1986 Boston Red Sox season
Major League Baseball season
Major League Baseball team season
The 1986 Boston Red Sox season was the 86th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished first in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 66 losses. After defeating the California Angels in the ALCS , the Red Sox lost the World Series to the New York Mets in seven games.
Offseason
Red Sox manager John McNamara
November 13, 1985: Bob Ojeda , Tom McCarthy , John Mitchell and Chris Bayer (minors) were traded to the New York Mets for Calvin Schiraldi , Wes Gardner , John Christensen , and La Schelle Tarver .[ 1]
December 11, 1985: Mark Clear was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Ed Romero .[ 2]
January 14, 1986: Alan Mills was selected in the first round (13th overall) of the amateur draft , but did not sign.[ 3]
January 14, 1986: Curt Schilling was selected in the second round of the amateur draft, and signed on May 30.[ 4]
March 28, 1986: Mike Easler was traded to the New York Yankees for Don Baylor .[ 5]
Spring Training
The Red Sox held spring training at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Florida , for the 21st season.
Boston Win
Boston Loss
Tie Game
1986 Boston Red Sox Spring Training Log
Regular season
April
The Red Sox ended the series at Chicago with a 12─2 victory.[ 34]
July
In the second game of the series (July 1), the Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays 9─7, with Tom Seaver making his debut with the Red Sox.
Record by month[ 35]
Month
Record
Cumulative
AL East
Ref.
Won
Lost
Won
Lost
Position
GB
April
11
8
11
8
2nd (tie)
2+ 1 ⁄2
[ 36]
May
21
7
32
15
1st
+2+ 1 ⁄2
[ 37]
June
17
10
49
25
1st
+8
[ 38]
July
10
16
59
41
1st
+4
[ 39]
August
17
13
76
54
1st
+3+ 1 ⁄2
[ 40]
September
18
8
94
62
1st
+8+ 1 ⁄2
[ 41]
October
1
4
95
66
1st
+5+ 1 ⁄2
[ 42]
The Red Sox played only 161 games, as a road game scheduled against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 24 was rained out, and was not rescheduled as it had no bearing on the divisional race.[ 43]
Highlights
Roger Clemens
Season standings
This was the first season since 1904 that the Yankees franchise (then known as the Highlanders) finished second in the standings to the Red Sox franchise (then known as the Americans).[ 48]
Record vs. opponents
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team
BAL
BOS
CAL
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
MIL
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TEX
TOR
Baltimore
—
4–9
6–6
9–3
4–9
1–12
6–6
6–7
8–4
5–8
5–7
6–6
5–7
8–5
Boston
9–4
—
5–7
7–5
10–3
7–6
6–6
6–6
10–2
5–8
7–5
8–4
8–4
7–6
California
6–6
7–5
—
7–6
6–6
7–5
8–5
5–7
7–6
7–5
10–3
8–5
8–5
6–6
Chicago
3–9
5–7
6–7
—
5–7
6–6
7–6
5–7
6–7
6–6
7–6
8–5
2–11
6–6
Cleveland
9–4
3–10
6–6
7–5
—
4–9
8–4
8–5
6–6
5–8
10–2
9–3
6–6
3–10–1
Detroit
12–1
6–7
5–7
6–6
9–4
—
5–7
8–5
7–5
6–7
6–6
6–6
7–5
4–9
Kansas City
6–6
6–6
5–8
6–7
4–8
7–5
—
6–6
6–7
4–8
8–5
5–8
8–5
5–7
Milwaukee
7–6
6–6
7–5
7–5
5–8
5–8
6–6
—
4–8
8–5
5–7
6–6
4–8
7–6
Minnesota
4–8
2–10
6–7
7–6
6–6
5–7
7–6
8–4
—
4–8
6–7
6–7
6–7
4–8
New York
8–5
8–5
5–7
6–6
8–5
7–6
8–4
5–8
8–4
—
5–7
8–4
7–5
7–6
Oakland
7–5
5–7
3–10
6–7
2–10
6–6
5–8
7–5
7–6
7–5
—
10–3
3–10
8–4
Seattle
6–6
4–8
5–8
5–8
3–9
6–6
8–5
6–6
7–6
4–8
3–10
—
4–9
6–6
Texas
7–5
4–8
5–8
11–2
6–6
5–7
5–8
8–4
7–6
5–7
10–3
9–4
—
5–7
Toronto
5–8
6–7
6–6
6–6
10–3–1
9–4
7–5
6–7
8–4
6–7
4–8
6–6
7–5
—
Notable transactions
Opening day lineup
Wade Boggs
Source:[ 52]
Alumni game
On May 17, the Red Sox held an old-timers game at Fenway, before a scheduled game with the Texas Rangers . The game—themed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the pennant-winning 1946 Red Sox —welcomed back 19 alumni of the team and was also the first to invite non-Red Sox alumni.[ 53] Besides Ted Williams , Luis Tiant , and Rico Petrocelli , the day featured appearances by all three DiMaggio brothers: Joe , Vince , and Dom .[ 54] The umpiring crew included Hall of Fame inductee Jocko Conlan .[ 54]
Illegal Firing of Tommy Harper
General Manager Haywood Sullivan, a supporter of the all-white and anti-Black Elks Club of Winter Haven, Florida (where the team then held spring training ), would welcome the organization into the Red Sox' Chain of Lakes Park clubhouse to invite the white players and white front-office personnel only to the Elks' segregated facilities. Former outfielder and coach Tommy Harper spoke against this practice in 1985 and the Red Sox retaliated and fired Harper. On July 1, 1986, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vindicated Harper and cited the Red Sox for illegal actions.[ 55]
