1919 Boston Red Sox season


The 1919 Boston Red Sox season was the 19th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished sixth in the American League with a record of 66 wins and 71 losses, games behind the Chicago White Sox. The team played its home games at Fenway Park.
While World War I had ended in November 1918, players who had been drafted returned gradually during 1919. The season was shortened from 154 to 140 games and did not begin until mid-April, with the Red Sox playing their first game on April 23.

Regular season

In his last year playing for the Red Sox, Babe Ruth had his breakout offensive season having been converted into an outfielder. He set a major league record with 29 home runs and also led the league in runs batted in and runs scored. Ruth also made 15 pitching starts, going 9–5 with a 2.97 earned run average.
On July 31, Waite Hoyt made his first start for the Boston Red Sox, beating the Detroit Tigers 2–1 in twelve innings for his first major league victory.

Trades and Transactions

In July, the Red Sox traded pitcher Carl Mays to the Yankees for pitchers Allen Russell and Bob McGraw, as well as $40,000.
In late July, pitcher Waite Hoyt of the independent Baltimore Dry Docks signed a contract to play for the Red Sox for $600 a month.

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
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C113330101.306055
1B120440134.305158
2B8029075.259017
3B133469114.243040
SS138507141.278038
LF130432139.32229114
CF6322758.256023
RF128491131.267349

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
4818450.272017
Bill Lamar4814843.291013
Roxy Walters4813526.193010
Del Gainer4711828.237018
Frank Gilhooley4811227.24102
3110826.24102
Dave Shean2910014.14006
Mike McNally334211.26203
Joe Wilhoit6186.33302
593.33301

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
35245.012203.7567
32219.01682.7170
21146.05112.4753
17133.1952.9730
Waite Hoyt13105.1463.2528

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
Allen Russell21121.11042.5263
1886.1743.9623
1372.2354.0912
Paul Musser519.2024.1214
27.0003.862

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
130404.3312
Bob McGraw100206.756
30007.710

Awards and honors

League top five finishers

Sam Jones
  • #2 losses
Babe Ruth
Wally Schang
  • #2 on-base percentage