# 1950 Boston Red Sox season

The 1950 Boston Red Sox season was the 50th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished third in the American League (AL) with a record of 94 wins and 60 losses, four games behind the AL and World Series champion New York Yankees. This was the last time that the Red Sox won at least 90 games until their return to the World Series in 1967.
The team scored 1,027 runs, one of only six teams to score more than 1,000 runs in a season in the modern era (post-1900), and, along with the 1999 Cleveland Indians, are one of two teams to do so post-World War II. The 1950 Red Sox compiled a .302 batting average, and remain the most recent major league team to record a .300 or higher team batting average for a season.
In a game on June 8, the Red Sox set a major league record for total bases by a team in one game, which still stands. During their 29–4 win over the St. Louis Browns, the Red Sox collected 28 hits: 7 home runs, 1 triple, 9 doubles, and 11 singles for 60 total bases. The Red Sox, who had already beaten the Browns 20–4 the day before, became only the second team since 1901 (after the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates) to score 20 or more runs in consecutive games.

## Offseason
### Trades and Transactions

* October 24, 1949: It is reported that Dick Gernert, a junior at Temple University, has signed with the Red Sox over the weekend.
* November 17, 1949: The Red Sox draft pitcher George Copeland from the Rochester Red Wings for $10,000.
* December 1, 1949: The Red Sox purchase pitcher Al Papai from the St. Louis Browns off waivers for $10,000.
* February 26, 1950: The Red Sox announce the sale of pitcher Jack Kramer to the New York Giants for a reported sum of $25,000.
* April 14, 1950: The Red Sox sign third baseman Ken Keltner as a free agent.

## Regular Season
### Game Log

| Boston Win | Boston Loss | Tie Game |
1950 Boston Red Sox Season Log: 94─60 :
April (7─6)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordBox Score
1April 18Vs. New York15─10Johnson (1–0)Masterson (0–1)Page (1)0─1
2April 19 (1)Vs. New York3─6Dobson (1─0)Raschi (0─1)─1─1
3April 19 (2)Vs. New York16─7Lopat (1─0)Kinder (0─1)Page (2)1─2
4April 21@ Athletics8─2McDermott (1─0)Brissie (0─1)─2─2
5April 22@ Athletics5─6Kellner (1─0)Kinder (0─2)─2─3
6April 23 (1)@ Athletics4─9Shantz (1─0)Dobson (1─1)Hooper (2)2─4
7April 23 (2)@ Athletics12─2Parnell (1─0)Wyse (1─1)─3─4
8April 24@ Washington0─3Scarborough (2─0)Papai (0─1)─3─5
9April 26@ New York2─10Lopat (2─0)McDermott (1─1)─3─6
10April 27@ New York7─2Kinder (1─2) Byrne (0─1)─4─6
11April 28Vs. Athletics1─4Parnell (2─0)Kellner (1─1)─5─6
12April 30 (1)Vs. Athletics0─19Dobson (2─1)Fowler (0─1)─6─6
13April 30 (2)Vs. Athletics5─6Stobbs (1─0)Wyse (1─2)Papai (1)7─6 :
May
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordBox Score
14May 2Vs. Cleveland1─6McDermott (2─1)Garcia (0─1)─8─6
15May 3Vs. Cleveland2─7Kinder (2─1)Feller (2─1)─9─6
16May 4Vs. Cleveland5─4Lemon (2─1)Parnell (2─1)─9─7
17May 5Vs. Chicago2─5Dobson (3─1)Pierce (1─1)─10─7
18May 6Vs. Chicago1─11Stobbs (2─0)Holcolmbe (0─1)─11─7
19May 7 (1)Vs. St. Louis6─8Schanz (1─0)Fine (0─1)Masterson (1)12─7
20May 7 (2)Vs. St. Louis2─6Papai (1─1)Fannin (0─1)─13─7
21May 9Vs. Detroit1─6Parnell (3─1)Trucks (2─1)─14─7
22May 11 (1)Vs. Detroit13─4Hutchinson (2─1)Dobson (3─2)─14─8
23May 11 (2)Vs. Detroit5─3Gray (2─1)Kinder (2─3)Houtteman (2)14─9
24May 12Vs. Washington1─3McDermott (3─1)Scarborough (2─3)─15─9
25May 13Vs. Washington4─5Masterson (1─1)Hudson (3─2)Dobson (1)16─9
26May 14 (1)Vs. Washington1─8Parnell (4─1)Hittle (1─1)─17─9
27May 14 (2)Vs. Washington10─5Weik (1─1)Papai (1─1)Marrero (1)17─10
28May 16@ Detroit6─1Dobson (4─2)Houtteman (4─2)─18─10
29May 17@ Detroit3─6Ted Gray (3─1)Kinder (2─4)─18─11
30May 18@ Detroit13─2Papai (2─2)Fred Hutchinson (2─2)Dobson (2)19─11
31May 19@ Cleveland1─4Sam Zoldak (1─1)Parnell (4─2)─19─12
32May 20@ Cleveland5─8Bob Lemon (4─2)Chuck Stobbs (2─1)─19─13
33May 21 (1)@ Chicago7─0Kinder (3─4)Bill Wight (2─4)─20─13
34May 21 (2)@Chicago3─4Billy Pierce (2─3)Joe Dobson (4─3)─20─14 :

