Sox 67

One of the outstanding aspects of the 67 Sox was their ability to bounce back quickly form adversity. After being swept at home for the first time all season, the Impossible Dreamers went to Detroit and Cleveland and took four tough contests.

The Orioles were 1966 World Champions, but spent most of the 67 season mired deep in the second division. They generally played well against Boston, however, and certainly did in mid-September. On a cold, windy Fenway evening before 32,000, the O’s triumphed 6-2 behind Tom Phoebus and Moe Drabowsky. Up-and-down Dave Morehead lasted only 2 2/3 innings and left with a 3-0 deficit. The closest the Bosox came was 4-2 in the sixth on hits by Carl Yastrzemski and Ken Harrelson, but a Frank Robinson homer off Bucky Brandon got one back, and the visitors coasted in. The next afternoon Boog Powell broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run homer off John Wyatt for a 4-1 victory, as Jim Lonborg saw his record fall to 20-8. Rookie Jim Hardin ran his mark to 7-2 with a complete game three -hitter. The final contest of the series saw a 5-2 Baltimore win, as Gary Bell fell behind 3-0 early and reliever Gary Waslewski surrendered another Powell homer after Yaz doubled in a pair. Despite the sweep, the Sox stayed only a game out.

Boston then went to Detroit to face the first place Tigers and rallied for two pressure-filled victories. Before 42,000 fans at old Tiger Stadium, Boston tied the score with Carl’s ninth-inning homer and reserve Dalton Jones won it with another four-bagger in the tenth for a 6-5 triumph. It was a seesaw battle, with the Sox reaching nemesis Denny McLain for three in the first, but the home squad soon tied it. Detroit would take a 5-4 lead in the eighth, but Yaz connected with no. 40 off rookie Fred Lasher, and one inning later, Jones hit one into the upper deck for the winning run. For Jones, who had 4 hits in the game, it was the 18th homer of his career and his sixth in Detroit. Jose Santiago ran his record to 9-4 with 1 1/3 shutout innings.

Tiger ace Mickey Lolich went the next night and, despite fanning 13, ended up the tough-luck loser as Boston exploded for three in the ninth for a 4-2 triumph. Lolich should have had an easy victory, as his team had all kinds of chances off 5 Boston hurlers, but stranded 10. He tired quickly in the ninth, surrendering a single to Jerry Adair and walking Yaz. George Scott then singled to center to tie it. Old friend Earl Wilson  relieved for the first time all season. For once, Wilson was ineffective as a wild pitch plated Carl and Russ Gibson’s sac fly scored another. The Sox had to endure a shaky ninth inning, however, as Dick Williams used Santiago, Bill Landis and Bell, also in a rare relief role. Reggie Smith snagged Al Kaline’s liner for the final out. Santiago had his second win in as many nights.

As the Globe advertised a “full-color pull out portrait of this team to remember, 12 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches and suitable for framing”, the Cardiac Kids went to Cleveland for a pair. The atmosphere was totally different, as 6500 fans were scattered around huge Municipal Stadium. Boston stayed hot with 5-4 and 6-5 squeakers to remain tied for the lead. Smith joined the hero parade with a ninth inning single in game 1 to score Yaz for the winner; Rico Petrocelli started a decisive double play in the bottom half to end the contest. Lonborg had a rare off-night, leaving after 7 in a 4-4 tie, but Sparky Lyle and Wyatt bailed him out. Carl Yaz, playing at an incredible level, went 4 for 5.

The next contest at Cleveland looked like a respite for the Sox, as they opened up a 5-run lead, but again had to squeak through in a 6-5 final in a rain-delayed contest. Some misplays by the Tribe helped Boston to a three-run sixth, and hits by Jose Tartabull and Yaz made it 6-1 in the seventh. But rare miscues by Carl and Scott led to a three-run Cleveland seventh and a Fred Whitfield rbi would later cut it to one. Starter Bell won his 13th of the year against his former teammates, with the reliable Wyatt pitching the ninth for the “save”.

On the same day as the second Cleveland win, a small article appeared quoting Jackie Robinson as calling Tom Yawkey “one of the most bigoted guys in organized baseball” and expressing the hope that Boston would lose the pennant. As usual, Yawkey had no response. It is interesting, however, that the 67 Sox roster contained African-Americans Smith, Scott, Wyatt, Joe Foy and Elston Howard along with Hispanics Tartabull and Santiago. Much of the credit for their presence must go to GM Dick O’Connell.

The Sox now stood tied with Minnesota at 88-66, with Chicago and Detroit close behind. The Cardinals had already clinched with a 96-57 record. Yaz remained just ahead of Harmon Killebrew with 41 homers and 108 rbi’s. It is incredible that since Yaz in 67, no one has won a triple crown.