1918 Boston Red Sox season

The 1918 Boston Red Sox season was the 18th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished first in the American League with a record of 75 wins and 51 losses, in a season cut short due to World War I. The team then faced the National League champion 1918 [Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs] in the 1918 World Series, which the Red Sox won in six games to capture the franchise's fifth World Series. This would be the last World Series championship for the Red Sox until 2004.
With World War I ongoing, a "work or fight" mandate was issued by the government, requiring men with non-essential jobs to enlist or take war-related jobs by July 1, else risk being drafted. Secretary of War Newton D. Baker granted an extension to MLB players through Labor Day, September 2. In early August, MLB clubs decided that the regular season would end at that time. As a result, AL teams played between 123 and 130 regular-season games, reduced from their original 154-game schedules. Later in August, Baker granted a further extension to allow for the World Series to be contested; it began on September 5 and ended on September 11. World War I would end two months later, with the Armistice of [11 November 1918].
Due to the entry of the United States into World War I, several Red Sox players enlisted with the military over the winter. Notable players who enlisted included Pitchers Ernie Shore and Herb Pennock, Outfielder Duffy Lewis, as well as Manager Jack Barry.
The Red Sox' pitching staff, led by Carl Mays and Bullet Joe Bush, allowed the fewest runs in the league. Babe Ruth was the fourth starter and also spent significant time in the outfield, as he was the best hitter on the team, leading the AL in home runs and slugging percentage.
After this season the Red Sox would fall into mediocrity as they traded away most of their star players to other teams, most notably sending Ruth to the Yankees in 1920. The team would not have another winning record until 1935, 18 years later.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C		72	199	33	.166	0	6
1B		117	423	115	.272	0	56
2B		115	425	112	.264	0	34
SS		126	443	98	.221	0	43
3B		44	144	37	.257	1	11
OF		71	214	57	.266	1	28
OF		114	413	106	.257	0	35
OF		126	474	137	.289	1	44

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
	90	317	95	.300	11*	66
	88	225	55	.244	0	20
	25	69	11	.159	0	4
	24	60	7	.117	0	3
	26	49	11	.224	0	5
	20	47	6	.128	0	2
	15	44	7	.159	1	2
	15	36	10	.278	0	2
	13	29	5	.172	0	2
	12	29	8	.276	0	4
	3	8	1	.125	0	0
	3	5	2	.400	0	0
	1	1	0	.000	0	0

Tied with Tillie Walker
Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
	35	293.1	21	13	2.21	114
	36	272.2	15	15	2.11	125
	24	184.0	16	5	2.25	44
	20	166.1	13	7	2.22	40
	16	125.2	8	6	2.72	47
	5	27.0	1	3	3.33	10

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
	2	10.2	0	1	4.22	1
	3	9.2	0	1	2.79	3

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
	6	1	0	0	3.38	1
	5	0	0	0	1.80	4
	1	0	0	0	3.00	1
	1	0	0	0	0.00	2

Awards and honors

League top ten finishers

Bullet Joe Bush

#3 strikeouts
#5 earned run average

Harry Hooper

#3 runs scored

Carl Mays

#3 wins
#5 strikeouts

Babe Ruth

'''AL Boston Red Sox vs. NL Chicago Cubs '''