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. 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.

Offseason

 * November 23, 1977: Mike Torrez was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox.
 * December 8, 1977: Don Aase and cash were traded by the Red Sox to the California Angels for Jerry Remy.
 * December 14, 1977: Ferguson Jenkins was traded by the Red Sox to the Texas Rangers for John Poloni and cash.
 * December 27, 1977: Dick Drago was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.
 * March 28, 1978: Denny Doyle was released by the Red Sox.
 * March 30, 1978: Rick Wise, Mike Paxton, Ted Cox, and Bo Díaz were traded by the Red Sox to the Cleveland Indians for Dennis Eckersley and Fred Kendall.

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

The "Boston Massacre"
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. 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, 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, leaving the teams tied with identical 86–56 records at the end of play on September 10. The series became known as the "Boston Massacre", named after the confrontation with British soldiers on March 5, 1770.

Tie-breaker game
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. 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.

The Yankees went on to win the World Series in six games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although Dent became a Red Sox demon, the Red Sox would get a measure of retribution in 1990, when the Yankees fired Dent as their manager during a series at Fenway Park.

Notable transactions

 * May 20, 1978: Bob Ojeda was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox.

Opening Day lineup
Source:

Starters by position
''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''

Other batters
''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''

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

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

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

Awards and honors

 * Awards
 * Dwight Evans – Gold Glove Award (OF)
 * Fred Lynn – Gold Glove Award (OF)
 * Jim Rice – American League Most Valuable Player, AL Player of the Month (May, August)


 * 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
 * Rick Burleson, reserve SS (did not attend)
 * Dwight Evans, reserve OF
 * Carlton Fisk, starting C
 * Fred Lynn, reserve OF (started CF)
 * Jerry Remy, reserve 2B
 * Jim Rice, starting LF
 * Carl Yastrzemski, reserve OF (did not attend)

Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Bristol Source: