1978 Boston Red Sox season

The 1978 Boston Red Sox season was the 78th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. After 162 regular-season games, the Red Sox and the New York Yankees finished tied atop the American League East division, with identical 99–63 records. The teams then played a tie-breaker game, which was won by New York, 5–4.[1] Thus, the Red Sox finished their season with a record of 99 wins and 64 losses, one game behind the Yankees, who went on to win the 1978 World Series.

1978 Boston Red Sox
LeagueAmerican League
DivisionEast
BallparkFenway Park
CityBoston, Massachusetts
Record99–64 (.607)
Divisional place2nd
OwnersBuddy LeRoux, Haywood Sullivan, Jean Yawkey
PresidentJean Yawkey
General managerHaywood Sullivan
ManagerDon Zimmer
TelevisionWSBK-TV, Ch. 38
(Dick Stockton, Ken Harrelson)
RadioWITS-AM 1510
(Ned Martin, Jim Woods)
StatsESPN.com
Baseball Reference
← 1977 Seasons 1979 →

Offseason

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Regular season

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Record by month[8]
Month Record Cumulative AL East Ref.
Won Lost Won Lost Position GB
April 11 9 11 9 2nd 3 [9]
May 23 7 34 16 1st +3 [10]
June 18 7 52 23 1st +8 [11]
July 13 15 65 38 1st +5 [12]
August 19 10 84 48 1st +6+12 [13]
September 14 15 98 63 2nd 1 [14]
October 1 1 99 64 2nd 1 [15]

The Red Sox played 163 games, as a tie-breaker game was needed to determine the winner of the AL East.

The "Boston Massacre"

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For several days in July, the Red Sox were 14 games ahead of the rival New York Yankees; at the end of play on July 19, Boston was 62–28 and New York was in fourth place at 48–42.[16] However, the Yankees worked their way back. At the end of play on September 6, the Yankees had reduced the 14-game deficit to only four games,[17] just in time for a four-game series at Fenway Park in Boston. The Yankees won all four games in the series, by a combined score of 42–9,[18] leaving the teams tied with identical 86–56 records at the end of play on September 10.[19] The series became known as the "Boston Massacre",[20] named after the confrontation with British soldiers on March 5, 1770.

Tie-breaker game

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The Yankees held a one-game lead over the Red Sox before the final day of the regular-season schedule. With a Red Sox win over the Toronto Blue Jays, and a Yankee loss to the Cleveland Indians, the two teams finished the season in a tie for the AL East division title, both with records of 99–63.[21] The next day, in a tie-breaker game played at Fenway Park, the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 5–4, with the help of a memorable home run by Bucky Dent.[22]

The Yankees went on to win the World Series in six games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dent went on to become an object of hatred for Red Sox fans. Ironically, 12 years later, in 1990, the Yankees fired Dent as their manager during a series at Fenway Park.[23][24]

Season standings

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AL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Yankees 100 63 .613 55‍–‍26 45‍–‍37
Boston Red Sox 99 64 .607 1 59‍–‍23 40‍–‍41
Milwaukee Brewers 93 69 .574 54‍–‍27 39‍–‍42
Baltimore Orioles 90 71 .559 9 51‍–‍30 39‍–‍41
Detroit Tigers 86 76 .531 13½ 47‍–‍34 39‍–‍42
Cleveland Indians 69 90 .434 29 42‍–‍36 27‍–‍54
Toronto Blue Jays 59 102 .366 40 37‍–‍44 22‍–‍58

