Ted Williams’ First Full Season Back From Korea, Former BU Star Harry Agganis’ Red Sox Debut Among Fenway Highlights in 1954

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.

During spring training before the 1954 season, Ted Williams announced that 1954 — his first full season back after serving in the Korean War — would be his final season. And it almost ended before it even began, as Willliams broke his collarbone diving for a ball on March 1.

Injury could not stop Teddy Ballgame, however, as the slugger went on to lead the league with a .345 batting average despite playing with a metal pin in his shoulder. He also changed his mind on retirement, and would go on to play five more seasons for the Sox.

1954 also saw the Red Sox debut of Harry Agganis, the former star football player at Boston University who had played his home games at Fenway Park.

As was the norm at the time, Fenway also featured a multitude of other events throughout 1954, including a rare outdoor game for the famed Harlem Globetrotters basketball team and Celtic sports showcase that included a hurling match (the Cork All-Ireland Hurling Champions bested the American Hurlers, 37-28) and a Gaelic football exhibition.

For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.