Focus On The Past

Focus On The Past

JIM LONBORG

(Boston Globe photo)

Player Name: Jim Lonborg

Born: 4/16/42 (Santa Maria, CA)

Batted: Right, Threw: Right

Primary Position: Starting Pitcher

When talking about the Boston Red Sox greatest pitchers in team history Jim Lonborg (stats) is not a name that leaps into the conversation early. “Gentleman Jim” played seven seasons with Boston (1965-71) in which he posted a 68-65 record with a 3.94 ERA. While those numbers are solid they do not place Lonborg in the same ranks as Cy Young, “Smokey” Joe Wood, Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez. And quite frankly there are more than a few pitchers who could be discussed before Lonborg.

However, Lonborg put together one of the most amazing single season performances by a Red Sox pitcher. The right-hander posted a 22-9 record with a 3.16 ERA and a league leading 246 strikeouts during Boston’s 1967 “Impossible Dream” season in which the Red Sox reached the World Series for the first time since 1946. He notched a complete game victory over the Minnesota Twins on the last day of the season helping the Red Sox clinch the pennant. Lonborg’s efforts earned him the Cy Young Award and he was named to the All-Star team during the season. In the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Lonborg strung together an impressive stretch. In games two and five Lonborg was dominant. He allowed just 1 run on four hits winning both games and pitching all 18 innings. He carried a no-hitter into the 8^th inning of game two. Unfortunately, the good times came to a close for Lonborg and the team in game seven. He was named the starter for the game on two days rest and was ineffective. The Cardinals won comfortably 7-2 behind Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson.

After the 1967 season, Lonborg was unable to keep the magic alive in his career. He won just 27 more games for the Red Sox over the next four seasons. His troubles began in December of 1967 when the right-hander suffered a leg injury while skiing. He was just 6-10 during the 1968 season. He was traded in 1971 to the Milwaukee Brewers where he won 14 games. He was then traded a year later to the Philadelphia Phillies where in 1976 he finished the season 18-10 with a 3.08 ERA. He retired in 1979.

After his career came to a close Lonborg attended Tufts Dental School and is now addressed as Dr. Lonborg. He has a practice in Hanover, MA. He resides in Scituate with wife Rosemary. The pair raised six children. Lonborg was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2002 and was invited back to Fenway Park to take part in the Ring Ceremony for the 2004 World Series Championship team.

Each week a former player will be put in the spotlight for "Focus On The Past". A discussion thread has been set up in the "Thru The Years - Red Sox History" area of the message board for you comments or memories of the players being discussed in this feature. If you would like to make a contribution to this feature please contact the administrators of the website and message board.

FRED LYNN

Player Name: Fred Lynn

Born: 2/3/52 (Chicago, IL)

Batted: Left, Threw: Left

Primary Position: Centerfield

Fred Lynn (stats) arguably had the most sensational debut of any rookie in Major League Baseball in 1975. Not only did Lynn win the Rookie of The Year award he also earned the Most Valuable Player award helping lead the Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant. He was the first player to earn both awards in the same season.

Lynn drove American League pitchers batty at the plate hitting .331 to go with 21 home runs and 105 runs batted in. He had 175 hits in that first season and reached base at a clip of .401. The left-handed hitting centerfielder led the league in doubles, run scored and slugging percentage. A glorious day occurred when he hit 3 home runs, a triple, single, and drove 10 runs on June 18, 1975 tying an American League record for total bases in a game with 16. Lynn was also sensational and fearless in the field which earned him a Gold Glove.

However, it was that fearless play on defense and running the bases which prevented him from staying healthy during his stay with the Red Sox from 1974 thru 1980. Running into an outfield wall while tracking down a fly ball or trying to break up a double play with a hard slide led to broken ribs, bad knees and a variety of strained and pulled muscles. None of the injuries were serious enough to keep him on the disabled list for long periods of time, but they were nagging enough to affect his play.

After that rookie season Lynn had trouble duplicating his sensational numbers at the plate consistently. However, he played well enough to earn three more Gold Gloves and appeared in the All-Star game each season. In 1979, Lynn finished fourth in the MVP voting. He hit .333 with 39 HR’s and drove in 122 runs.

Lynn was traded after the 1980 season to the California Angels. He spent four seasons with the Angles before a four-year stint with Baltimore. He finished his career with two years in Detroit and a single season in San Diego before retiring after the 1990 season.

Many believe that Lynn would be a possible Hall of Fame lock had he played his entire career with Boston. Fenway Park was tailor made for his swing. With the Red Sox Lynn hit .300 or better during four of his six full time seasons. He hit 306 career HR’s which place him behind only eight other centerfielders in that category. However, Lynn was voted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2002.

Drafted by the Yankees out of high school Lynn decided to leave an offer on the table and go to college. He helped lead the University of Southern California to three NCAA titles before being drafted by the Red Sox in 1973.

Lynn now resides with his wife Natalie in California where the pair works tirelessly for Child Haven of Southern Nevada. Child Haven is a home for neglected and abused children.

JOHNNY PESKY

(AP Photo)

Player Name: Johnny Pesky

Born: 9/27/19 (Portland, Oregon)

Batted: Left, Threw: Right

Primary Position: Shortstop

Johnny Pesky played 7 ½ seasons with Boston (stats) before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1952. He missed out on three seasons of his playing career while serving in the Navy during World War II. His playing days ended in 1954.

Pesky has since been a part of the Red Sox organization in a variety of capacities including manager, broadcaster, coach, scout and instructor. He is a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame and currently holds an on field instructor title with the team and is referred to as “Mr. Red Sox”. Pesky is still seen in full uniform working with players on the field during batting practice for home games and watches most from the dugout. He also has a piece of Fenway Park named after him. The right-field foul pole is named “Pesky Pole”.

During his playing days Pesky was a terrific leadoff hitter who finished in the top 10 in OBP for six seasons. He finished second in the race for the batting title and led the American League in hits during his rookie season. He scored at least 100 runs in his first six seasons in the majors. After he returned from the war, Pesky lead the American League in hits in 1946 & 47. Those three years Pesky had 200 or more base hits. He hit .307 in his 10-yr career and was a terrific fielder at shortstop and later at third base. He was a critical contributor to the 1946 American League Championship team which featured teammates Ted Williams and Dom DiMaggio. Many believe that he would have been named to the Hall of Fame had not he missed those three seasons serving his country.

Pesky immediately entered a new phase of his baseball career after the 1954 season. He latched on with the New York Yankees as a minor league coach. He then became a minor league manager for five different teams over the next five years.

However, Pesky would then get a call from the team he was most identified with and began a lengthy post-playing day’s relationship with the Red Sox. In 1961 Pesky was hired to manage the Red Sox minor league team in Seattle. He held the position for two seasons before being called upon to manage the big club during the 1963-64 seasons. He was dismissed before the end of the 64 season. Afterwards Pesky latched on with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an assistant coach for two seasons. Pesky made his way back to Boston in 1969. However, he returned as a broadcaster. From 1969 thru 1974 he was a color commentator for the Red Sox with Ken Coleman and Ned Martin. Pesky returned as a coach for the Red Sox in 1975. From 75 thru 1984 Pesky was the Red Sox first base or bench coach for managers Darrell Johnson, Don Zimmer and Ralph Houk. In 1985 Pesky was handed the role of “Special Assignment Instructor” and has yet to be relieved of his duties or has mentioned retirement.

Pesky is delighted to be a part of the Red Sox organization and is considered an organization treasure by his employers, the players and the Boston fans.