1988 Boston Red Sox season

The 1988 Boston Red Sox season was the 88th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished first in the American League East with a record of 89–73 but were then swept by the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS.

The team is best remembered for its change of fortune following its change of manager; after John McNamara was replaced by Joe Morgan, the team won its next 12 games in a stretch nicknamed "Morgan Magic".

Offseason December 8, 1987: Lee Smith was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Red Sox for Al Nipper and Calvin Schiraldi.Lee Smith Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com January 5, 1988: Dennis Lamp was signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.Dennis Lamp Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com

Regular season +Record by monthMonth Record Cumulative AL East Ref. Won Lost Won Lost Position GB April 14 6 14 6 2nd 1 May 11 16 25 22 4th 7 June 14 12 39 34 3rd 6 July 21 9 60 43 3rd August 13 16 73 59 2nd 2 September 16 12 89 71 1st +3 October 0 2 89 73 1st +1

Highlights A rough beginning The 1988 team seemed to start much better than their chaotic 1987 predecessors, going 14–6 in April; however, the team went sour thereafter, especially for Jim Rice as he moved from left field to designated hitter. Dwight Evans also had problems when he played first base, and the usually reliable Lee Smith had problems closing, including giving up a game-winning home run to the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day.

The Red Sox had an 11–16 record in May, followed by a slightly better June with a 14–12 record, but lost pitcher Jeff Sellers when he was hit by a line drive in Cleveland that broke his hand. Wes Gardner was moved from the bullpen to the rotation, but the team and its fans were losing patience.

"Morgan Magic" At the All-Star break, the Red Sox were 43–42, nine games behind the Tigers in the AL East standings. Management had seen enough, firing John McNamara and elevating third base coach Joe Morgan to manager.

On July 15, the first game after the All-Star break, the Red Sox and Roger Clemens beat the Kansas City Royals and Bret Saberhagen, 3–1. This began a 12-game winning streak, which launched the Red Sox to first place over the slumping Tigers and New York Yankees. The Red Sox would later set an American League record of 24 straight home victories. Two months after Morgan became manager, the team was 81–63 and in first place by games. The team cooled off in the final two weeks of the season, finishing with nine losses in their final 13 games, but held on to win the AL East, finishing one game ahead of the Tigers, for their second division title in three seasons.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions April 15, 1988: Rick Cerone signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.Rick Cerone Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com July 29, 1988: Brady Anderson was traded by the Red Sox with minor league pitcher Curt Schilling to the Baltimore Orioles for Mike Boddicker.Brady Anderson Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com

Opening Day lineup   5 Brady Anderson CF17 Marty Barrett 2B26 Wade Boggs     3B14 Jim Rice LF39 Mike Greenwell     RF24 Dwight Evans 1B30 Sam Horn DH10 Rich Gedman C  7 Spike Owen SS 21 Roger Clemens P Source:

Alumni game The team held an old-timers game on May 14, before a scheduled home game against the Seattle Mariners. The alumni game marked the 40th anniversary of the 1948 Red Sox team, which had lost a one-game playoff to the Cleveland Indians. The visiting (non-Red Sox) alumni team, skippered by Lou Boudreau—who had been player-manager of the 1948 Cleveland squad—prevailed by an 8–2 score, led by four RBIs from former Pittsburgh Pirate Manny Sanguillén.

Roster 1988 Boston Red Sox Roster Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders Outfielders

Other batters Manager

Coaches (First Base) (Pitching) (Hitting) (Bullpen) (Third Base) (Bullpen, Third Base)

Game log

Past games legend Red Sox Win (#bfb) Red Sox Loss (#fbb) Game postponed (#bbb) All-Star Game (#bbcaff) Clinched Division (#039) Bold denotes a Red Sox pitcher