Record vs. opponents

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Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team BAL BOS CAL CWS CLE DET KC MIL MIN NYY OAK SEA TEX TOR
Baltimore 7–8 4–6 8–1 9–6 7–8 2–8 7–8 5–5 6–9 11–0 9–1 7–4 8–7
Boston 8–7 9–2 7–3 7–8 12–3 4–6 10–5 9–2 7–9 5–5 7–3 3–7 11–4
California 6–4 2–9 8–7 6–4 4–7 9–6 5–5 12–3 5–5 9–6 9–6 5–10 7–3
Chicago 1–8 3–7 7–8 8–2 2–9 8–7 4–7 8–7 1–9 7–8 7–8 11–4 4–6
Cleveland 6–9 8–7 4–6 2–8 5–10 5–6 5–10 5–5 6–9 4–6 8–1 1–9 10–4
Detroit 8–7 3–12 7–4 9–2 10–5 4–6 7–8 4–6 4–11 6–4 8–2 7–3 9–6
Kansas City 8–2 6–4 6–9 7–8 6–5 6–4 6–4 7–8 6–5 10–5 12–3 7–8 5–5
Milwaukee 8–7 5–10 5–5 7–4 10–5 8–7 4–6 4–7 10–5 9–1 5–5 6–4 12–3
Minnesota 5–5 2–9 3–12 7–8 5–5 6–4 8–7 7–4 3–7 9–6 6–9 6–9 6–4
New York 9–6 9–7 5–5 9–1 9–6 11–4 5–6 5–10 7–3 8–2 6–5 6–4 11–4
Oakland 0–11 5–5 6–9 8–7 6–4 4–6 5–10 1–9 6–9 2–8 13–2 6–9 7–4
Seattle 1–9 3–7 6–9 8–7 1–8 2–8 3–12 5–5 9–6 5–6 2–13 3–12 8–2
Texas 4–7 7–3 10–5 4–11 9–1 3–7 8–7 4–6 9–6 4–6 9–6 12–3 4–7
Toronto 7–8 4–11 3–7 6–4 4–10 6–9 5–5 3–12 4–6 4–11 4–7 2–8 7–4


Notable transactions

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  • May 20, 1978: Bob Ojeda was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox.[25]

Opening Day lineup

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  2 Jerry Remy 2B
  7 Rick Burleson SS
14 Jim Rice DH
  8 Carl Yastrzemski     LF
27 Carlton Fisk C
19 Fred Lynn CF
15 George Scott 1B
24 Dwight Evans RF
  4 Butch Hobson 3B
21 Mike Torrez P

Source:[26]

Roster

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1978 Boston Red Sox
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Game log

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1978 Boston Red Sox Season Game Log: 99–64 (Home: 59–23; Away: 40–41)
April: 11–9 (Home: 8–2; Away: 3–7)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record
1 April 7 @ White Sox 5–6 LaGrow (1–0) Drago (0–1) Comiskey Park 50,754 0–1
2 April 8 @ White Sox 5–6 Torrealba (1–0) Campbell (0–1) LaGrow (1) Comiskey Park 11,832 0–2
3 April 9 @ White Sox 5–0 Lee (1–0) Wood (0–1) Comiskey Park 30,794 1–2
4 April 10 @ Indians 4–5 Kern (1–0) Cleveland (0–1) Cleveland Stadium 4,177 1–3
5 April 12 @ Indians 6–3 Torrez (1–0) Garland (1–1) Drago (1) Cleveland Stadium 6,234 2–3
6 April 14 Rangers 5–4 (10) Drago (1–1) Barker (0–1) Fenway Park 34,747 3–3
7 April 15 Rangers 12–4 Lee (2–0) D. Ellis (1–1) Fenway Park 18,624 4–3
8 April 16 Rangers 8–6 Stanley (1–0) Umbarger (0–1) Burgmeier (1) Fenway Park 22,168 5–3
9 April 17 Brewers 9–2 Torrez (2–0) Stein (0–1) Fenway Park 26,075 6–3
10 April 18 Brewers 7–6 Tiant (1–0) Rodríguez (0–1) Fenway Park 18,928 7–3
April 20 Brewers Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 12
11 April 20 Brewers 10–4 Lee (3–0) Haas (2–2) Fenway Park 16,238 8–3
12 April 21 Indians 9–7 Drago (2–1) Kern (1–1) Fenway Park 25,401 9–3
13 April 22 Indians 4–13 Wise (1–2) Ripley (0–1) Fenway Park 36,005 9–4
14 April 23 Indians 6–3 Campbell (1–1) Kinney (0–1) Fenway Park 10–4
15 April 23 Indians 7–10 (11) Kern (2–1) Stanley (1–1) Kinney (1) Fenway Park 36,246 10–5
16 April 25 @ Brewers 4–3 Lee (4–0) Augustine (3–2) Drago (2) County Stadium 9,051 11–5
17 April 26 @ Brewers 4–6 Caldwell (1–0) Torrez (2–1) McClure (2) County Stadium 8,724 11–6
18 April 28 @ Rangers 4–5 (11) Cleveland (1–2) Campbell (1–2) Arlington Stadium 29,731 11–7
19 April 29 @ Rangers 1–4 D. Ellis (2–1) Eckersley (0–1) Arlington Stadium 34,101 11–8
20 April 30 @ Rangers 1–2 Jenkins (1–2) Campbell (1–3) Arlington Stadium 22,554 11–9
May: 23–7 (Home: 14–2; Away: 9–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record
21 May 1 Orioles 9–6 Torrez (3–1) Briles (1–2) Stanley (1) Fenway Park 18,710 12–9
22 May 2 Orioles 1–3 D. Martínez (3–1) Ripley (0–2) Fenway Park 19,930 12–10
23 May 3 Twins 11–9 Burgmeier (1–0) D. Johnson (0–2) Stanley (2) Fenway Park 16,403 13–10
24 May 4 Twins 8–1 Eckersley (1–1) Thormodsgard (1–3) Fenway Park 15,784 14–10
May 5 White Sox Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 6
25 May 6 White Sox 6–4 (10) Stanley (2–1) Willoughby (0–2) Fenway Park 15–10
26 May 6 White Sox 3–0 Wright (1–0) Barrios (0–2) Fenway Park 32,238 16–10
27 May 7 White Sox 5–0 Torrez (4–1) Torrealba (1–4) Fenway Park 30,921 17–10
28 May 8 Royals 8–4 Stanley (3–1) Leonard (3–5) Fenway Park 25,891 18–10
29 May 9 Royals 4–3 Eckersley (2–1) Colborn (1–2) Fenway Park 22,369 19–10
30 May 10 @ Orioles 2–3 Flanagan (3–3) Burgmeier (1–1) Memorial Stadium 10,023 19–11
31 May 11 @ Orioles 5–4 Lee (5–0) D. Martínez (3–2) Drago (3) Memorial Stadium 14,950 20–11
May 12 @ Twins Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 24
32 May 13 @ Twins 4–2 Torrez (5–1) Zahn (2–2) Burgmeier (2) Metropolitan Stadium 7,914 21–11
33 May 14 @ Twins 6–2 Eckersley (3–1) Thormodsgard (1–5) Burgmeier (3) Metropolitan Stadium 7,008 22–11
34 May 15 @ Royals 1–3 Gale (3–0) Ripley (0–3) Royals Stadium 34,166 22–12
35 May 16 @ Royals 3–2 Lee (6–0) Splittorff (4–3) Royals Stadium 23,474 23–12
36 May 19 @ Tigers 5–7 Sykes (3–0) Torrez (5–2) Hiller (4) Tiger Stadium 48,817 23–13
37 May 20 @ Tigers 6–5 Campbell (2–3) Foucault (1–4) Tiger Stadium 30,856 24–13
38 May 21 @ Tigers 1–2 Wilcox (3–1) Lee (6–1) Tiger Stadium 24–14
39 May 21 @ Tigers 9–3 Tiant (2–0) Rozema (2–2) Tiger Stadium 52,368 25–14
40 May 22 @ Blue Jays 5–4 Ripley (1–3) Clancy (2–4) Stanley (3) Exhibition Stadium 25,054 26–14
