances. The Rangers (88-74, .543) finished first in the AL West, but Napoli provided little help in the ALDS against Toronto. He went 1-for-7 (.143) with one RBI as the Rangers lost in five games. Three weeks later, Napoli was granted free agency. He signed with the Cleveland Indians on January 5, 2016.

By then 34, Napoli enjoyed a remarkable resurgence with the Tribe, setting career highs in games (150), plate appearances (645), hits (133), runs (92), home runs (34), and RBIs (101). He finished second on the team in walks (78) and runs scored (92) (although his 194 strikeouts were the most ever by an Indians player).36  Cleveland swept the Red Sox in the ALDS and then defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in five games. In Game Three of the ALCS, Napoli’s home run off Marcus Stroman made him the fifth player to hit a postseason home run for four different teams.37

In the 2016 World Series, the Indians faced the Chicago Cubs in a battle of championship-starved franchises. Cleveland’s last World Series win had come in 1948, Chicago’s in 1908. Napoli had a relatively quiet Series. In five games, he hit one home run, collected two RBIs, walked twice, and struck out six times in 16 at-bats. The Cubs – guided by former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and featuring former Red Sox pitching stars Jon Lester and John Lackey – won the championship in a heart-stopping Game Seven. Shortly thereafter, the Indians released Napoli.

A free agent again, Napoli signed a one-year deal to return to Texas on February 16, 2017. He provided some power (29 homers and 66 RBIs in 425 at-bats) but batted a dismal .193 for the Rangers. He was released at season’s end,

In late February 2018, the Indians signed Napoli to a minor-league contract and extended an invitation to spring training. Placed with the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League, Napoli was carted off the field after getting hurt while attempting to field a foul pop-up during an April game. Cleveland manager Terry Francona said simply, “He suffered a significant knee injury.”38

Season-ending surgery to repair a torn right ACL ended Napoli’s season – and playing career. He was granted free agency on November 2 and retired as a player on December 8, 2018.

In a letter posted on Twitter, Napoli announced his retirement and acknowledged all that he’d been given. “Thank you, fans, coaches, teammates and the media members and organizations in Anaheim, Texas, Boston and Cleveland,” Napoli wrote. “You supported me, believed in me and gave me a platform to be successful on and off the field. You helped shape who I am as a person and a player, as I grew up in front of your eyes. This is the end of my playing career, but the beginning of the next chapter of my professional life—one window closes and another one opens. I look forward to exploring opportunities in the baseball world as I plan to continue giving back to the game that has given me so much.”39

In 2019, Napoli was brought on as a quality assurance coach by Cubs manager David Ross, a Boston teammate.40 Napoli became the team’s first base coach in 2022.

After Ross was dismissed in December 2023, Napoli stayed with the Cubs as first base coach under new manager Craig Counsell.  Napoli and other Cubs coaches were let go in October 2024 after Chicago failed to make the postseason for the fifth straight year.41

Napoli landed a new spot the very next month. Terry Francona, the recently hired manager of the Cincinnati Reds, added Napoli to his staff.42 In his role as an “all-purpose coach,” Napoli received praise for “big influences on Spencer Steer’s emergence as a Gold Glove-finalist first baseman, several hitters’ approaches and, some suggest, the team’s resilience in the face of what looked like season-killing losses down the stretch.” In November 2025, Napoli was promoted to assistant bench coach.43

Napoli married Nancy Stillwell in 2021. The couple have two young children and currently reside in Chicago.

Last revised: January 25, 2026

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Alan Cohen, Bill Lamb, and Rory Costello and checked for accuracy by SABR’s fact-checking team.

Thanks also to SABR members Bill Pearch and Bill Nowlin, the Boston Red Sox organization, Sarah Coffin, Rachel Wells at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as Pat Scheller and Holly Scheller.

This story has been written in memory of Greg Fowler.

Photo credits: Mike Napoli, Trading Card Database.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted Baseball-Reference, Retrosheet, Baseball Almanac, Stats Crew, and the Mike Napoli player file at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library.

Notes

1 Gordon Edes, “Mike Napoli: Long Line of Loyalty,” ESPN.com, https://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/9865212/2013-world-series-mike-napoli-made-kept-friends-every-turn, accessed May 12, 2024.

