The 1975 Boston Red Sox season was the 75th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished first in the American League East with a record of 95–65. Following a sweep of the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS, the Red Sox lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games.
Offseason
Long expectations
The 1975 baseball season should have dawned for Red Sox fans with bright hopes. The team had made a legitimate run for the pennant the previous year, and this time the team had Carlton Fisk and Rick Wise for full seasons. Rick Burleson had surprised everyone by playing outstanding shortstop and hitting higher in the majors than he ever had in the minors. In addition, the Sox had two rookies who gave every indication they would be phenoms, Fred Lynn and Jim Rice. But the memory of the collapse of 1974 still hung heavy over New England fans.
At first most of the preseason talk had to do with the decision by Tony Conigliaro to try one more comeback and with the salary hassle concerning Luis Tiant, who felt he deserved more than $70,000 he was earning and wouldn't show up at Winter Haven, Florida, causing team owner Tom Yawkey to meet with "El Tiante", agree on a raise (to $90,000) and get the Sox pitching ace back in camp.
Still, it didn't take too long before the stories and pictures coming out of Florida about the two phenoms got Sox fans thinking. The betting lines in Las Vegas had Boston as a long shot, although not the 100–1 shot they were in 1967. The odds against them went up, however, after Fisk, returning from the serious knee injury of 1974, was hit in the right arm and broke it. Even the positive talk about young Mr. Lynn couldn't drive away the gloom over Fisk's injury. Catching is absolutely vital to a successful team, and Fisk was going to be sidelined for at least a couple of months.
Youngsters and comebacks
The word out of Florida on Lynn was very positive. The young man who had gone to the USC as a football linebacker, but gave up football for baseball, seemed to be doing it all. Not only did he hit and run and field, he was a good-looking, charming young man. He was a hit with Boston and New England fans and hit with power, and with the way big Jim Rice was clobbering the baseball, Boston appeared to have a power punch that could only get better when Fisk got back into the lineup.
Rick Wise, back after a year of shoulder trouble and then a broken finger, looked ready to boost a pitching staff, which already had Luis Tiant, Bill Lee, Reggie Cleveland, and the stringbean flame-thrower Roger Moret. The bullpen also looked strong, with Dick Drago as the closer and hard-thrower Dick Pole and veteran Diego Seguí.
Additionally, the word on Tony Conigliaro was encouraging, and that boosted spirits back home. Carl Yastrzemski was at first base, and after three short trials in previous years Cecil Cooper was going to make this team and probably be the designated hitter.
Notable transactions October 24, 1974: Juan Marichal was released by the Red Sox.Juan Marichal page at Baseball Reference March 29, 1975: Danny Cater was traded by the Red Sox to the St. Louis Cardinals for Danny Godby.Danny Cater page at Baseball Reference
Regular season +Record by monthMonth Record Cumulative AL East Ref. Won Lost Won Lost Position GB April 7 9 7 9 5th (tie) 3 May 16 9 23 18 1st + June 18 13 41 31 1st +1 July 22 11 63 42 1st +9 August 16 12 79 54 1st +6 September 16 11 95 65 1st + The Red Sox played only 160 games, as two games against the Yankees were rained out in the final week of the season, and not rescheduled once Boston clinched the AL East title.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions June 3: Dave Schmidt was selected by the Red Sox in the 2nd round of the 1975 Major League Baseball draftDave Schmidt page at Baseball Reference June 14: The Red Sox traded a player to be named later and cash to the California Angels for Denny Doyle. The Red Sox completed the deal by sending Chuck Ross (minors) to the Angels on March 5, 1976.Denny Doyle page at Baseball Reference
Opening Day lineup
20 Juan Beníquez LF19 Fred Lynn CF 8 Carl Yastrzemski 1B25 Tony Conigliaro DH 6 Rico Petrocelli 3B 24 Dwight Evans RF10 Bob Montgomery C 7 Rick Burleson SS 2 Doug Griffin 2B23 Luis Tiant P Source:
Boston's Opening Day opponent was the Milwaukee Brewers, then a member of the AL East; the game was notable for being the first game that Hank Aaron played in the American League, having previously played from 1954 through 1974 in the National League.
