1978 Boston Red Sox season


The 1978 Boston Red Sox season was the 78th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished second in the American League with a record of 99 wins and 64 losses, including the loss of a one-game playoff to the New York Yankees after both teams had finished the regular season with identical 99–63 records.

Offseason

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

The "Boston Massacre"

The Red Sox at one point in July, held a 14-game lead over their rival New York. However, the Yankees worked their way back. By September 7, the Yankees had whittled down 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. This series became known as the "Boston Massacre.
The Yankees held a one game lead over the Red Sox before the final game of the season. With a Red Sox win and a Yankee loss, both teams finished the season tied for the AL Eastern Division title.
The next day, in a one-game playoff, the Yankees beat the Red Sox 5-4 with the help of a home run by Bucky Dent. The Yankees went on to win the World Series in 6 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although Dent became a Red Sox demon, the Red Sox would get retribution in 1990 when the Yankees fired Dent as their manager during a series at Fenway Park.

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

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

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases
PlayerGABRHAvg.HRRBISB
14452370145.27717814
812443457.2341251
641041227.260041
38801018.225040
1746712.261161
204138.195040
102927.241050
6731.143110

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; CG = Complete games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGCGIPWLERABBSO
3516268.12082.9971162
361525016133.9699120
3212212.11383.3157114
28817710103.465944
15173255.552226
3012.2026.391010

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERABBSO
24116843.572456
1330213.001323

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
52152102.6038
374473.0342
352144.4024
297543.9147
100022.503
10100.000

AL East tie-breaker game

Awards and honors

;Awards
;Accomplishments
;All-Star Game
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Bristol