1990 Boston Red Sox season
The 1990 Boston Red Sox season was the 90th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished first in the American League East with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses. It was the third AL East division championship in five years for the Red Sox. However, the team was defeated in a four-game sweep by the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS, as had been the case in 1988.
1990 Boston Red Sox | |
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1990 AL East Champions | |
Major League affiliations | |
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Location | |
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Results | |
Record | 88–74 (.543) |
Divisional place | 1st |
Other information | |
Owner(s) | Jean Yawkey, Haywood Sullivan |
General manager(s) | Lou Gorman |
Manager(s) | Joe Morgan |
Local television | WSBK-TV, Ch. 38 (Sean McDonough, Bob Montgomery) NESN (Ned Martin, Jerry Remy) |
Local radio | WRKO (Bob Starr, Joe Castiglione) WROL (Bobby Serrano, Hector Martinez) |
Stats | ESPN.com BB-reference |
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Offseason
- December 6, 1989: Dennis Lamp was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.[1]
- December 6, 1989: Jeff Reardon was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.[2]
- December 19, 1989: Rick Cerone was released by the Red Sox.[3]
- December 20, 1989: Sam Horn was released by the Red Sox.[4]
- February 15, 1990: Bill Buckner was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.[5]
- February 15, 1990: Greg A. Harris was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.[6]
Regular season
Month | Record | Cumulative | AL East | Ref. | |||
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Won | Lost | Won | Lost | Position | GB | ||
April | 11 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 2nd | 1 1⁄2 | [8] |
May | 12 | 14 | 23 | 22 | 3rd | 1 | [9] |
June | 20 | 9 | 43 | 31 | 1st | +3 1⁄2 | [10] |
July | 12 | 17 | 55 | 48 | 1st (tie) | — | [11] |
August | 19 | 9 | 74 | 57 | 1st | +6 1⁄2 | [12] |
September | 12 | 16 | 86 | 73 | 1st | +1 | [13] |
October | 2 | 1 | 88 | 74 | 1st | +2 | [14] |
Highlights
The Red Sox set a major league record, which still stands, for the most times grounding into a double play during a season, 174.[15]
On June 6, the Red Sox got a measure of retribution for Bucky Dent's home run in the 1978 American League East tie-breaker game. While in Boston for a four-game series, the New York Yankees fired Dent as their manager. The Red Sox had just defeated the Yankees in the first two games of the series,[16] giving the Yankees an 18–31 record, 8 1⁄2 games behind the first-place Red Sox.[17] The firing made Fenway Park arguably the scene of Dent's best moment as a player and worst moment as manager.[18] Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe criticized Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for firing Dent—his 18th managerial change in as many years—in Boston, and rhetorically asked if he couldn't have waited to fire Dent elsewhere.[19] Shaughnessy noted, "if Dent had been fired in Seattle or Milwaukee, this would have been just another event in an endless line of George's jettisons. But it happened in Boston and the nightly news had its hook."[19] Author Bill Pennington called the firing of Dent "merciless."[20]
Season standings
AL East | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston Red Sox | 88 | 74 | 0.543 | — | 51–30 | 37–44 |
Toronto Blue Jays | 86 | 76 | 0.531 | 2 | 44–37 | 42–39 |
Detroit Tigers | 79 | 83 | 0.488 | 9 | 39–42 | 40–41 |
Cleveland Indians | 77 | 85 | 0.475 | 11 | 41–40 | 36–45 |
Baltimore Orioles | 76 | 85 | 0.472 | 11½ | 40–40 | 36–45 |
Milwaukee Brewers | 74 | 88 | 0.457 | 14 | 39–42 | 35–46 |
New York Yankees | 67 | 95 | 0.414 | 21 | 37–44 | 30–51 |
Record vs. opponents
1990 American League Records Sources: | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | BAL | BOS | CAL | CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MIL | MIN | NYY | OAK | SEA | TEX | TOR |
Baltimore | — | 4–9 | 7–5 | 6–6 | 6–7 | 6–7 | 8–3 | 7–6 | 6–6 | 6–7 | 4–8 | 3–9 | 8–4 | 5–8 |
Boston | 9–4 | — | 7–5 | 6–6 | 9–4 | 8–5 | 4–8 | 5–8 | 4–8 | 9–4 | 4–8 | 8–4 | 5–7 | 10–3 |
