1912 Boston Red Sox | |
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1912 World Series Champions 1912 American League Champions |
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Major League affiliations | |
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Location | |
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Other information | |
Owner(s) |
John I. Taylor Jimmy McAleer |
Manager(s) | Jake Stahl |
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The 1912 Boston Red Sox season was the twelfth season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. This was the first year that the team played its home games at Fenway Park. The Red Sox finished first in the American League (AL) with a record of 105 wins and 47 losses. The team set or tied franchise records for most wins, fewest losses, and highest winning percentage in a season (.691) – these records still stand, through the end of the 2016 season.
The team then faced the National League (NL) champion New York Giants in the 1912 World Series, which the Red Sox won in eight games to capture the franchise's second World Series. One of the deciding plays in the World Series was a muffed fly ball by Giants outfielder Fred Snodgrass, which became known as the "$30,000 muff" in reference to the prize money for the winning team.
Behind center fielder Tris Speaker and pitcher Smoky Joe Wood, the Red Sox led the league in runs scored and fewest runs allowed. Speaker was third in batting and was voted league Most Valuable Player. Wood won 34 games, including a record 16 in a row. Although the pitching staff was satisfactory, the only star pitcher was Wood, while the only star in the starting lineup was Speaker. Little-known third baseman Larry Gardner was the next best hitter, while future Hall of Famer Harry Hooper had a poor offensive season.
The Red Sox made several transactions during the 1912 offseason. In February 1912, Rip Williams was sold to the New York Highlanders, although the exact date of the transaction is currently unknown. The Red Sox sold two players to the Chicago White Sox during the offseason: Jack Fournier on February 6 and Eddie Cicotte on July 9. Later in the year, on November 25, Hugh Bradley was sold to the Jersey City Giants minor league baseball team of the International League. The only purchase made by the Red Sox that offseason was their purchase of Neal Ball from the Cleveland Naps on June 25 for $2500.