Roster
1986 Boston Red Sox
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches
Red Sox Debuts
Game log
1986 Regular Season Game Log (95-66) (Home: 51-30; Road: 44-36)
April (11-8) (Home: 7-4; Road: 4-4)
May (21-7) (Home: 9-3; Road: 12-4)
June (17-10) (Home: 7-6; Road: 10-4)
July (10-16) (Home: 7-6; Road: 3-10)
August (17-13) (Home: 7-5; Road: 10-8)
September (18-8) (Home: 13-2; Road: 5-6)
October (1-4) (Home: 1-4)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Stadium
Record
Report
Rank
GB
157
October 1
Orioles
158
October 2
Yankees
159
October 4
Yankees
160
October 4
Yankees
161
October 5
Yankees
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; R = Runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Postseason
ALCS
Game
Score
Date
Location
Attendance
1
California – 8, Boston – 1
October 7
Fenway Park
32,993
2
California – 2, Boston – 9
October 8
Fenway Park
32,786
3
Boston – 3, California – 5
October 10
Anaheim Stadium
64,206
4
Boston – 3, California – 4 (11 innings)
October 11
Anaheim Stadium
64,223
5
Boston – 7, California – 6 (11 innings)
October 12
Anaheim Stadium
64,223
6
California – 4, Boston – 10
October 14
Fenway Park
32,998
7
California – 1, Boston – 8
October 15
Fenway Park
33,001
World Series
NL New York Mets (4) vs. AL Boston Red Sox (3)
Game
Score
Date
Location
Attendance
Time of Game
1
Red Sox – 1 , Mets – 0
October 18
Shea Stadium (New York City )
57,908
3:18
2
Red Sox – 9 , Mets – 3
October 19
Shea Stadium (New York City )
57,911
2:44
3
Mets – 7 , Red Sox – 1
October 21
Fenway Park (Boston )
33,595
3:09
4
Mets – 6 , Red Sox – 2
October 22
Fenway Park (Boston )
33,920
3:22
5
Mets – 2, Red Sox – 4
October 23
Fenway Park (Boston )
34,010
2:55
6
Red Sox – 5, Mets – 6 (10 inn.)
October 25
Shea Stadium (New York City )
57,908
3:18
7
Red Sox – 5, Mets – 8
October 27
Shea Stadium (New York City )
57,911
2:44
Game log
1986 Postseason Game Log
1986 American League Championship Series vs. California – Boston wins series 4–3
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Stadium
Report
Game Time
National TV
National Radio
1
October 7
Angels
2
October 8
Angels
3
October 10
@ Angels
4
October 11
@ Angels
5
October 12
@ Angels
6
October 14
Angels
7
October 15
Angels
1986 World Series vs. New York (NL) – New York (NL) wins series 4–3
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Stadium
Report
Game Time
National TV
National Radio
1
October 18
@ Mets
2
October 19
@ Mets
3
October 21
Mets
4
October 22
Mets
5
October 23
Mets
6
October 25
@ Mets
7
October 27
@ Mets
Awards and Honors
Awards
Marty Barrett , ALCS MVP
Don Baylor , Silver Slugger Award (DH)
Wade Boggs , Silver Slugger Award (3B), AL Player of the Month (May)
Roger Clemens :
Bruce Hurst , AL Pitcher of the Month (September)
Accomplishments
Wade Boggs :
Roger Clemens :
All-Star Game
Farm system
Source:[ 103] [ 104]
References
^ Bob Ojeda page at Baseball Reference
^ Ed Romero page at Baseball Reference
^ Alan Mills Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
^ Curt Schilling page at Baseball Reference
^ Don Baylor page at Baseball Reference
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^ Shaughnessy, Dan (March 9, 1986). "Nipper is in Control in 6-4 Loss to Tigers". The Boston Globe . p. 98.
^ Whiteside, Larry (March 10, 1986). "Red Sox Aces pass Test: Boyd set to Return; Clemens OK despite Loss to Tigers". The Boston Globe . pp. 33 & 39.
^ Whiteside, Larry (March 11, 1986). "Remy Marks Return with Winning Effort". The Boston Globe . p. 74.
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^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Marty Barrett" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Wade Boggs" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Rey Quinones" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Jim Rice" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Tony Armas" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
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^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Ed Romero" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Spike Owen" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Steve Lyons" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Marc Sullivan" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Dave Henderson" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
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^ "The 1986 BOS A Batting Splits for Mike Greenwell" . Retrosheet . Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 .
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