California | 5–7 | 5–7 | — | 5–8 | 7–5 | 5–7 | 7–6 | 7–5 | 9–4 | 6–6 | 4–9 | 5–8 | 8–5 | 7–5 |
Chicago | 6–6 | 6–6 | 8–5 | — | 5–7 | 5–7 | 9–4 | 10–2 | 7–6 | 10–2 | 8–5 | 8–5 | 7–6 | 5–7 |
Cleveland | 7–6 | 4–9 | 5–7 | 7–5 | — | 5–8 | 6–6 | 9–4 | 7–5 | 5–8 | 4–8 | 7–5 | 7–5 | 4–9 |
Detroit | 7–6 | 5–8 | 7–5 | 7–5 | 8–5 | — | 5–7 | 3–10 | 6–6 | 7–6 | 6–6 | 7–5 | 6–6 | 5–8 |
Kansas City | 3–8 | 8–4 | 6–7 | 4–9 | 6–6 | 7–5 | — | 4–8 | 8–5 | 8–4 | 4–9 | 7–6 | 5–8 | 5–7 |
Milwaukee | 6–7 | 8–5 | 5–7 | 2–10 | 4–9 | 10–3 | 8–4 | — | 4–8 | 6–7 | 5–7 | 4–8 | 5–7 | 7–6 |
Minnesota | 6–6 | 8–4 | 4–9 | 6–7 | 5–7 | 6–6 | 5–8 | 8–4 | — | 6–6 | 6–7 | 6–7 | 5–8 | 3–9 |
New York | 7–6 | 4–9 | 6–6 | 2–10 | 8–5 | 6–7 | 4–8 | 7–6 | 6–6 | — | 0–12 | 9–3 | 3–9 | 5–8 |
Oakland | 8–4 | 8–4 | 9–4 | 5–8 | 8–4 | 6–6 | 9–4 | 7–5 | 7–6 | 12–0 | — | 9–4 | 8–5 | 7–5 |
Seattle | 9–3 | 4–8 | 8–5 | 5–8 | 5–7 | 5–7 | 6–7 | 8–4 | 7–6 | 3–9 | 4–9 | — | 7–6 | 6–6 |
Texas | 4–8 | 7–5 | 5–8 | 6–7 | 5–7 | 6–6 | 8–5 | 7–5 | 8–5 | 9–3 | 5–8 | 6–7 | — | 7–5 |
Toronto | 8–5 | 3–10 | 5–7 | 7–5 | 9–4 | 8–5 | 7–5 | 6–7 | 9–3 | 8–5 | 5–7 | 6–6 | 5–7 | — |
Notable transactions
- May 4, 1990: Lee Smith was traded by the Red Sox to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tom Brunansky.[21]
- June 4, 1990: Les Norman was selected by the Red Sox in the 26th round of the 1990 MLB draft, but did not sign.[22]
- June 5, 1990: Bill Buckner was released by the Red Sox.[5]
- August 23, 1990: Cecilio Guante signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.[23]
- August 30, 1990: The Red Sox traded Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for Larry Andersen.[24]
Opening Day lineup
26 | Wade Boggs | 3B |
17 | Marty Barrett | 2B |
39 | Mike Greenwell | LF |
12 | Ellis Burks | CF |
24 | Dwight Evans | DH |
13 | Billy Jo Robidoux | 1B |
6 | Tony Peña | C |
3 | Jody Reed | SS |
16 | Kevin Romine | RF |
21 | Roger Clemens | P |
Source:[25]
Alumni game
The team held an old-timers game on May 19, before a scheduled home game against the Minnesota Twins. Red Sox alumni pitchers Bill Lee, Bill Monbouquette, and Dick Radatz allowed just one hit (to former Detroit Tiger Willie Horton) in the four-inning game, as Boston won by a 2–0 score over a team of MLB alumni from other clubs.[26]
Roster
1990 Boston Red Sox | |||||||||
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Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
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Outfielders
Designated Hitters
Pinch hitter
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Manager
Coaches
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Statistical leaders
Category | Player | Statistic |
---|---|---|
Youngest player | Phil Plantier | 21 |
Oldest player | Bill Buckner | 40 |
Wins Above Replacement | Roger Clemens | 10.4 |
Source:[27]
Batting
Abbr. | Category | Player | Statistic |
---|---|---|---|
G | Games played | Mike Greenwell | 159 |
PA | Plate appearances | Wade Boggs | 713 |
AB | At bats | Wade Boggs | 619 |
R | Runs scored | Wade Boggs | 89 |
Ellis Burks | |||
H | Hits | Wade Boggs | 187 |
2B | Doubles | Jody Reed | 45 |
3B | Triples | Ellis Burks | 8 |
HR | Home runs | Ellis Burks | 21 |
RBI | Runs batted in | Ellis Burks | 89 |
SB | Stolen bases | Ellis Burks | 9 |
CS | Caught stealing | Ellis Burks | 11 |
BB | Base on balls | Wade Boggs | 87 |
SO | Strikeouts | Tom Brunansky | 105 |
BA | Batting average | Wade Boggs | .302 |
OBP | On-base percentage | Wade Boggs | .386 |
SLG | Slugging percentage | Ellis Burks | .486 |
OPS | On-base plus slugging | Ellis Burks | .835 |
OPS+ | Adjusted OPS | Ellis Burks | 128 |
TB | Total bases | Ellis Burks | 286 |
GIDP | Grounded into double play | Tony Peña | 23 |
HBP | Hit by pitch | 3 tied | 4 |
SH | Sacrifice hits | Luis Rivera | 12 |
SF | Sacrifice flies | Tom Brunansky | 8 |
IBB | Intentional base on balls | Wade Boggs | 19 |
Source:[27]
Pitching
Abbr. | Category | Player | Statistic |
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W | Wins | Roger Clemens | 21 |
L | Losses | Greg A. Harris | 9 |
Dana Kiecker | |||
W-L % | Winning percentage | Roger Clemens | .778 (21–6) |
ERA | Earned run average | Roger Clemens | 1.93 |