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 1 || April 4 || Tigers || 3–5 (10) || Morris (1–0) || Smith (0–1) || Henneman (1) || 34,781 || 0–1 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 2 || April 6 || Tigers || 6–5 || Lamp (1–0) || Hernández (0–1) || Smith (1) || 16,965 || 1–1 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 3 || April 7 || Tigers || 6–11 || Tanana (1–0) || Ellsworth (0–1) || || 13,807 || 1–2 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 4 || April 8 || @ Rangers || 4–0 || Boyd (1–0) || Jeffcoat (0–1) || || 18,470 || 2–2 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 5 || April 9 || @ Rangers || 2–1 || Clemens (1–0) || Hough (1–1) || Smith (2) || 27,527 || 3–2 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 6 || April 10 || @ Rangers || 1–4 || Kilgus (1–0) || Sellers (0–1) || Williams (2) || 14,024 || 3–3 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 11 || Brewers || colspan=7| Postponed (Cold); Makeup: July 29 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 7 || April 12 || Brewers || 3–1 || Hurst (1–0) || Bosio (1–1) || Smith (3) || 12,045 || 4–3 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 8 || April 13 || Brewers || 6–3 || Boyd (2–0) || Nieves (0–2) || Smith (4) || 14,114 || 5–3 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 9 || April 14 || Brewers || 2–0 || Clemens (2–0) || Wegman (0–2) || || 15,693 || 6–3 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 10 || April 15 || Rangers || 2–3 (10) || Hough (2–1) || Gardner (0–1) || || 12,369 || 6–4 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 11 || April 16 || Rangers || 0–2 || Kilgus (2–0) || Ellsworth (0–2) || Williams (4) || 25,936 || 6–5 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 12 || April 17 || Rangers || 15–2 || Hurst (2–0) || Jeffcoat (0–2) || || 32,243 || 7–5 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 13 || April 18 || Rangers || 4–3 || Smith (1–1) || Williams (0–1) || || 33,976 || 8–5 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 14 || April 19 || @ Tigers || 7–3 || Clemens (3–0) || Morris (2–2) || || 11,920 || 9–5 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 20 || @ Tigers || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: August 5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 15 || April 21 || @ Tigers || 12–3 || Ellsworth (1–2) || Robinson (1–2) || || 13,862 || 10–5 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 22 || @ Brewers || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: April 25 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 23 || @ Brewers || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: August 9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 16 || April 24 || @ Brewers || 4–0 || Clemens (4–0) || Higuera (2–1) || || 16,379 || 11–5 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 17 || April 25 || @ Brewers || 5–1 || Hurst (3–0) || Wegman (1–3) || || 11,109 || 12–5 || W6 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 26 || @ White Sox || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: July 8 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 27 || @ White Sox || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: July 9 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 18 || April 28 || @ White Sox || 0–6 || LaPoint (3–1) || Boyd (2–1) || || 8,204 || 12–6 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 19 || April 29 || Twins || 6–5 || Smith (2–1) || Berenguer (3–3) || || 32,022 || 13–6 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 20 || April 30 || Twins || 8–3 || Hurst (4–0) || Lea (0–3) || Gardner (1) || 32,708 || 14–6 || W2

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 21 || May 1 || Twins || 0–2 || Viola (3–1) || Sellers (0–2) || || 31,124 || 14–7 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 22 || May 2 || Royals || 0–2 || Bannister (4–1) || Ellsworth (1–3) || Garber (4) || 20,400 || 14–8 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 23 || May 3 || Royals || 3–9 || Saberhagen (4–2) || Boyd (2–2) || || 21,602 || 14–9 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 24 || May 4 || White Sox || 2–6 || McDowell (2–2) || Clemens (4–1) || || 21,191 || 14–10 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 25 || May 5 || White Sox || 16–3 || Hurst (5–0) || Horton (3–4) || || 24,135 || 15–10 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 26 || May 6 || @ Twins || 0–5 || Viola (4–1) || Sellers (0–3) || || 29,767 || 15–11 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 27 || May 7 || @ Twins || 2–5 || Blyleven (2–3) || Ellsworth (1–4) || || 33,416 || 15–12 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 28 || May 8 || @ Twins || 10–6 || Boyd (3–2) || Mason (0–1) || || 28,896 || 16–12 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 29 || May 9 || @ Royals || 2–0 || Clemens (5–1) || Gubicza (3–4) || || 24,806 || 17–12 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 30 || May 10 || @ Royals || 2–7 || Bannister (5–2) || Hurst (5–1) || || 21,645 || 17–13 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 31 || May 13 || Mariners || 14–8 || Boyd (4–2) || Campbell (2–5) || Gardner (2) || 29,582 || 18–13 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 32 || May 14 || Mariners || 3–0 || Clemens (6–1) || Bankhead (0–1) || || 33,846 || 19–13 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 33 || May 15 || Mariners || 7–11 || Jackson (1–1) || Smith (2–2) || || 33,109 || 19–14 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 34 || May 16 || Athletics || 0–3 || Davis (4–1) || Sellers (0–4) || Eckersley (14) || 24,642 || 19–15 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 35 || May 17 || Athletics || 7–12 || Ontiveros (2–1) || Ellsworth (1–5) || Honeycutt (4) || 28,407 || 19–16 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 36 || May 18 || Athletics || 4–1 || Boyd (5–2) || Stewart (8–2) || Smith (5) || 24,683 || 20–16 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 37 || May 20 || Angels || 2–4 (10) || Buice (1–2) || Clemens (6–2) || Harvey (2) || 31,032 || 20–17 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 38 || May 21 || Angels || 8–4 || Hurst (6–1) || Krawczyk (0–1) || Smith (6) || 32,180 || 21–17 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 39 || May 22 || Angels || 12–4 || Stanley (1–0) || Fraser (4–3) || || 32,678 || 22–17 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 40 || May 23 || @ Mariners || 3–14 || Swift (4–1) || Boyd (5–3) || || 15,511 || 22–18 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 41 || May 24 || @ Mariners || 1–14 || Campbell (3–5) || Smithson (0–1) || || 9,473 || 22–19 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 42 || May 25 || @ Mariners || 4–0 || Clemens (7–2) || Langston (4–4) || || 17,968 || 23–19 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 43 || May 27 || @ Athletics || 2–3 || Young (4–2) || Hurst (6–2) || Eckersley (15) || 32,723 || 23–20 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 44 || May 28 || @ Athletics || 5–7 || Honeycutt (1–0) || Lamp (1–1) || Eckersley (16) || 43,177 || 23–21 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 45 || May 29 || @ Athletics || 4–5 || Nelson (3–2) || Sellers (0–5) || Plunk (2) || 43,427 || 23–22 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 46 || May 30 || @ Angels || 5–2 || Clemens (8–2) || Petry (2–4) || || 46,598 || 24–22 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 47 || May 31 || @ Angels || 4–3 || Smithson (1–1) || Fraser (4–4) || || 24,005 || 25–22 || W2

