The 1961 Boston Red Sox season was the 61st season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished sixth in the American League (AL) with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses, 33 games behind the AL and World Series champion New York Yankees.
Regular season Future Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski made his major league debut on Opening Day, April 11. He was considered the heir apparent to Ted Williams, who had retired at the end of 1960.
On June 30, Wilbur Wood made his major league baseball debut with the Red Sox. In a game against the Cleveland Indians, Wood pitched 4 innings, allowed 3 hits, and 2 earned runs. He had 3 strikeouts and allowed 1 walk.Wilbur Wood page at Baseball-Reference
On October 1, in a game against the New York Yankees, Red Sox pitcher Tracy Stallard gave up Roger Maris' 61st home run of the season, breaking Babe Ruth's record for most home runs in a season.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions May 17, 1961: Joe Ginsberg was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.Joe Ginsberg page at Baseball Reference June 26, 1961: Rip Repulski was released by the Red Sox.Rip Repulski page at Baseball Reference
Opening Day lineup 2 Chuck Schilling 2B 7 Gary Geiger CF 6 Vic Wertz 1B 4 Jackie Jensen RF 8 Carl Yastrzemski LF 3 Pete Runnels 3B22 Russ Nixon C 12 Pumpsie Green SS27 Bill Monbouquette P
Roster 1961 Boston Red Sox Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches (Third base) (Pitching) (Bullpen) (First base & Hitting)
Player stats = Indicates team leader
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 C 120 376 91 .242 16 58 1B 143 360 114 .317 3 38 2B 158 646 167 .259 5 62 3B 151 590 157 .266 14 87 SS 115 339 89 .263 6 42 LF 148 583 155 .266 11 80 CF 140 499 116 .232 18 64 RF 147 498 131 .263 13 66
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 99 317 83 .262 11 60 85 281 74 .263 3 36 87 242 70 .289 1 19 88 219 57 .260 6 27 17 51 13 .255 0 3 37 37 6 .162 0 1 15 25 7 .280 0 1 19 24 6 .250 0 5 8 18 5 .278 1 1
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 32 236.1 14 14 3.39 161 33 199.2 11 14 4.91 113 25 178.2 15 7 3.22 91 28 156.0 6 9 4.90 80
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 17 52.1 2 4 6.71 26 26 51.2 3 2 2.09 20 10 42.0 3 2 3.43 13 17 19.2 3 2 5.95 11 6 13.0 0 0 5.54 7 1 1.0 0 0 18.00 0
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 57 9 8 15 4.68 70 43 2 7 2 4.88 109 38 3 11 2 5.67 47 33 2 4 7 3.99 44 28 3 2 0 2.77 39
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Olean
Source:Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
References
External links 1961 Boston Red Sox team page at Baseball Reference 1961 Boston Red Sox season at baseball-almanac.com