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’ potent offense plated more than 1,000 runs, including a record-setting stretch in June of 1950, but the pitching couldn’t keep up with the powerful Boston bats as the Sox finished third in the American League that summer.
The Sox, led by Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Dom DiMaggio and Billy Goodman, won 94 games that year, but finished four games behind the Yankees for first place.
Goodman led the league with a .357 batting average, Pesky hit .312, DiMaggio led the AL in stolen bases and Williams, despite suffering a broken elbow making a diving catch in the All-Star game, drove in 97 runs in 89 games.
Manager Joe McCarthy resigned in the middle of June citing physical exhaustion before Steve O’Neill took over as skipper. The Sox were 31-28 under McCarthy that season and 63-32 under O’Neill.
Boston crossed the plate 1,027 times in ’50 and set a record for runs total in a two-game span when they smacked the St. Louis Browns 20-4 and 29-4 on back-to-back nights in early June.
Goodman, a utility star, played every position in the infield and outfield and received extra playing time while Williams was out.
Fenway Park, in its 38th year, also played host to five Boston University football games and the annual Mayor’s Charity Field Day.
For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.
