Editor’s note: Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912. NESN.com will be celebrating Fenway’s 100-year anniversary with unique content from now until April 20, 2012.
The Boston Red Sox made history in 1939 by becoming the first team to travel by air when they scheduled charter flights from St. Louis to Chicago. Boston finished in second place again behind rookie sensation Ted Williams.
In his rookie season at Fenway, along with practicing his batting stance while playing right field, Williams set rookie records that still stand today. The right fielder registered 145 RBIs and walked 107 times. Williams set three more records as well in ’39 with the best American League rookie slugging percentage (.609) and the Red Sox rookie record for extra-base hits (86) and runs scored (131).
Lefty Grove went 15-4 on the mound to lead the pitching staff. Jack Wilson, Fritz Ostermueller and Joe Heving each won 11 games.
The park also played host to an Old-Timers game in light of the baseball centenial (1839-1939) that included mayor Maurice Tobin and Boston Police commissioner Joseph Timilty.
A screen was added over the third-base grandstand as well to shield the sun from Jimmie Fox. Players on the right side of the infield no longer had to deal with the glare from the setting sun.
For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.