G | Games pitched | Rob Murphy | 68 |
GS | Games started | Mike Boddicker | 34 |
GF | Games finished | Jeff Reardon | 37 |
CG | Complete games | Roger Clemens | 7 |
SHO | Shutouts | Roger Clemens | 4 |
SV | Saves | Jeff Reardon | 21 |
IP | Innings pitched | Roger Clemens | 228 1⁄3 |
SO | Strikeouts | Roger Clemens | 209 |
WHIP | Walks plus hits per inning pitched | Rogers Clemens | 1.082 |
Source:[27]
ALCS
Game 1
October 6, 1990, at Fenway Park
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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Oakland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 0 |
Boston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
W: Dave Stewart (1-0) L: Larry Andersen (0-1) | ||||||||||||
HR: BOS – Wade Boggs (1) |
Game 2
October 7, 1990, at Fenway Park
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oakland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 1 |
Boston | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
W: Bob Welch (1-0) L: Greg Harris (0-1) S: Dennis Eckersley (1) | ||||||||||||
HR: None |
Game 3
October 9, 1990, at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
Oakland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | x | 4 | 6 | 0 |
W: Mike Moore (1-0) L: Mike Boddicker (0-1) S: Dennis Eckersley (2) | ||||||||||||
HR: None |
Game 4
October 10, 1990, at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Oakland | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 3 | 6 | 0 |
W: Dave Stewart (2-0) L: Roger Clemens (0-1) S: Rick Honeycutt (1) | ||||||||||||
HR: None |
Awards and honors
- Awards
- Mike Boddicker – Gold Glove Award (P)
- Ellis Burks – Silver Slugger Award (OF), Gold Glove Award (OF)
- Roger Clemens – AL Pitcher of the Month (August)
- Accomplishments
- Roger Clemens, American League Leader, Shutouts (4)
- Wade Boggs, Third Base, Starter
- Ellis Burks, Outfield, Reserve
- Roger Clemens, Pitcher, Reserve
Farm system
The Lynchburg Red Sox and Winter Haven Red Sox changed classification from Class A to Class A-Advanced.
Source:[28]
References
- Dennis Lamp Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- Jeff Reardon Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- Rick Cerone Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- Sam Horn Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- Bill Buckner Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- Greg Harris Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- "The 1990 Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/04301990.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/05311990.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/06301990.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/07311990.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/08311990.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/09301990.htm
- https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/10031990.htm
- "Single Season Grounding Into Double Play Records". Baseball-Almanac.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- "The 1990 Boston Red Sox Regular Season Game Log". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- "Standings At Close of Play of June 5, 1990". Retrosheet. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- Cafardo, Nick (June 7, 1990). "Dent dumped by Yankees". The Boston Globe. p. 37 – via newspapers.com.
- Shaughnessy, Dan (June 7, 1990). "His back was against the wall". The Boston Globe. p. 37 – via newspapers.com.
- Pennington, Bill (2019). Chumps to Champs: How the Worst Teams in Yankees History Led to the '90s Dynasty. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 32. ISBN 9781328849854.
- Lee Smith Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- Les Norman Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- Cecilio Guante Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- Jeff Bagwell Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
- "Boston Red Sox 5, Detroit Tigers 2". Retrosheet. April 9, 1990. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- "Baseball". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. May 20, 1990. p. 2C. Retrieved May 24, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- "1990 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007