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 48 || June 2 || Blue Jays || 4–5 || Wells (3–2) || Hurst (6–3) || Eichhorn (1) || 32,144 || 25–23 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 49 || June 3 || Blue Jays || 3–6 || Stottlemyre (2–7) || Boyd (5–4) || Henke (10) || 32,292 || 25–24 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 50 || June 4 || Blue Jays || 2–10 || Clancy (3–5) || Clemens (8–3) || Ward (4) || 33,067 || 25–25 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 51 || June 5 || Blue Jays || 4–12 || Ward (2–0) || Smithson (1–2) || || 33,756 || 25–26 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 52 || June 6 || @ Yankees || 3–2 || Hurst (7–3) || Allen (2–1) || Smith (7) || 37,244 || 26–26 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 53 || June 7 || @ Yankees || 3–4 || Hudson (5–2) || Boyd (5–5) || Guante (6) || 37,081 || 26–27 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 54 || June 8 || @ Yankees || 4–3 || Clemens (9–3) || John (4–2) || Smith (8) || 42,804 || 27–27 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 55 || June 10 || @ Blue Jays || 0–3 || Stieb (8–3) || Sellers (0–6) || Henke (11) || 35,201 || 27–28 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 56 || June 11 || @ Blue Jays || 3–4 (10) || Ward (3–0) || Lamp (1–2) || || 40,461 || 27–29 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 57 || June 12 || @ Blue Jays || 8–2 || Boyd (6–5) || Cerutti (3–3) || || 40,123 || 28–29 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 58 || June 13 || Yankees || 6–12 || Dotson (7–1) || Clemens (9–4) || Guante (7) || 34,288 || 28–30 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 59 || June 14 || Yankees || 7–3 || Smithson (2–2) || Allen (2–2) || Smith (9) || 33,367 || 29–30 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 60 || June 15 || Yankees || 8–3 || Hurst (8–3) || Leiter (4–3) || || 33,870 || 30–30 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 61 || June 16 || @ Orioles || 4–8 || Ballard (3–3) || Trautwein (0–1) || Williamson (1) || 24,499 || 30–31 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 62 || June 17 || @ Orioles || 2–3 (11) || Schmidt (3–2) || Lamp (1–3) || || 34,340 || 30–32 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 63 || June 18 || @ Orioles || 5–0 || Clemens (10–4) || Bautista (2–6) || || 32,175 || 31–32 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 64 || June 19 || @ Orioles || 15–7 || Gardner (1–1) || Noles (0–2) || || 31,046 || 32–32 || W2