Roster 1975 Boston Red Sox Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders
Other batters Manager
Coaches (Bullpen) (First base) (Special assignment) (Pitching) (Third base)
Game log Regular season Legend Red Sox win Red Sox loss Postponement Clinched divisionBoldRed Sox team member
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 3 || || || @ Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 4 || || || @ Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 5 || || || @ Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 8 || || || Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bbb;" | — || || || Orioles || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 30 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 9 || || || Orioles
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || || 11:01p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 3–5 || Fingers (3–2) || Seguí (1–1) || Lindblad (2) || 2:01 || 28,984 || 14–11 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 26 || || 11:01p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 5–9 || Holtzman (2–4) || Wise (3–3) || Todd (4) || 2:25 || 4,239 || 14–12 || L2 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 27 || || || Royals |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 28 || || || Royals |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 29 || || || Royals |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 30 || || || Royals |- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 || || 7:31p.m. EDT || Athletics || 10–5 || Tiant (4–5) || Odom (0–2) || — || 2:30 || 14,700 || 16–15 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 32 || || 7:33p.m. EDT || Athletics || 7–0 || Lee (5–4) || Blue (8–2) || — || 1:51 || 17,201 || 17–15 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 33 || || 7:32p.m. EDT || Athletics || 7–3 || Cleveland (3–2) || Holtzman (3–5) || — || 1:56 || 14,665 || 18–15 || W4
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 53 || || || @ Royals |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 54 || || || @ Royals |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 55 || || || @ Royals |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 56 || || || @ Royals |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 60 || || || @ Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 61 || || || @ Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 62 || || || @ Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 63 || || || @ Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 71 || || || Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 72 || || || Orioles
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 73 || || || Orioles |- style="background:#bbbfff;" | — || || 8:30 p.m. EDT || colspan="9"| 46th All-Star Game in Milwaukee, WI |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 88 || || || Royals |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 89 || || || Royals
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 113 || || 11:06p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 2–3 || Holtzman (14–9) || Cleveland (9–8) || Fingers (15) || 1:39 || 20,575 || 68–45 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 114 || || 4:37p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 7–2 || Lee (15–6) || Siebert (2–3) || — || 2:31 || 16,828 || 69–45 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 115 || || 4:37p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 5–3 || Tiant (14–11) || Bosman (7–4) || Willoughby (7) || 2:20 || 18,806 || 70–45 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 116 || || 11:02p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 3–4 || Blue (16–8) || Moret (8–2) || Todd (8) || 2:50 || 46,376 || 70–46 || L1 |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 124 || || || @ Royals |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 125 || || || @ Royals |- style="background:#bfb;" | 131 || || 7:35p.m. EDT || Athletics || 6–1 || Wise (17–8) || Bahnsen (9–12) || — || 2:39 || 34,341 || 79–52 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 132 || || 7:36p.m. EDT || Athletics || 6–7 || Fingers (9–6) || Drago (1–2) || — || 3:22 || 28,171 || 79–53 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 133 || || 2:07p.m. EDT || Athletics || 6–8 || Fingers (10–6) || Seguí (2–5) || — || 3:49 || 32,753 || 79–54 || L2
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 136 || || || @ Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 137 || || || @ Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#bfb;" | 151 || || || Orioles |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#fbb;" | 152 || || || Orioles
Detailed records American League Opponent Home Away Total Pct. Runs scored Runs allowed AL East Baltimore Orioles 3–6 6–3 9–9 69 82 Boston Red Sox — — — — — — Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Milwaukee Brewers New York Yankees 3–6 6–3 9–9 69 82 AL West California Angels Chicago White Sox Kansas City Royals Minnesota Twins Oakland Athletics 4–2 2–4 6–6 67 50 Texas Rangers 4–2 2–4 6–6 67 50 7–8 8–7 15–15 136 132
Month-by-Month Month Games Won Lost Win % April 16 7 9 66 84 May 25 16 9 126 89 June 31 18 13 172 166 July 33 22 11 176 150 August 28 16 12 127 107 September 27 16 11 129 113 Total 160 95 65 796 509 Games Won Lost Win % Home 81 47 34 427 399 Road 79 46 31 369 310 Total 160 95 65 796 709
Composite Box + 1975 Boston Red Sox Inning–by–Inning Boxscore Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 R H E Opponents 71 62 92 93 80 63 92 92 59 5 0 0 0 0 709 1463 17 Red Sox 115 100 102 87 82 78 81 73 65 3 1 6 1 2 796 1500 139 Sources:
Postseason game log Legend Red Sox win Red Sox loss PostponementBoldRed Sox team member
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || || 1:00 p.m. EDT || Athletics || 7–1 || Tiant (1–0) || Holtzman (0–1) || — || 2:40 || 35,578 || BOS 1–0 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || || 4:00 p.m. EDT || Athletics || 6–2 || Moret (1–0) || Fingers (0–1) || Drago (1) || 2:27 || 35,578 || BOS 2–0 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || || 8:15 p.m. EDT || @ Athletics || 5–3 || Wise (1–0) || Holtzman (0–2) || Drago (2) || 2:30 || 49,358 || BOS 3–0 || W3
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || || 1:00 p.m. EDT || Reds || 6–0 || Tiant (1–0) || Gullett (0–1) || — || 2:27 || 35,205 || BOS 1–0 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || || 1:00 p.m. EDT || Reds || 2–3 || Eastwick (1–0) || Drago (0–1) || — || 2:38 || 35,205 || TIE 1–1 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || || 8:30 p.m. EDT || @ Reds || 5–6 || Eastwick (2–0) || Willoughby (0–1) || — || 3:03 || 55,392 || CIN 2–1 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || || 8:30 p.m. EDT || @ Reds || 5–4 || Tiant (2–0) || Norman (0–1) || — || 2:52 || 55,667 || TIE 2–2 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || || 8:30 p.m. EDT || @ Reds || 2–6 || Gullett (1–1) || Cleveland (0–1) || Eastwick (1) || 2:23 || 56,393 || CIN 3–2 || L1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || || 1:00 p.m. EDT || Reds || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 21 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || || 1:00 p.m. EDT || Reds || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 21 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || || 8:15 p.m. EDT || Reds || colspan=8| Postponed (rain); Makeup: October 21 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || || 8:15 p.m. EDT || Reds || 7–6 || Wise (1–0) || Darcy (0–1) || — || 4:01 || 35,205 || TIE 3–3 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || || 8:15 p.m. EDT || Reds || 3–4 || C. Carroll (1–0) || Burton (0–1) || McEnaney (1) || 2:52 || 35,205 || CIN 4–3 || L1
Starting Lineups Regular Season Batting Order
|- style="background:#bfb;" ! style=";" |3 | ! style=";" |@ BAL