‘Impossible Dream’ of ’67 Comes Crashing Down in Red Sox Mediocre 1968 Season

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 Impossible Dream" of 1967 was over and done, but Red Sox fans did not want to wake up in 1968. They turned out to Fenway Park in droves, hoping to catch a glimpse of the magic that filled the '67 season, but more often than not, the fans streamed out of Fenway disappointed.

About 200,000 more fans came to Sox' home games than the year before, but the home team was only able to muster a fourth-place finish in the AL penant race.

Their 86-76 record was by all accounts a respectable feat, however, given a few key injuries suffered — most notably '67 Cy Young Award-winner Jim Lonborg, who did not return until late May and proceeded to struggle throughout the season, finishing 6-10.

While the play on its diamond was only mediocre, Fenway saw a flurry of major events occur within its confines.

Soccer legend Pele led his club, Santos FC, to Fenway on July 8 to play against the struggling Boston Beacons of the North American Soccer League — the Beacons finished 8-9 at home.

The American version of football also saw action in Fenway. And just as the Beacons struggled, so too did the Boston Patriots in their final season at Fenway, posting a poor 2-5 record at home.

Some of that bad luck just might have rubbed off on democratic presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy, who addressed the Fenway faithful on July 25 — McCarthy would wind up losing the election to Richard Nixon.

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