After five grueling, tension-filled games, the Red Sox will be back home at Fenway Park on Saturday night. For this piece, I looked to see how the Red Sox have fared in either a game six or game seven at Fenway over the club’s history.
It turns out they haven’t really played the many of these games at Fenway. Since 1912 when Fenway opened, the Sox have played a game six or game seven there only 11 times.
There were many notable years where the series did not end at Fenway Park, so here’s that list.
1946 World Series
In the only World Series to feature Ted Williams, the Red Sox lost both games six and seven in St. Louis.
1986 World Series
The horror-show games six and seven were at Shea Stadium. Game six was my worst moment as a childhood fan… let’s move on.
2003 ALCS, 2004 ALCS
The deciding games of the “Evil Empire” ALCS matchups were all at Yankee Stadium.
2008 ALCS
Games six and seven were in that horrible dome in Tampa.
So what seasons had the 11 times the Red Sox played a game six or seven at Fenway?
1912 World Series
In their first season at Fenway Park, the Red Sox lost game six but won game seven 3-2 in 10 innings over Christy Mathewson and the New York Giants.*
*Asterisk One- These were actually games seven and eight, because game two ended in a 6-6 tie after 11 innings. What the hell was going on in the 1912 World Series?
*Asterisk Two- The franchise actually won the World Series at home in 1901, but they were the Boston Americans at that point, they played at the Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds, and the series was a best of nine.
1918 World Series
The Red Sox won their last World Series for 86 years by beating the Cubs in game six at Fenway behind a three hit one run complete game by Carl Mays.
1967 World Series
Could another Drew get a big hit for the Sox? Photo by Kelly O’Connor of sittingstill.smugmug.com
The Impossible Dream Red Sox won game six at Fenway to force a deciding game seven. Unfortunately, Bob Gibson won his third game of the series in game seven as the Cardinals romp. The Cardinals were a real pain in the ass for the Red Sox until 2004.
1975 World Series
Carlton Fisk’s dramatic home run won game six, but the Sox are unable to stop Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine in game seven.
1986 ALCS
After a dramatic come from behind win in game five in Anaheim, the Red Sox steamrolled the Angels in games six and seven to advance to the World Series. I believe Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs both rode around Fenway on a police horse after game seven. Memories…
2007 ALCS
Red Sox crush the Indians in games six and seven behind the J.D. Drew $14 million Grand Slam to earn a trip to the World Series against Colorado.
The verdict? In 11 games, the Red Sox are 8-3 in games six or seven at Fenway Park. Let’s hope those winning ways continue on Saturday night.