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.Mike Torrez page at Baseball Reference December 8, 1977: Don Aase and cash were traded by the Red Sox to the California Angels for Jerry Remy.Don Aase page at Baseball Reference 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.Dick Drago page at Baseball Reference March 28, 1978: Denny Doyle was released by the Red Sox.Denny Doyle page at Baseball Reference 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.Dennis Eckersley page at Baseball Reference

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

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions May 20, 1978: Bob Ojeda was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox.Bob Ojeda page at Baseball Reference

Opening Day lineup   2 Jerry Remy 2B  7 Rick Burleson SS14 Jim Rice DH  8 Carl Yastrzemski     LF27 Carlton Fisk C19 Fred Lynn CF15 George Scott 1B24 Dwight Evans RF  4 Butch Hobson 3B 21 Mike Torrez P Source:

Roster 1978 Boston Red Sox Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Coaches (Bullpen) (Pitching) (First base) (Third base)

Game log

|-style=background:#fbb | 1 || April 7 || @ White Sox || 5–6 || LaGrow (1–0) || Drago (0–1) || || Comiskey Park || 50,754 || 0–1 |-style=background:#fbb | 2 || April 8 || @ White Sox || 5–6 || Torrealba (1–0) || Campbell (0–1) || LaGrow (1) || Comiskey Park || 11,832 || 0–2 |-style=background:#bfb | 3 || April 9 || @ White Sox || 5–0 || Lee (1–0) || Wood (0–1) || || Comiskey Park || 30,794 || 1–2 |-style=background:#fbb | 4 || April 10 || @ Indians || 4–5 || Kern (1–0) || Cleveland (0–1) || || Cleveland Stadium || 4,177 || 1–3 |-style=background:#bfb | 5 || April 12 || @ Indians || 6–3 || Torrez (1–0) || Garland (1–1) || Drago (1) || Cleveland Stadium || 6,234 || 2–3 |-style=background:#bfb | 6 || April 14 || Rangers || 5–4 (10) || Drago (1–1) || Barker (0–1) || || Fenway Park || 34,747 || 3–3 |-style=background:#bfb | 7 || April 15 || Rangers || 12–4 || Lee (2–0) || D. Ellis (1–1) || || Fenway Park || 18,624 || 4–3 |-style=background:#bfb | 8 || April 16 || Rangers || 8–6 || Stanley (1–0) || Umbarger (0–1) || Burgmeier (1) || Fenway Park || 22,168 || 5–3 |-style=background:#bfb | 9 || April 17 || Brewers || 9–2 || Torrez (2–0) || Stein (0–1) || || Fenway Park || 26,075 || 6–3 |-style=background:#bfb | 10 || April 18 || Brewers || 7–6 || Tiant (1–0) || Rodríguez (0–1) || || Fenway Park || 18,928 || 7–3 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 20 || Brewers || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 12 |-style=background:#bfb | 11 || April 20 || Brewers || 10–4 || Lee (3–0) || Haas (2–2) || || Fenway Park || 16,238 || 8–3 |-style=background:#bfb | 12 || April 21 || Indians || 9–7 || Drago (2–1) || Kern (1–1) || || Fenway Park || 25,401 || 9–3 |-style=background:#fbb | 13 || April 22 || Indians || 4–13 || Wise (1–2) || Ripley (0–1) || || Fenway Park || 36,005 || 9–4 |-style=background:#bfb | 14 || April 23 || Indians || 6–3 || Campbell (1–1) || Kinney (0–1) || || Fenway Park || – || 10–4 |-style=background:#fbb | 15 || April 23 || Indians || 7–10 (11) || Kern (2–1) || Stanley (1–1) || Kinney (1) || Fenway Park || 36,246 || 10–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 16 || April 25 || @ Brewers || 4–3 || Lee (4–0) || Augustine (3–2) || Drago (2) || County Stadium || 9,051 || 11–5 |-style=background:#fbb | 17 || April 26 || @ Brewers || 4–6 || Caldwell (1–0) || Torrez (2–1) || McClure (2) || County Stadium || 8,724 || 11–6 |-style=background:#fbb | 18 || April 28 || @ Rangers || 4–5 (11) || Cleveland (1–2) || Campbell (1–2) || || Arlington Stadium || 29,731 || 11–7 |-style=background:#fbb | 19 || April 29 || @ Rangers || 1–4 || D. Ellis (2–1) || Eckersley (0–1) || || Arlington Stadium || 34,101 || 11–8 |-style=background:#fbb | 20 || April 30 || @ Rangers || 1–2 || Jenkins (1–2) || Campbell (1–3) || || Arlington Stadium || 22,554 || 11–9

