Jim Rice suffers a broken bone in his hand after being hit by a Vern Ruhle pitch in the first inning of the team’s 6-5 victory over the Tigers in Detroit. The injury will cause the 22 year-old Red Sox rookie sensation to miss the remainder of the season, including the World Series.
Mel Ott’s forty-seven year-old record is broken when Brewers shortstop Robin Yount plays his 242nd major league game as a teenager. The youthful infielder was 18 years, two months, and six days old when made his debut with Milwaukee in 1973.
1975 – In a 9 – 3 win over the Kansas City Royals, Boston’s Jim Rice clouts a tremendous homer over the CF wall at Fenway Park, to the right of the flag pole, just the 6th player to accomplish this feat. Owner Tom Yawkey calls it the longest shot he’s ever seen at Fenway. The others: Detroit’s Hank Greenberg, on May 22, 1937; Boston’s Jimmie Foxx, on August 12, 1937; Yankee Bill Skowron, on April 20, 1957; Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski, on May 16, 1970; Brewer Bobby Mitchell, on September 29, 1973.
On July 2, 1975 Jim Rice, installed today as the Red Sox regular LF, belts two homers in the first game, including one that is the longest ever hit at County Stadium. In game 2, Fred Lynn is kept off the bases, ending his streak of 38 straight games. Boston’s Rick Wise wins the opener, 6 – 3, not giving up…
On June 18, 1975, At Tiger Stadium 23-year-old center fielder Boston Red Sox rookie Fred Lynn drives in 10 runs, helping the Boston Red Sox to a 15-1 demolition of the Detroit Tigers. In the opening inning, the left-handed batting Lynn drilled a three-run homer off Joe Coleman. The next inning, he blasted another home…
On May 22, 1975, Hall of Fame pitcher Robert Moses “Lefty” Grove dies at the age of 75. Grove won 300 games over a 17-year career with the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox. Grove was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1947.
In the season opener at Fenway Park, Tony Conigliaro, who retired four years ago after being traded to the Angels in 1970, plays in the first game of his attempted comeback with the Red Sox. As a designated hitter, the 30 year-old Pope of Kenmore Square, who will collect only seven hits in 21 games, singles in his first at-bat in Boston’s 5-2 victory over the Brewers.
1975 – Former Boston Red Sox star Tony Conigliaro begins a comeback attempt by signing a contract with Triple-A Pawtucket, Boston’s top affiliate in the International League. “Tony C” will make the Red Sox major league roster, but will hit only .123 in 57 at-bats before deciding to retire.
1974 – The race to sign newly-minted free agent Catfish Hunter begins in the law offices of Cherry, Cherry & Flythe in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Yankee and Red Sox representatives are the first arrivals.
On December 18, 1974, Hall of Famer Harry Hooper dies at the age of 87. Considered a standout defensive outfielder, Hooper batted .281 over a 17-year career with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971.
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