1976 Boston Red Sox season

1976 Boston Red Sox
Major League affiliations
American League (since 1901)
Eastern Division (since 1969)
Location
Fenway Park (since 1912)
Boston, Massachusetts (since 1901)
Other information
Owner(s)	Tom Yawkey, Jean Yawkey
General manager(s)	Dick O'Connell
Manager(s)	Darrell Johnson (W-41; L-45) and Don Zimmer (W-42; L-34)
Local television	WSBK-TV, Ch. 38 (Dick Stockton, Ken Harrelson)
Local radio	WMEX-AM 1510 (Ned Martin, Jim Woods)
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The 1976 Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing third in the American League East with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses. The Red Sox did not come close to repeating the previous year's success. An off-season contract dispute with Fred Lynn was a distraction. In early May, a brawl with the New York Yankees led to a shoulder injury for Bill Lee, one of their best pitchers. A 17-game winner in 1975, Lee would be out until mid-1977, and his loss was keenly felt. Worst of all, the Red Sox' beloved owner, Tom Yawkey, died of leukemia in July. Manager Darrell Johnson was fired shortly thereafter, and replaced by coach Don Zimmer. Overall, it was a disappointing season for a talented but underachieving team.

Offseason

• February 15, 1976: Gene Michael was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.^[1]
• March 3, 1976: Dick Drago was traded by the Red Sox to the California Angels for John Balaz, Dick Sharon, and Dave Machemer.^[2]

Regular season

On June 15, 1976, Oakland A's owner Charlie O. Finley attempted to sell left fielder Joe Rudi and relief pitcher Rollie Fingers to the Red Sox for $1 million each. Three days later, Bowie Kuhn voided the transactions in the "best interests of baseball."

Season standings

AL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Yankees	97	62	0.610	—	45–35	52–27
Baltimore Orioles	88	74	0.543	10½	42–39	46–35
Boston Red Sox	83	79	0.512	15½	46–35	37–44
Cleveland Indians	81	78	0.509	16	44–35	37–43
Detroit Tigers	74	87	0.460	24	36–44	38–43
Milwaukee Brewers	66	95	0.410	32	36–45	30–50

Record vs. opponents

1976 American League Records Sources:
Team	BAL	BOS	CAL	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	MIL	MIN	NYY	OAK	TEX
Baltimore	—	7–11	8–4	8–4	7–11	12–6	6–6	11–7	4–8	13–5	4–8	8–4
Boston	11–7	—	7–5	6–6	9–9	14–4	3–9	12–6	7–5	7–11	4–8	3–9
California	4–8	5–7	—	11–7	7–5	6–6	8–10	4–8	8–10	5–7	6–12	12–6
Chicago	4–8	6–6	7–11	—	3–9	6–6	8–10	7–5	7–11	1–11	8–9	7–11
Cleveland	11–7	9–9	5–7	9–3	—	6–12	6–6	11–6	9–3	4–12	4–8	7–5
Detroit	6–12	4–14	6–6	6–6	12–6	—	4–8	12–6	4–8	9–8	6–6	5–7
Kansas City	6–6	9–3	10–8	10–8	6–6	8–4	—	8–4	10–8	7–5	9–9	7–11
Milwaukee	7–11	6–12	8–4	5–7	6–11	6–12	4–8	—	4–8	5–13	5–7	10–2
Minnesota	8–4	5–7	10–8	11–7	3–9	8–4	8–10	8–4	—	2–10	11–7	11–7
New York	5–13	11–7	7–5	11–1	12–4	8–9	5–7	13–5	10–2	—	6–6	9–3
Oakland	8–4	8–4	12–6	9–8	8–4	6–6	9–9	7–5	7–11	6–6	—	7–11
Texas	4–8	9–3	6–12	11–7	5–7	7–5	11–7	2–10	7–11	3–9	11–7	—

Notable transactions

• April 7, 1976: Diego Seguí was released by the Red Sox.^[3]
• May 4, 1976: Gene Michael was released by the Red Sox.^[1]
• June 3, 1976: Bernie Carbo was traded by the Red Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers for Bobby Darwin and Tom Murphy.^[4]
• June 8, 1976: Wade Boggs was drafted by the Red Sox in the 7th round of the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft. Player signed June 10, 1976.^[5]

Opening Day lineup

17	Cecil Cooper	DH
5	Denny Doyle	2B
19	Fred Lynn	CF
14	Jim Rice	LF
8	Carl Yastrzemski	1B
27	Carlton Fisk	C
24	Dwight Evans	RF
6	Rico Petrocelli	3B
7	Rick Burleson	SS
31	Ferguson Jenkins	P

Roster

1976 Boston Red Sox
Roster
Pitchers 26 Reggie Cleveland 29 Tom House 31 Ferguson Jenkins 46 Rick Jones 21 Rick Kreuger 37 Bill Lee 47 Tom Murphy 45 Dick Pole 23 Luis Tiant 38 Jim Willoughby 40 Rick Wise		Catchers 27 Carlton Fisk 50 Andy Merchant 10 Bob Montgomery 22 Ernie Whitt Infielders 41 Jack Baker  7 Rick Burleson 15,17 Cecil Cooper  3 Steve Dillard  5 Denny Doyle  2 Doug Griffin 12 Bob Heise  4 Butch Hobson 30 Deron Johnson  6 Rico Petrocelli  8 Carl Yastrzemski		Outfielders  1 Bernie Carbo 42 Bobby Darwin 24 Dwight Evans 19 Fred Lynn 16 Rick Miller 14 Jim Rice		Managers 22 Darrell Johnson 34 Don Zimmer Coaches 33 Don Bryant 35 Johnny Pesky 36 Eddie Popowski 32 Stan Williams 34 Don Zimmer

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

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

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Darwin, BobbyBobby Darwin	43	106	19	.179	3	13
Carbo, BernieBernie Carbo	17	55	13	.236	2	6

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Cleveland, ReggieReggie Cleveland	41	170	10	9	3.07	76

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Pawtucket Red Sox	International League	Joe Morgan
AA	Bristol Red Sox	Eastern League	John Kennedy
A	Winston-Salem Red Sox	Carolina League	Tony Torchia
A	Winter Haven Red Sox	Florida State League	Rac Slider
A-Short Season	Elmira Red Sox	New York–Penn League	Dick Berardino

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Winston-Salem, Elmira

Notes

1. Gene Michael page at Baseball Reference
2. Dick Drago page at Baseball Reference
3. Diego Seguí page at Baseball Reference
4. Bobby Darwin page at Baseball Reference
5. Wade Boggs page at Baseball Reference

References

• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.
• 1976 Boston Red Sox team page at Baseball Reference
• 1976 Boston Red Sox season at baseball-almanac.com