|-style=background:#bfb | 21 || May 1 || Orioles || 9–6 || Torrez (3–1) || Briles (1–2) || Stanley (1) || Fenway Park || 18,710 || 12–9 |-style=background:#fbb | 22 || May 2 || Orioles || 1–3 || D. Martínez (3–1) || Ripley (0–2) || || Fenway Park || 19,930 || 12–10 |-style=background:#bfb | 23 || May 3 || Twins || 11–9 || Burgmeier (1–0) || D. Johnson (0–2) || Stanley (2) || Fenway Park || 16,403 || 13–10 |-style=background:#bfb | 24 || May 4 || Twins || 8–1 || Eckersley (1–1) || Thormodsgard (1–3) || || Fenway Park || 15,784 || 14–10 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 5 || White Sox || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 6 |-style=background:#bfb | 25 || May 6 || White Sox || 6–4 (10) || Stanley (2–1) || Willoughby (0–2) || || Fenway Park || – || 15–10 |-style=background:#bfb | 26 || May 6 || White Sox || 3–0 || Wright (1–0) || Barrios (0–2) || || Fenway Park || 32,238 || 16–10 |-style=background:#bfb | 27 || May 7 || White Sox || 5–0 || Torrez (4–1) || Torrealba (1–4) || || Fenway Park || 30,921 || 17–10 |-style=background:#bfb | 28 || May 8 || Royals || 8–4 || Stanley (3–1) || Leonard (3–5) || || Fenway Park || 25,891 || 18–10 |-style=background:#bfb | 29 || May 9 || Royals || 4–3 || Eckersley (2–1) || Colborn (1–2) || || Fenway Park || 22,369 || 19–10 |-style=background:#fbb | 30 || May 10 || @ Orioles || 2–3 || Flanagan (3–3) || Burgmeier (1–1) || || Memorial Stadium || 10,023 || 19–11 |-style=background:#bfb | 31 || May 11 || @ Orioles || 5–4 || Lee (5–0) || D. Martínez (3–2) || Drago (3) || Memorial Stadium || 14,950 || 20–11 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 12 || @ Twins || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 24 |-style=background:#bfb | 32 || May 13 || @ Twins || 4–2 || Torrez (5–1) || Zahn (2–2) || Burgmeier (2) || Metropolitan Stadium || 7,914 || 21–11 |-style=background:#bfb | 33 || May 14 || @ Twins || 6–2 || Eckersley (3–1) || Thormodsgard (1–5) || Burgmeier (3) || Metropolitan Stadium || 7,008 || 22–11 |-style=background:#fbb | 34 || May 15 || @ Royals || 1–3 || Gale (3–0) || Ripley (0–3) || || Royals Stadium || 34,166 || 22–12 |-style=background:#bfb | 35 || May 16 || @ Royals || 3–2 || Lee (6–0) || Splittorff (4–3) || || Royals Stadium || 23,474 || 23–12 |-style=background:#fbb | 36 || May 19 || @ Tigers || 5–7 || Sykes (3–0) || Torrez (5–2) || Hiller (4) || Tiger Stadium || 48,817 || 23–13 |-style=background:#bfb | 37 || May 20 || @ Tigers || 6–5 || Campbell (2–3) || Foucault (1–4) || || Tiger Stadium || 30,856 || 24–13 |-style=background:#fbb | 38 || May 21 || @ Tigers || 1–2 || Wilcox (3–1) || Lee (6–1) || || Tiger Stadium || – || 24–14 |-style=background:#bfb | 39 || May 21 || @ Tigers || 9–3 || Tiant (2–0) || Rozema (2–2) || || Tiger Stadium || 52,368 || 25–14 |-style=background:#bfb | 40 || May 22 || @ Blue Jays || 5–4 || Ripley (1–3) || Clancy (2–4) || Stanley (3) || Exhibition Stadium || 25,054 || 26–14 |-style=background:#fbb | 41 || May 23 || @ Blue Jays || 1–2 (12) || Jefferson (3–5) || Campbell (2–4) || || Exhibition Stadium || 14,578 || 26–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 42 || May 24 || @ Blue Jays || 8–2 || Torrez (6–2) || Lemanczyk (1–8) || || Exhibition Stadium || 28,825 || 27–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 43 || May 25 || @ Blue Jays || 9–5 || Eckersley (4–1) || Underwood (1–5) || Drago (4) || Exhibition Stadium || 17,197 || 28–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 44 || May 26 || Tigers || 6–3 || Lee (7–1) || Wilcox (3–2) || || Fenway Park || 33,431 || 29–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 45 || May 27 || Tigers || 1–0 || Tiant (3–0) || Morris (0–1) || || Fenway Park || 33,335 || 30–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 46 || May 28 || Tigers || 4–3 (10) || Stanley (4–1) || Hiller (4–3) || || Fenway Park || – || 31–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 47 || May 28 || Tigers || 4–3 || Wright (2–0) || Slaton (4–2) || Drago (5) || Fenway Park || 34,672 || 32–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 48 || May 29 || Blue Jays || 5–4 || Torrez (7–2) || Underwood (1–6) || || Fenway Park || 25,935 || 33–15 |-style=background:#bfb | 49 || May 30 || Blue Jays || 4–0 || Eckersley (5–1) || Garvin (2–4) || || Fenway Park || 25,853 || 34–15 |-style=background:#fbb | 50 || May 31 || Blue Jays || 2–6 || Clancy (4–4) || Lee (7–2) || || Fenway Park || 27,945 || 34–16