41 May 23 @ Blue Jays 1–2 (12) Jefferson (3–5) Campbell (2–4) Exhibition Stadium 14,578 26–15
42 May 24 @ Blue Jays 8–2 Torrez (6–2) Lemanczyk (1–8) Exhibition Stadium 28,825 27–15
43 May 25 @ Blue Jays 9–5 Eckersley (4–1) Underwood (1–5) Drago (4) Exhibition Stadium 17,197 28–15
44 May 26 Tigers 6–3 Lee (7–1) Wilcox (3–2) Fenway Park 33,431 29–15
45 May 27 Tigers 1–0 Tiant (3–0) Morris (0–1) Fenway Park 33,335 30–15
46 May 28 Tigers 4–3 (10) Stanley (4–1) Hiller (4–3) Fenway Park 31–15
47 May 28 Tigers 4–3 Wright (2–0) Slaton (4–2) Drago (5) Fenway Park 34,672 32–15
48 May 29 Blue Jays 5–4 Torrez (7–2) Underwood (1–6) Fenway Park 25,935 33–15
49 May 30 Blue Jays 4–0 Eckersley (5–1) Garvin (2–4) Fenway Park 25,853 34–15
50 May 31 Blue Jays 2–6 Clancy (4–4) Lee (7–2) Fenway Park 27,945 34–16
June: 18–7 (Home: 11–2; Away: 7–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record
51 June 2 @ Angels 6–1 Tiant (4–0) Ryan (3–5) Drago (6) Anaheim Stadium 31,324 35–16
52 June 3 @ Angels 5–4 Torrez (8–2) Hartzell (1–4) Campbell (1) Anaheim Stadium 34,228 36–16
53 June 4 @ Angels 2–4 Tanana (9–2) Eckersley (5–2) LaRoche (7) Anaheim Stadium 29,911 36–17
54 June 5 @ Athletics 7–9 Broberg (6–4) Ripley (1–4) Sosa (8) Oakland Coliseum 36,463 36–18
55 June 6 @ Athletics 1–7 Renko (1–1) Lee (7–3) Oakland Coliseum 7,914 36–19
56 June 9 @ Mariners 3–2 Tiant (5–0) Mitchell (2–6) Kingdome 11,677 37–19
57 June 10 @ Mariners 13–1 Torrez (9–2) Pole (4–7) Kingdome 15,910 38–19
58 June 11 @ Mariners 5–3 Eckersley (6–2) McLaughlin (0–2) Campbell (2) Kingdome 18,626 39–19
59 June 12 Angels 10–9 Campbell (3–4) LaRoche (5–3) Fenway Park 31,652 40–19
60 June 13 Angels 5–0 Wright (3–0) Knapp (6–5) Fenway Park 26,539 41–19
61 June 14 Athletics 9–0 Tiant (6–0) Broberg (6–6) Fenway Park 29,690 42–19
62 June 15 Athletics 7–3 Torrez (10–2) Lacey (5–3) Fenway Park 32,281 43–19
63 June 16 Mariners 6–3 Campbell (4–4) Pole (4–8) Fenway Park 31,519 44–19
64 June 17 Mariners 5–4 Stanley (5–1) Montague (0–3) Fenway Park 32,551 45–19
65 June 18 Mariners 2–3 Abbott (2–4) Wright (3–1) Fenway Park 28,961 45–20
66 June 19 Yankees 10–4 Burgmeier (2–1) Gossage (3–7) Fenway Park 33,163 46–20
67 June 20 Yankees 4–10 Gullett (2–0) Torrez (10–3) Fenway Park 32,643 46–21
68 June 21 Yankees 9–2 Eckersley (7–2) Beattie (2–3) Fenway Park 32,459 47–21
69 June 23 Orioles 5–2 Lee (8–3) Palmer (10–5) Fenway Park 34,582 48–21
70 June 24 Orioles 8–3 Tiant (7–0) McGregor (8–5) Fenway Park 32,213 49–21
71 June 25 Orioles 4–1 Torrez (11–3) D. Martínez (6–5) Fenway Park 33,526 50–21
72 June 26 @ Yankees 4–1 Eckersley (8–2) Messersmith (0–2) Campbell (3) Yankee Stadium 52,124 51–21
73 June 27 @ Yankees 4–6 (14) Lyle (6–1) Drago (2–2) Yankee Stadium 55,132 51–22
74 June 29 @ Orioles 4–3 Ripley (2–4) D. Martínez (6–6) Memorial Stadium 28,899 52–22
75 June 30 @ Orioles 2–3 (11) Stanhouse (2–5) Tiant (7–1) Memorial Stadium 33,034 52–23
July: 13–15 (Home: 7–4; Away: 6–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record
76 July 1 @ Orioles 2–3 (11) Briles (2–4) Torrez (11–4) Memorial Stadium 38,542 52–24
July 2 @ Orioles Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 6
77 July 3 Yankees 9–5 Eckersley (9–2) Figueroa (7–6) Fenway Park 34,722 53–24
July 4 Yankees Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 7
78 July 5 @ White Sox 9–2 Lee (9–3) Stone (6–6) Stanley (4) Comiskey Park 26,434 54–24
79 July 6 @ White Sox 7–6 (10) Campbell (5–4) Willoughby (1–6) Comiskey Park 29,330 55–24
80 July 7 @ Indians 9–10 Spillner (2–0) Campbell (5–5) Cleveland Stadium 19,543 55–25
81 July 8 @ Indians 12–5 Eckersley (10–2) Paxton (6–5) Cleveland Stadium 56–25
