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 Red Sox took a big hit in 1943 when several players left the team for military service during World War II, but the Fenway faithful still got the chance to see Ted Williams play when he returned to the park as a member of Babe Ruth’s Service All-Stars.
In front of 16,000 fans at mayor Maurice Tobin‘s annual charity field day program, Williams squared off with aging Babe Ruth for a pregame home run derby contest. Williams put three over the right field fence, while Ruth, bothered by a knee, failed to park one.
Ruth then led his Service All-Stars to a 9-8 exhibition win over the Boston Braves. Williams homered in the game, while teammate Dom DiMaggio (also in the Navy) knocked two hits, including a triple.
Without notables Johnny Pesky and Williams, the Red Sox finished seventh in the AL with a 68-84 record. No player on the team hit better than .290.
Manager Joe Cronin served as a player as well for the depleted Sox, making 42 plate appearances as a pinch hitter and knocking 18 hits and 25 RBIs in those at-bats.
Due to the war, Boston was forced to stay in the northeast for spring training, holding it instead at Tufts College in Medford, Mass.
Boston College played and won three games at Fenway, including a 64-0 win over Rome Army Air Base Station.
For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.