2 Evan Grant, “Flashback: Think You Know All About the Bearded, Tatted Up Mike Napoli? Guess Again- He’s a Mama’s Boy and Proud of It,” Dallas Morning News, December 8, 2018, https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2018/12/08/flashback-think-you-know-all-about-the-bearded-tatted-up-mike-napoli-guess-again-he-s-a-mama-s-boy-and-proud-of-it/, accessed May 16, 2024.

3 Ricky Doyle, “Red Sox’s Mike Napoli Cherishes ‘Strong Bond’ He Shares With Mother,” NESN.com, https://nesn.com/2014/05/red-soxs-mike-napoli-cherishes-strong-bond-he-shares-with-mother/, accessed May 16, 2024.

4 “Transactions,” Indiana Gazette, May 4, 2006: 18.

5 Mike DiGiovanna, “Angels bring the game from Triple-A; Newcomers Murphy and Napoli, recently called up Kendrick and Gregg, in a rare start, make big contributions in a 7-2 win over the Tigers,” Los Angeles Times, May 5, 2006: D3.

6 The previous person to hit a home run in his first career at-bat was Jeremy Hermida.  On August 31, 2005, in a pinch-hit at-bat for the Florida Marlins, Hermida hit a grand slam, making him the only person in the modern era to hit a grand slam as a pinch-hitter in his first career at-bat.

7“Los Angeles Angels at Detroit Tigers, May 4, 2006,” https://youtu.be/9dXIAs2IqT0, accessed March 25, 2024. Physioc said later in the game that it was the first time in his career that he’d ever witnessed a first at-bat home run.

8 “Angels Snap Longest Skid Since ’02, Cool Off Tigers,” ESPN.com, https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/260504106, accessed May 25, 2024.

9“Angels Snap Longest Skid Since ’02, Cool Off Tigers.”  Both Napoli and Tommy Murphy got the balls from their first career hits after the game.

10 Andrew Mearns, “Mike Napoli Set the Perfect Tone for His Career by Taking Justin Verlander Deep in His First MLB at-bat,” MLB.com, December 9, 2018.  https://www.mlb.com/cut4/mike-napoli-homered-in-his-first-at-bat-c301617696, accessed March 31, 2024.

11 The previous record holder was Bengie Molina (65 home runs).

12 The Angels’ decision, assuming roughly $80 million of Wells’ remaining contract, is considered by many to be one of the worst trades in baseball history.

13 Richard Durrett, “Mike Napoli Traded for Frank Francisco,” ESPN.com, http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=6058127&type=story, accessed April 3, 2024.  Texas lost the World Series in 5 games to the San Francisco Giants in 2010.  It was the first appearance in the World Series in Texas Rangers team history.

14 Durrett.

15 Durrett.

16 “Mike Napoli Talks About the Famous NA-PO-LI Chant,” https://www.foxsports.com/watch/1610678851727, accessed May 23, 2024.

17 Richard Durrett, “Mike Napoli, Rangers Agree for One Year,” ESPN.com, http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=7566520&type=story, accessed May 23, 2024.

18 “2012 Rangers Game Notes,” 5.

19 Gordon Edes, “Mike Napoli, Red Sox Agree to Deal,” ESPN.com, http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=8705085&type=story, accessed May 23, 2024.

20 Edes. Napoli never caught a single game for the Boston Red Sox.

21 Gordon Edes, “Mike Napoli: Long Line of Loyalty,” ESPN.com, https://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/9865212/2013-world-series-mike-napoli-made-kept-friends-every-turn, accessed May 12, 2024.

22 Gordon Edes, “Mike Napoli Reveals Hip Condition,” ESPN.com, http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=8869798&type=story, accessed May 14, 2024.

23 David Krell, The Fenway Effect: A Cultural History of the Boston Red Sox (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2024), 4.

24 David Filipov and Maria Cramer, “Boston Marathon Bombings,” Boston Globe, For Boston (Chicago: Triumph, 2013), 88.

25 Peter Abraham, “Fan Boys,” For Boston, 55.

26 Abraham.

27 Gordon Edes, “Mike Napoli: Long Line of Loyalty,” ESPN.com, https://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/9865212/2013-world-series-mike-napoli-made-kept-friends-every-turn, accessed May 12, 2024.