82 July 8 @ Indians 3–2 Wright (4–1) Clyde (4–5) Stanley (5) Cleveland Stadium 41,859 57–25
83 July 9 @ Indians 1–7 Wise (7–11) Ripley (2–5) Cleveland Stadium 41,394 57–26
ASG July 11 All-Star Game AL 3–7 NL Sutter (1–0) Gossage (0–1) San Diego Stadium 51,549
84 July 13 Rangers 7–12 D. Ellis (8–4) Tiant (7–2) Fenway Park 33,995 57–27
85 July 14 Rangers 3–4 Jenkins (9–4) Torrez (11–5) Cleveland (9) Fenway Park 32,899 57–28
86 July 15 Twins 5–4 Lee (10–3) Jackson (2–2) Stanley (6) Fenway Park 32,861 58–28
87 July 16 Twins 5–3 Eckersley (11–2) Harrison (0–1) Campbell (4) Fenway Park 59–28
88 July 16 Twins 3–2 Wright (5–1) Erickson (9–6) Stanley (7) Fenway Park 35,589 60–28
89 July 17 Twins 3–2 (10) Campbell (6–5) Marshall (4–7) Fenway Park 33,233 61–28
90 July 19 @ Brewers 8–2 Torrez (12–5) Sorensen (12–6) County Stadium 45,332 62–28
91 July 20 @ Brewers 6–8 Rodríguez (2–3) Lee (10–4) McClure (5) County Stadium 35,044 62–29
92 July 21 @ Royals 0–9 Splittorff (11–8) Eckersley (11–3) Royals Stadium 39,841 62–30
93 July 22 @ Royals 5–6 (10) Hrabosky (4–3) Drago (2–3) Royals Stadium 37,538 62–31
94 July 23 @ Royals 3–7 Pattin (2–2) Wright (5–2) Royals Stadium 39,425 62–32
95 July 24 @ Twins 4–5 Jackson (3–3) Drago (2–4) Marshall (12) Metropolitan Stadium 62–33
96 July 24 @ Twins 4–2 Hassler (2–4) Zahn (8–9) Stanley (8) Metropolitan Stadium 21,580 63–33
97 July 25 @ Twins 2–5 Erickson (10–6) Lee (10–5) Marshall (13) Metropolitan Stadium 18,608 63–34
98 July 26 @ Rangers 0–2 Medich (5–5) Eckersley (11–4) Arlington Stadium 21,671 63–35
99 July 27 @ Rangers 1–3 Matlack (8–8) Tiant (7–3) Arlington Stadium 29,684 63–36
100 July 28 Royals 0–4 Gale (12–3) Torrez (12–6) Fenway Park 35,348 63–37
101 July 29 Royals 1–0 Wright (6–2) Leonard (12–12) Fenway Park 35,098 64–37
102 July 30 Royals 1–2 Splittorff (12–9) Lee (10–6) Hrabosky (14) Fenway Park 34,626 64–38
103 July 31 White Sox 9–2 Eckersley (12–4) Kravec (7–10) Fenway Park 28,858 65–38
August: 19–10 (Home: 11–5; Away: 8–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record
104 August 1 White Sox 2–5 Proly (2–0) Tiant (7–4) Fenway Park 30,020 65–39
105 August 2 @ Yankees 7–5 (17) Stanley (6–1) Clay (2–4) Yankee Stadium 52,701 66–39
106 August 3 @ Yankees 8–1 (7) Torrez (13–6) Beattie (2–6) Yankee Stadium 53,379 67–39
107 August 4 @ Brewers 2–6 Sorensen (13–8) Lee (10–7) County Stadium 52,562 67–40
108 August 5 @ Brewers 8–1 Eckersley (13–4) Rodríguez (2–5) County Stadium 52,968 68–40
109 August 6 @ Brewers 4–0 Tiant (8–4) Travers (7–6) County Stadium 48,444 69–40
110 August 8 Indians 9–7 Stanley (7–1) Freisleben (1–3) Fenway Park 34,485 70–40
111 August 9 Indians 1–5 Wise (9–14) Lee (10–8) Kern (9) Fenway Park 33,285 70–41
112 August 10 Indians 6–5 (13) Stanley (8–1) Spillner (2–1) Fenway Park 33,541 71–41
113 August 11 Brewers 5–10 Rodríguez (3–5) Tiant (8–5) Fenway Park 35,142 71–42
114 August 12 Brewers 3–1 Wright (7–2) Travers (7–7) Fenway Park 33,092 72–42
115 August 12 Brewers 11–4 Stanley (9–1) Caldwell (14–7) Fenway Park 27,030 73–42
116 August 13 Brewers 4–3 (10) Torrez (14–6) Castro (3–4) Fenway Park 34,460 74–42
117 August 14 Brewers 3–4 Sorensen (14–8) Lee (10–9) McClure (7) Fenway Park 33,766 74–43
118 August 15 @ Angels 2–5 Tanana (16–7) Eckersley (13–5) Anaheim Stadium 41,144 74–44
119 August 16 @ Angels 4–2 Tiant (9–5) Ryan (6–11) Anaheim Stadium 37,535 75–44
120 August 17 @ Angels 8–6 Stanley (10–1) Griffin (2–4) Anaheim Stadium 30,486 76–44
121 August 18 @ Athletics 6–3 Torrez (15–6) Renko (6–8) Drago (7) Oakland Coliseum 12,730 77–44
122 August 19 @ Athletics 4–8 Johnson (10–6) Lee (10–10) Lacey (5) Oakland Coliseum 11,806 77–45
123 August 20 @ Athletics 4–2 Eckersley (14–5) Keough (7–11) Oakland Coliseum 13,411 78–45
