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.
One of the greatest hitters in Red Sox history reached two milestones at Fenway Park in the 1979 season.
Outfielder Carl Yastrzemski, an 18-time All-Star who played his entire career with Boston, hit his 400th career home run and collected his 3,000th hit during the 1979 season. Yaz hit number 400 on July 24, blasting a two-run homer off Oakland pitcher Mike Morgan in a 7-3 win for the Sox.
Fifty days later, Yastrzemski became the first player in American League history to hit 400 home runs and 3,000 hits when he smacked a single off Yankees pitcher Jim Beattie in a 9-2 Boston victory on Sept. 12.
Still stung from the Bucky Dent home run that ended their season in 1978, the Sox finished with eight fewer wins in 1979, going 91-69 overall. Boston finished third in the AL, 11 1/2 games back of the league champion Orioles.
Fred Lynn and Jim Rice led the way at the dish for the Sox, each finishing in the top 10 in the AL for batting average, home runs and runs batted in. Lynn led the league with a .333 average and added 39 homers and 122 RBIs, while Rice finished with a .325-39-130 line. Dennis Eckersley and Mike Torrez led the BoSox with 17 wins and 16 wins respectively.
Aside from the Sox, Fenway Park also hosted the Cape Cod League All-Star Game on July 30.
For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.