|-style=background:#bfb | 51 || June 2 || @ Angels || 6–1 || Tiant (4–0) || Ryan (3–5) || Drago (6) || Anaheim Stadium || 31,324 || 35–16 |-style=background:#bfb | 52 || June 3 || @ Angels || 5–4 || Torrez (8–2) || Hartzell (1–4) || Campbell (1) || Anaheim Stadium || 34,228 || 36–16 |-style=background:#fbb | 53 || June 4 || @ Angels || 2–4 || Tanana (9–2) || Eckersley (5–2) || LaRoche (7) || Anaheim Stadium || 29,911 || 36–17 |-style=background:#fbb | 54 || June 5 || @ Athletics || 7–9 || Broberg (6–4) || Ripley (1–4) || Sosa (8) || Oakland Coliseum || 36,463 || 36–18 |-style=background:#fbb | 55 || June 6 || @ Athletics || 1–7 || Renko (1–1) || Lee (7–3) || || Oakland Coliseum || 7,914 || 36–19 |-style=background:#bfb | 56 || June 9 || @ Mariners || 3–2 || Tiant (5–0) || Mitchell (2–6) || || Kingdome || 11,677 || 37–19 |-style=background:#bfb | 57 || June 10 || @ Mariners || 13–1 || Torrez (9–2) || Pole (4–7) || || Kingdome || 15,910 || 38–19 |-style=background:#bfb | 58 || June 11 || @ Mariners || 5–3 || Eckersley (6–2) || McLaughlin (0–2) || Campbell (2) || Kingdome || 18,626 || 39–19 |-style=background:#bfb | 59 || June 12 || Angels || 10–9 || Campbell (3–4) || LaRoche (5–3) || || Fenway Park || 31,652 || 40–19 |-style=background:#bfb | 60 || June 13 || Angels || 5–0 || Wright (3–0) || Knapp (6–5) || || Fenway Park || 26,539 || 41–19