124 August 22 @ Mariners 2–5 Abbott (6–10) Tiant (9–6) Kingdome 21,486 78–46
125 August 23 @ Mariners 3–5 McLaughlin (2–4) Torrez (15–7) Romo (10) Kingdome 22,718 78–47
126 August 25 Angels 6–0 Eckersley (15–5) Aase (8–8) Fenway Park 33,583 79–47
127 August 26 Angels 7–1 Wright (8–2) Hartzell (5–8) Fenway Park 33,531 80–47
128 August 27 Angels 4–3 (12) Stanley (11–1) D. Miller (4–1) Fenway Park 34,216 81–47
129 August 28 Mariners 10–9 Stanley (12–1) Romo (10–6) Fenway Park 24,301 82–47
130 August 29 Mariners 10–5 Drago (3–1) McLaughlin (2–5) Burgmeier (4) Fenway Park 32,393 83–47
131 August 30 Blue Jays 2–1 Eckersley (16–5) Kirkwood (3–2) Fenway Park 84–47
132 August 30 Blue Jays 6–7 Cruz (6–1) Stanley (12–2) Fenway Park 32,825 84–48
September: 14–15 (Home: 7–7; Away: 7–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record
133 September 1 Athletics 1–5 Keough (8–11) Tiant (9–7) Fenway Park 30,156 84–49
134 September 2 Athletics 3–4 Langford (7–10) Torrez (15–8) Heaverlo (10) Fenway Park 33,051 84–50
135 September 3 Athletics 11–6 Stanley (13–2) Broberg (9–11) Fenway Park 29,029 85–50
136 September 4 @ Orioles 3–5 McGregor (13–12) Eckersley (16–6) Stanhouse (20) Memorial Stadium 17,967 85–51
137 September 5 @ Orioles 1–4 Palmer (18–12) Sprowl (0–1) Stanhouse (21) Memorial Stadium 15,644 85–52
138 September 6 @ Orioles 2–0 Tiant (10–7) D. Martínez (12–11) Memorial Stadium 11,251 86–52
139 September 7 Yankees 3–15 Clay (3–4) Torrez (15–9) Fenway Park 34,119 86–53
140 September 8 Yankees 2–13 Beattie (4–7) Wright (8–3) Fenway Park 33,134 86–54
141 September 9 Yankees 0–7 Guidry (21–2) Eckersley (16–7) Fenway Park 33,611 86–55
142 September 10 Yankees 4–7 Figueroa (16–9) Sprowl (0–2) Gossage (23) Fenway Park 32,786 86–56
143 September 11 Orioles 5–4 Stanley (14–2) Kerrigan (3–1) Fenway Park 28,575 87–56
144 September 12 Orioles 2–3 D. Martínez (13–11) Torrez (15–10) Fenway Park 28,924 87–57
145 September 13 @ Indians 1–2 Clyde (7–10) Eckersley (16–8) Kern (12) Cleveland Stadium 5,568 87–58
146 September 14 @ Indians 3–4 Paxton (11–9) Wright (8–4) Kern (13) Cleveland Stadium 4,479 87–59
147 September 15 @ Yankees 0–4 Guidry (22–2) Tiant (10–8) Yankee Stadium 54,901 87–60
148 September 16 @ Yankees 2–3 Hunter (10–5) Torrez (15–11) Yankee Stadium 55,091 87–61
149 September 17 @ Yankees 7–3 Eckersley (17–8) Beattie (5–8) Stanley (9) Yankee Stadium 55,088 88–61
150 September 18 @ Tigers 5–4 (11) Hassler (3–4) Baker (1–3) Tiger Stadium 13,849 89–61
151 September 19 @ Tigers 8–6 Campbell (7–5) Morris (3–5) Hassler (1) Tiger Stadium 15,901 90–61
152 September 20 @ Tigers 2–12 Rozema (9–10) Torrez (15–12) Tiger Stadium 16,689 90–62
153 September 21 @ Tigers 5–1 Eckersley (18–8) Wilcox (13–11) Tiger Stadium 15,213 91–62
154 September 22 @ Blue Jays 4–5 Murphy (6–9) Hassler (3–5) Exhibition Stadium 22,172 91–63
155 September 23 @ Blue Jays 3–1 Tiant (11–8) Jefferson (7–15) Exhibition Stadium 30,059 92–63
156 September 24 @ Blue Jays 7–6 (14) Drago (4–4) Buskey (0–1) Exhibition Stadium 33,618 93–63
157 September 26 Tigers 6–0 Eckersley (19–8) Rozema (9–11) Fenway Park 27,078 94–63
158 September 27 Tigers 5–2 Tiant (12–8) Wilcox (13–12) Stanley (10) Fenway Park 26,035 95–63
159 September 28 Tigers 1–0 Torrez (16–12) Young (6–7) Fenway Park 26,774 96–63
160 September 29 Blue Jays 11–0 Stanley (15–2) Clancy (10–12) Fenway Park 29,626 97–63
161 September 30 Blue Jays 5–1 Eckersley (20–8) Jefferson (7–16) Fenway Park 32,659 98–63
October: 1–1 (Home: 1–1; Away: 0–0)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record
162 October 1 Blue Jays 5–0 Tiant (13–8) Kirkwood (4–5) Fenway Park 29,201 99–63
163 October 2 Yankees 4–5 Guidry (25–3) Torrez (16–13) Gossage (27) Fenway Park 32,925 99–64

