After Boston drops eight of its last 11 games, the fifth-place Red Sox (41-45) fire Darrell Johnson, replacing their manager, who led the team to the American League pennant last season, with third-base coach Don Zimmer. Although last year’s AL’s champs, posting a mediocre 41-45 record and trailing the division-leading Yankees by 13 games, climbed above the .500 mark earlier in the month, they couldn’t overcome their poor start, when they lost 15 of their first 21 decisions.

This Day In Baseball

On July 18, 1976 — After Boston drops eight of its last 11 games, the fifth-place Red Sox (41-45) fire Darrell Johnson, replacing their manager, who led the team to the American League pennant last season, with third-base coach Don Zimmer. Although last year’s AL’s champs, posting a mediocre 41-45 record and trailing the division-leading Yankees by 13 games, climbed above the .500 mark earlier in the month, they couldn’t overcome their poor start, when they lost 15 of their first 21 decisions.

Source:
National Pastime July 18