1912 Boston Red Sox season

The 1912 Boston Red Sox season was the 12th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. This was the first year that the team played its home games at Fenway Park. The Red Sox finished first in the American League (AL) with a record of 105 wins and 47 losses. The team set the franchise record for highest winning percentage (.691) in a season, which still stands; tied the franchise record for fewest losses in a season, originally set by the 1903 team; and set a franchise record for most wins, which was not surpassed until the 2018 club.

The team then faced the National League (NL) champion New York Giants in the 1912 World Series, which the Red Sox won in eight games to capture the franchise's second World Series. One of the deciding plays in the World Series was a muffed fly ball by Giants outfielder Fred Snodgrass, which became known as the "$30,000 muff" in reference to the prize money for the winning team.

Behind center fielder Tris Speaker and pitcher Smoky Joe Wood, the Red Sox led the league in runs scored and fewest runs allowed. Speaker was third in batting and was voted league Most Valuable Player. Wood won 34 games, including a record 16 in a row. Although the pitching staff was satisfactory, the only star pitcher was Wood, while the only star in the starting lineup was Speaker. Little-known third baseman Larry Gardner was the next best hitter, while future Hall of Famer Harry Hooper had a poor offensive season.

Offseason The Red Sox made several transactions during the 1912 offseason. The Red Sox sold two players to the Chicago White Sox during the offseason: Jack Fournier on February 6 and Eddie Cicotte on July 9. Later in the year, on November 25, Hugh Bradley was sold to the Jersey City Giants minor league baseball team of the International League.

Transactions November 6, 1911: The St. Paul Saints announce the purchase of outfielder Joe Riggert from the Red Sox.

January 6, 1912: The Red Sox trade players Harold Janvrin, Martin McHale, Walter Lonergan, Hap Myers, Jack Thoney, and Billy Purtell to the Jersey City Skeeters in exchange for catcher Forrest Cady.

February, 1912: The Red Sox sell infielder Rip Williams to the New York Highlanders. On February 23, the Highlanders sent Williams to the Washington Nationals.

February 6, 1912: The Chicago White Sox announce the purchase of infielder Jack Fournier from the Red Sox.

Regular season The new Red Sox home stadium, Fenway Park opened on April 20, the same day as Navin Field in Detroit opened.The Final Season, p. 5, Tom Stanton, Thomas Dunne Books, An imprint of St. Martin's Press, New York, 2001, It was supposed to be opened on April 18 (like Navin Field) but it rained in both cities on that day.The Final Season, p.40 This first Major-League game played at Fenway Park pitted the Red Sox against the New York Highlanders, with the Red Sox winning by a score of 7–6, and New York's Harry Wolter being the first player to earn a hit in the park.

On April 26, Hugh Bradley became the first player to hit a home run over the Green Monster at Fenway Park.Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p. 263, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, It was his only home run of the 1912 season, and one of only two he hit in his career, which spanned five seasons.

Transactions June 25: The Cleveland Naps sell infielder Neal Ball to the Red Sox for $2500.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup

On April 11, 1912, the Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders 5–3 in an away game.

Harry Hooper RFSteve Yerkes 2BTris Speaker CFJake Stahl 1BLarry Gardner 3BDuffy Lewis LFHeinie Wagner SSLes Nunamaker C Buck O'Brien P

Roster 1912 Boston Red Sox Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Player stats = Indicates team leader

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

Starters by position Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C 87 266 70 .263 0 24 1B 95 326 98 .301 3 60 2B 131 523 132 .252 0 42 SS 144 504 138 .274 2 68 3B 143 517 163 .315 3 86 OF 154 581 165 .284 6 109 OF 153 580 222 .383 10 90 OF 147 590 143 .242 2 53

Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI 58 171 40 .234 0 18 40 137 26 .190 1 19 47 135 35 .259 0 9 35 103 26 .252 0 6 44 56 18 .321 0 8 18 45 9 .200 0 6 20 39 12 .308 0 7 13 30 6 .200 0 5 154 468 101 .216 2 44

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

Starting pitchers Player G IP W L ERA SO 43 344 34 5 1.91 258 37 20 13 2.58 115 41 231 20 9 2.92 122 27 13 8 2.53 82 34 191 15 8 3.02 83

Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 13 1 1 4.99 17 Ed Cicotte 9 46 1 3 5.67 20 Ben Van Dyke 3 0 0 3.14 8 Casey Hageman 2 0 0 27.00 1

Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SO 3 1 0 0 4.70 5 1 0 0 0 3.00 1

Awards and honors

League top five finishers Duffy Lewis #2 in AL in RBI (109)

Tris Speaker MLB leader in on-base percentage (.464) AL leader in home runs (10) #2 in AL in runs scored (136) #3 in AL in batting average (.383) #3 in AL in slugging percentage (.567) #4 in AL in stolen bases (52)

Smoky Joe Wood MLB leader in wins (34) MLB leader in shutouts (10) #2 in AL in ERA (1.91) #2 in AL in strikeouts (258)

World Series

The 1912 World Series was played between the New York Giants of the NL and the Red Sox of the AL. The Red Sox won in eight games, 4–3, having played the Giants to a tie in Game 2.

AL Boston Red Sox (4) vs. NL New York Giants (3) GameScoreDateLocationAtt.Ref.1Red Sox – 4, Giants – 3October 8Polo Grounds35,7302Giants – 6, Red Sox – 6 (11)October 9Fenway Park30,1483Giants – 2, Red Sox – 1October 10Fenway Park34,6244Red Sox – 3, Giants – 1October 11Polo Grounds36,5025Giants – 1, Red Sox – 2October 12Fenway Park34,6836Red Sox – 2, Giants – 5October 14Polo Grounds30,6227 Giants – 11, Red Sox – 4October 15Fenway Park32,6948Giants – 2, Red Sox – 3 (10)October 16Fenway Park17,034

See also List of Boston Red Sox team records

References

Further reading

External links 1912 Boston Red Sox at Baseball Reference 1912 Boston Red Sox season at Baseball Almanac