Player stats

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Batting

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Starters by position

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Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

= Indicates team leader
Pos Player G AB R H Avg. HR RBI SB
C Carlton Fisk 157 571 94 162 .284 20 88 7
1B George Scott 120 412 51 96 .233 12 54 1
2B Jerry Remy 148 583 87 162 .278 2 44 30
3B Butch Hobson 147 512 65 128 .250 17 80 1
SS Rick Burleson 145 626 75 155 .248 5 49 8
LF Jim Rice 163 677 121 213 .315 46 139 7
CF Fred Lynn 150 541 75 161 .298 22 82 3
RF Dwight Evans 147 497 75 123 .247 24 63 8
DH Bob Bailey 43 94 12 18 .191 4 9 2

[27]

Other batters

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Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Player G AB R H Avg. HR RBI SB
Carl Yastrzemski 144 523 70 145 .277 17 81 4
Jack Brohamer 81 244 34 57 .234 1 25 1
Frank Duffy 64 104 12 27 .260 0 4 1
Garry Hancock 38 80 10 18 .225 0 4 0
Bernie Carbo 17 46 7 12 .261 1 6 1
Fred Kendall 20 41 3 8 .195 0 4 0
Bob Montgomery 10 29 2 7 .241 0 5 0
Sam Bowen 6 7 3 1 .143 1 1 0

Pitching

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Starting pitchers

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Note: G = Games pitched; CG = Complete games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Player G CG IP W L ERA BB SO
Dennis Eckersley 35 16 268.1 20 8 2.99 71 162
Mike Torrez 36 15 250.0 16 13 3.96 99 120
Luis Tiant 32 12 212.1 13 8 3.31 57 114
Bill Lee 28 8 177.0 10 10 3.46 59 44
Allen Ripley 15 1 73.0 2 5 5.55 22 26
Bobby Sprowl 3 0 12.2 0 2 6.39 10 10

Other pitchers

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Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA BB SO
Jim Wright 24 116.0 8 4 3.57 24 56
Andy Hassler 13 30.0 2 1 3.00 13 23

Relief pitchers

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Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Bob Stanley 52 15 2 10 2.60 38
Dick Drago 37 4 4 7 3.03 42
Tom Burgmeier 35 2 1 4 4.40 24
Bill Campbell 29 7 5 4 3.91 47
John LaRose 1 0 0 0 22.50 3
Reggie Cleveland 1 0 1 0 0.00 0

AL East tie-breaker game

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October 2, 1978 at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York Yankees 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 5 8 0
Boston Red Sox 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 4 11 0
WP: Ron Guidry (25-3)   LP: Mike Torrez (16-13)   Sv: Goose Gossage (27)
Home runs:
NYY: Bucky Dent, Reggie Jackson
BOS: Carl Yastrzemski

Awards and honors

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Awards
Accomplishments
  • Jim Rice, American League leader, Hits (213)
  • Jim Rice, American League leader, Home runs (46)
  • Jim Rice, American League leader, RBIs (139)
All-Star Game

Farm system

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Level Team League Manager
AAA Pawtucket Red Sox International League Joe Morgan
AA Bristol Red Sox Eastern League Tony Torchia
A Winston-Salem Red Sox Carolina League Bill Slack
A Winter Haven Red Sox Florida State League Rac Slider
A-Short Season Elmira Red Sox New York–Penn League Dick Berardino

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Bristol
Source:[28][29]

References

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  1. ^ "New York Yankees 5, Boston Red Sox 4". Retrosheet. October 2, 1978.
  2. ^ Mike Torrez page at Baseball Reference
  3. ^ Don Aase page at Baseball Reference
  4. ^ "Red Sox trade future Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins to Rangers".
  5. ^ Dick Drago page at Baseball Reference
  6. ^ Denny Doyle page at Baseball Reference
  7. ^ Dennis Eckersley page at Baseball Reference
  8. ^ "The 1978 Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  9. ^ "Events of Sunday, April 30, 1978".
  10. ^ "Events of Wednesday, May 31, 1978".
  11. ^ "Events of Friday, June 30, 1978".
  12. ^ "Events of Monday, July 31, 1978".
  13. ^ "Events of Thursday, August 31, 1978".
  14. ^ "Events of Saturday, September 30, 1978".
  15. ^ "Events of Monday, October 2, 1978".
  16. ^ "Standings At Close of Play of July 19, 1978". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "Standings At Close of Play of September 6, 1978". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  18. ^ "The 1978 New York Yankees Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  19. ^ "Standings At Close of Play of September 10, 1978". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  20. ^ "Yankees Completed 'Boston Massacre'". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. AP. September 11, 1978. p. A-11. Retrieved October 11, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Events of Sunday, October 1, 1978". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  22. ^ "New York Yankees 5, Boston Red Sox 4". Retrosheet. October 2, 1978. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  23. ^ Cafardo, Nick (June 7, 1990). "Dent Dumped by Yankees". The Boston Globe. p. 37.
  24. ^ Shaughnessy, Dan (June 7, 1990). "His Back Was Against the Wall". The Boston Globe. p. 37.
  25. ^ Bob Ojeda page at Baseball Reference
  26. ^ "Chicago White Sox 6, Boston Red Sox 5". Retrosheet. April 7, 1978. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  27. ^ 1978 Boston Red Sox Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
  28. ^ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
  29. ^ Boston Red Sox Press TV Radio Guide. 1978. p. 43. Retrieved March 14, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.

Further reading

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