### Trades and Transactions

* May 7: The Red Sox in a trade with the Washington Senators send outfielder Tommy O'Brien and infielder Merrill Combs to the Senators in exchange for outfielder Clyde Vollmer.
* May 8: The Red Sox sell pitcher Harry Dorish to the St. Louis Browns for an undisclosed amount of cash.
* June 2: Tom Umphlett reveals that he has recently signed a contract with the Red Sox as an amateur free agent.
* June 7: The Red Sox sign outfielder Neil Chrisley as an amateur free agent.
* June 21: The Red Sox sign amateur free agent Faye Throneberry on a $6000 contract.

### Season Standings

vteAmerican League :
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
| New York Yankees | 98 | 56 | .636 | — | 53‍–‍24 | 45‍–‍32 |
| Detroit Tigers | 95 | 59 | .617 | 3 | 50‍–‍30 | 45‍–‍29 |
| Boston Red Sox | 94 | 60 | .610 | 4 | 55‍–‍22 | 39‍–‍38 |
| Cleveland Indians | 92 | 62 | .597 | 6 | 49‍–‍28 | 43‍–‍34 |
| Washington Senators | 67 | 87 | .435 | 31 | 35‍–‍42 | 32‍–‍45 |
| Chicago White Sox | 60 | 94 | .390 | 38 | 35‍–‍42 | 25‍–‍52 |
| St. Louis Browns | 58 | 96 | .377 | 40 | 27‍–‍47 | 31‍–‍49 |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 52 | 102 | .338 | 46 | 29‍–‍48 | 23‍–‍54 |

### Record vs. opponents

1950 American League recordvte Sources: :
| Team | BOS | CWS | CLE | DET | NYY | PHA | SLB | WSH |
| Boston | — | 15–7 | 10–12 | 10–12 | 9–13 | 19–3 | 19–3 | 12–10 |
| Chicago | 7–15 | — | 8–14 | 6–16–2 | 8–14 | 11–11 | 12–10 | 8–14 |
| Cleveland | 12–10 | 14–8 | — | 13–9–1 | 8–14 | 17–5 | 13–9 | 15–7 |
| Detroit | 12–10 | 16–6–2 | 9–13–1 | — | 11–11 | 17–5 | 17–5 | 13–9 |
| New York | 13–9 | 14–8 | 14–8 | 11–11 | — | 15–7 | 17–5 | 14–8–1 |
| Philadelphia | 3–19 | 11–11 | 5–17 | 5–17 | 7–15 | — | 8–14 | 13–9 |
| St. Louis | 3–19 | 10–12 | 9–13 | 5–17 | 5–17 | 14–8 | — | 12–10 |
| Washington | 10–12 | 14–8 | 7–15 | 9–13 | 8–14–1 | 9–13 | 10–12 | — |

### Opening Day lineup

| 7 | Dom DiMaggio | CF |
| 6 | Johnny Pesky | 3B |
| 9 | Ted Williams | LF |
| 5 | Vern Stephens | SS |
| 2 | Al Zarilla | RF |
| 1 | Bobby Doerr | 2B |
| 10 | Billy Goodman | 1B |
| 14 | Matt Batts | C |
| 17 | Mel Parnell | P |

