1979 Boston Red Sox

1979 Boston Red Sox / Franchise: Boston Red Sox / BR Team Page

Record: 91-69, Finished 3rd in AL Eastern Division (1979 AL)

Managed by Don Zimmer

Coaches: Walt Hriniak, Al Jackson, Johnny Pesky and Eddie Yost

Ballpark: Fenway Park

History, Comments, Contributions

The 1979 Boston Red Sox were an offensive powerhouse that won 91 games, but they still finished in 3rd place in the AL East and missed the playoffs. The club's offense was led by their star-packed outfield of Jim Rice, Fred Lynn and Dwight Evans. Rice hit .325/.381/.596 with 39 home runs, 130 RBI, 201 hits and 117 runs scored, while Lynn batted .333/.423/.637 with 39 dingers, 122 RBI and 116 runs scored. Evans added 21 home runs and 58 RBI in 489 at-bats. Aging Carl Yastrzemski, relegated largely to a DH role, hit 21 home runs with 87 RBI and June acquisition Bob Watson hit .337/.401/.548 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI in 84 games. Third baseman Butch Hobson contributed 28 home runs and 93 RBI, while Tom Poquette (154 AB, .331/.365/.429) and Bob Montgomery (86 AB, .349/.374/.419) excelled in limited duty. Future Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk played just 91 games, but added 10 homers and 42 RBI. The club led the league in home runs, doubles, batting average, slugging percentage, OPS and total bases and finished second in hits.

The pitching staff was also exemplary. Future Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley was 17-10 with 17 complete games and a 2.99 ERA, while Bob Stanley went 16-12 and Mike Torrez went 16-13. Steve Renko contributed 11 victories. In the bullpen, Dick Drago led the club with 13 saves in 53 appearances, while Tom Burgmeier added 4 saves on a 2.74 mark in 44 games. 22-year-old Joel Finch, the youngest player on the club, showed promise early but struggled to an ERA near 6 later on and never pitched in the majors again. Prior to the campaign, the Red Sox shipped rotation stalwart Bill Lee to the Montreal Expos for the lowly Stan Papi. Perhaps the club's playoff fortunes would have been different if not for that ill-fated trade.

1979 proved to be manager Don Zimmer's penultimate year in Boston, as he moved to the Texas Rangers in 1981.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Rick Burleson, Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Bob Stanley and Carl Yastrzemski
• AL Gold Glove: Rick Burleson (SS), Dwight Evans (OF) and Fred Lynn (OF)