28 “2013 World Series St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Red Sox Game 1,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=997RpTCrm0A, accessed May 15, 2024.

29 “Red Sox Players, Officials to Engage in July Community Efforts: Three Children with Leukemia to Meet Players as Part of Make-A-Wish/ Ortiz, Pedroia, Peavy, Victorino, and Napoli to Host Children and Military; Maine High School Seniors to Receive Red Sox Scholarships,” MLB.com, https://www.mlb.com/news/red-sox-players-officials-to-engage-in-july-community-efforts/c-82390534, accessed May 28, 2024.  Talk of Red Sox player involvement in outreach after the bombing can also be found in Chad Jennings, “How the Red Sox became a main symbol of Boston’s recovery from Marathon bombing,” The Athletic, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4418036/2023/04/17/boston-marathon-red-sox-connection/, accessed May 28, 2024.  Jennings notes that the vast majority of Red Sox outreach went unannounced after the bombing.

30 Peter Abraham, “Mike Napoli Eager to Return to World Series,” Boston Globe, October 19, 2013. https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/10/18/mike-napoli-red-sox-eager-return-world-series/ljsWZKyVM9RQgjYViiOVyM/story.html, accessed May 29, 2024.

31 With three RBIs in Game One of the 2013 World Series Napoli became the first player ever to drive in 13 runs over his first eight World Series games.

32 Gordon Edes, “Mike Napoli agrees to 2 years, $32 M,” ESPN.com, http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=10093236&type=story, accessed May 29, 2024.

33 “Mike Napoli to undergo facial surgery,” ESPN.com, http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=11699222&type=story, accessed May 29, 2024.

34 Peter Abraham, “Mike Napoli bypassed again at first base, this time for Travis Shaw,” Boston Globe, July 8, 2015. https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/07/07/mike-napoli-bypassed-again-first-base-this-time-for-travis-shaw/DIST4f6JKTwmmpJi7B5PwL/story.html?p1=BGSearch_Advanced_Results, accessed May 29, 2024.

35 Peter Abraham, “Red Sox trade Mike Napoli to Rangers,” Boston Globe, August 7, 2015. https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/08/07/red-sox-trade-mike-napoli-rangers/XYO3j4c96LyNvZuK5iQUxH/story.html?p1=BGSearch_Advanced_Results, accessed May 29, 2024.

36 “Cleveland Guardians Top 10 Single-Season Batting Leaders,” Baseball-Reference.com, https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/leaders_bat_season.shtml, accessed May 29, 2024.

37 “Mike Napoli brings Indians closer to party time,” ESPN.com, October 18, 2016, https://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/125281/mike-napoli-brings-indians-closer-to-party-time, accessed May 29, 2024. Napoli joined Ron Gant, John Olerud, Reggie Sanders, and Russell Martin as the only players to hit a postseason homerun for four different teams.

38 “Mike Napoli suffers ‘significant knee injury’ in minor league game,” ESPN.com, http://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=23235471, accessed May 29, 2024.

39 “Mike Napoli, who made three trips to the World Series, announces retirement,” ESPN.com, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25484653/mike-napoli-announces-retirement-13-year-mlb-career, accessed May 29, 2024.

40 Jordan Bastian, “Green New Bench Coach as Cubs Finalize Staff,” MLB.com, https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-finalize-major-league-coaching-staff, accessed May 30, 2024.

41 Jesse Rogers, “Sources: 1B coach Mike Napoli among Chicago Cubs’ staff cuts,” ESPN.com, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41540082/1b-coach-mike-napoli-chicago-cubs-staff-cuts, accessed September 30, 2024.

42 Mark Polishuk, “Reds Hire Mike Napoli,” MLB Trade Rumors website, https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/reds-hire-mike-napoli.html, accessed January 24, 2026.

43 Gordon Wittenmyer, “Cincinnati Reds coach Brad Mills retires, Mike Napoli promoted on Terry Francona’s staff,” Cincinnati Enquirer, November 3, 2025, https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/countdown/2025/11/03/brad-mills-retires-mike-napoli-willie-harris-promoted/87072875007/, accessed January 24, 2026.