### 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 | Birdie Tebbetts | 79 | 268 | 83 | .310 | 8 | 45 |
| 1B | Walter Dropo | 136 | 559 | 180 | .322 | 34 | 144 |
| 2B | Bobby Doerr | 149 | 586 | 172 | .294 | 27 | 120 |
| SS | Vern Stephens | 149 | 628 | 185 | .295 | 30 | 144 |
| 3B | Johnny Pesky | 127 | 490 | 153 | .312 | 1 | 49 |
| OF | Al Zarilla | 130 | 471 | 153 | .325 | 9 | 74 |
| OF | Ted Williams | 89 | 334 | 106 | .317 | 28 | 97 |
| OF | Dom DiMaggio | 141 | 588 | 193 | .328 | 7 | 70 |

#### 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 |
| Billy Goodman | 110 | 424 | 150 | .354 | 4 | 68 |
| Matt Batts | 75 | 238 | 65 | .273 | 4 | 34 |
| Clyde Vollmer | 57 | 169 | 48 | .284 | 7 | 37 |
| Tom Wright | 54 | 107 | 34 | .318 | 0 | 20 |
| Buddy Rosar | 27 | 84 | 25 | .298 | 1 | 12 |
| Tommy O'Brien | 9 | 31 | 4 | .129 | 0 | 3 |
| Ken Keltner | 13 | 28 | 9 | .321 | 0 | 2 |
| Lou Stringer | 24 | 17 | 5 | .294 | 0 | 2 |
| Fred Hatfield | 10 | 12 | 3 | .250 | 0 | 2 |
| Jim Piersall | 6 | 11 | 4 | .364 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlie Maxwell | 3 | 8 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| Merl Combs | 1 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Scherbarth | 1 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 |

### 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 |
| Mel Parnell | 40 | 249.0 | 18 | 10 | 3.61 | 93 |
| Joe Dobson | 39 | 206.2 | 15 | 10 | 4.18 | 81 |
| Chuck Stobbs | 32 | 169.1 | 12 | 7 | 5.10 | 78 |
| Willard Nixon | 22 | 101.1 | 8 | 6 | 6.04 | 57 |

#### 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 |
| Ellis Kinder | 48 | 207.0 | 14 | 12 | 4.26 | 95 |
| Mickey McDermott | 38 | 130.0 | 7 | 3 | 5.19 | 96 |
| Walt Masterson | 33 | 129.1 | 8 | 6 | 5.64 | 60 |
| Harry Taylor | 3 | 19.0 | 2 | 0 | 1.42 | 8 |

#### 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 |
| Al Papai | 16 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6.75 | 19 |
| Dick Littlefield | 15 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9.26 | 13 |
| Charley Schanz | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8.34 | 14 |
| Earl Johnson | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.24 | 6 |
| Jim McDonald | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.79 | 5 |
| Gordie Mueller | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.29 | 1 |
| Jim Suchecki | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.50 | 3 |
| James Atkins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.86 | 0 |
| Dave Ferriss | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.00 | 1 |
| Bob Gillespie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20.25 | 0 |
| Frank Quinn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 0 |
| Phil Marchildon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.75 | 0 |

### Awards and Records

| Name | Award |
| Walt Dropo | American League Rookie of the Year |
| Walt Dropo | RBI MLB Leader (144) |
| Vern Stephens | RBI MLB Leader (144) |
| Billy Goodman | MLB Batting Champion |

## Farm system

| Level | Team | League | Manager |
| AAA | Louisville Colonels | American Association | Mike Ryba |
| AA | Birmingham Barons | Southern Association | Pinky Higgins |
| A | Scranton Red Sox | Eastern League | Jack Burns |
| B | Roanoke Red Sox | Piedmont League | Red Marion |
| C | San Jose Red Sox | California League | Marv Owen |
| C | Oneonta Red Sox | Canadian–American League | Eddie Popowski |
| D | Kinston Eagles | Coastal Plain League | Wally Millies |
| D | Marion Red Sox | Ohio–Indiana League | George Susce and Elmer Yoter |
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Roanoke, Marion