Boston beats the Twins, 6 – 4, to tie Minnesota for first place. Carl Yastrzemski’s 3-run home run gives him the American League-lead with 44, but Harmon Killebrew answers with his 44th for the losers. Meanwhile, Detroit, which had games rained out on the 28th and 29th, plays two with the Angels. Mickey Lolich wins the opener, 5 – 0, his 3rd straight shutout, and Detroit takes a seemingly safe 6 – 2 lead into the 8th inning of the nitecap. The Angels then bat around, scoring six runs, to hand Detroit a devastating 8 – 6 loss. Detroit now trails Minnesota and Boston by a half-game.

Boston beats the Twins, 6 – 4, to tie Minnesota for first place. Carl Yastrzemski’s 3-run home run gives him the American League-lead with 44, but Harmon Killebrew answers with his 44th for the losers. Meanwhile, Detroit, which had games rained out on the 28th and 29th, plays two with the Angels. Mickey Lolich wins the opener, 5 – 0, his 3rd straight shutout, and Detroit takes a seemingly safe 6 – 2 lead into the 8th inning of the nitecap. The Angels then bat around, scoring six runs, to hand Detroit a devastating 8 – 6 loss. Detroit now trails Minnesota and Boston by a half-game.

Boston beats the Twins, 6 – 4, to tie Minnesota for first place. Carl Yastrzemski’s 3-run home run gives him the American League-lead with 44, but Harmon Killebrew answers with his 44th for the losers. Meanwhile, Detroit, which had games rained out on the 28th and 29th, plays two with the Angels. Mickey Lolich wins the opener, 5 – 0, his 3rd straight shutout, and Detroit takes a seemingly safe 6 – 2 lead into the 8th inning of the nitecap. The Angels then bat around, scoring six runs, to hand Detroit a devastating 8 – 6 loss. Detroit now trails Minnesota and Boston by a half-game.

1967 – Cleveland’s Luis Tiant beats the Red Sox, 6 – 3, despite Carl Yastrzemski’s 43rd home run of the season. The Twins top the Angels, 7 – 3, behind two monster home runs by Harmon Killebrew, his 42nd and 43rd of the season. Mickey Lolich blanks the Yanks, 1 – 0, for Detroit to tighten the pennant race. The Twins (91-68) lead with Chicago (89-68) and the idle Red Sox (90-69) a game back, and Detroit (89-69) one and a half back.

1967 – Cleveland’s Luis Tiant beats the Red Sox, 6 – 3, despite Carl Yastrzemski’s 43rd home run of the season. The Twins top the Angels, 7 – 3, behind two monster home runs by Harmon Killebrew, his 42nd and 43rd of the season. Mickey Lolich blanks the Yanks, 1 – 0, for Detroit to tighten the pennant race. The Twins (91-68) lead with Chicago (89-68) and the idle Red Sox (90-69) a game back, and Detroit (89-69) one and a half back.

The Red Sox rally late to move into a first-place tie with Detroit (85-66)

The Red Sox rally late to move into a first-place tie with Detroit (85-66)

At Tiger Stadium, the Red Sox rally to move into a first-place tie with Detroit (85-66). The late-inning heroics begin with Carl Yastrzemski’s home run in the ninth frame, which ties the game at 5-to-5, and will be decided with a solo homer in the tenth hit by third baseman Dalton Jones, leading to an eventual 6-5 Boston victory.

In the nightcap of a doubleheader at Fenway Park, the Red Sox rally from an eight-run deficit to beat the Angels, 9-8. The big blow is Carl Yastrzemski’s fifth inning three-run homer, his second of the day, having gone deep with two men on in the first game.

In the nightcap of a doubleheader at Fenway Park, the Red Sox rally from an eight-run deficit to beat the Angels, 9-8. The big blow is Carl Yastrzemski’s fifth inning three-run homer, his second of the day, having gone deep with two men on in the first game.

In their first appearance in Boston since moving to Milwaukee, the Braves defeat the Red Sox, 4 – 1

In their first appearance in Boston since moving to Milwaukee, the Braves defeat the Red Sox, 4 – 1

1961 – In their first appearance in Boston since moving to Milwaukee, the Braves defeat the Red Sox, 4 – 1. Warren Spahn pitches the first inning, striking out rookies Chuck Schilling and Carl Yastrzemski. The exhibition gameis for the benefit of the Jimmy Fund.

Carroll Hardy of the Boston Red Sox becomes the only player to pinch-hit for both Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski

Carroll Hardy of the Boston Red Sox becomes the only player to pinch-hit for both Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski

On May 31, 1961, Carroll Hardy of the Boston Red Sox becomes the only player to pinch-hit for both Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. Subbing for Yaz in the eighth inning, Hardy lays down a bunt single during a 7-6 loss to the New York Yankees.  

Red Sox rookie Carl Yastrzemski, in his major league debut, singles off Kansas City’s Ray Herbert in the team’s 5-2 Opening Day loss at Fenway Park. The 21 year-old left fielder from Bridgehampton, New York, will amass 3,419 hits during his 23-year Hall of Fame career with Boston..

Red Sox rookie Carl Yastrzemski, in his major league debut, singles off Kansas City’s Ray Herbert in the team’s 5-2 Opening Day loss at Fenway Park. The 21 year-old left fielder from Bridgehampton, New York, will amass 3,419 hits during his 23-year Hall of Fame career with Boston..

Red Sox rookie Carl Yastrzemski, in his major league debut, singles off Kansas City’s Ray Herbert in the team’s 5-2 Opening Day loss at Fenway Park. The 21 year-old left fielder from Bridgehampton, New York, will amass 3,419 hits during his 23-year Hall of Fame career with Boston..

Yastrzemski and Williams

Boston Red Sox announce that rookie Carl Yastrzemski will start the season in left field, succeeding the legendary Ted Williams

On March 19, 1961, the Boston Red Sox announce that rookie Carl Yastrzemski will start the season in left field, succeeding the legendary Ted Williams. Yastrzemski will remain a fixture in the Red Sox’ lineup for the next 23 years and will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1989.