1953 Boston Red Sox season

The 1953 Boston Red Sox season was the 53rd season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished fourth in the American League (AL) with a record of 84 wins and 69 losses, 16 games behind the New York Yankees, who went on to win the 1953 World Series.

Offseason

• November 28, 1952: Harry Agganis signs with the Red Sox.
• December 1, 1952: The Red Sox draft Jack Merson from the Hollywood Stars for $15,000.
• January 7, 1953: Pitcher Al Benton is assigned by the Red Sox to the San Diego Padres.
• February 9, 1953: Vern Stephens was traded by the Red Sox to the Chicago White Sox for Marv Grissom, Hal Brown and Bill Kennedy.

Regular season

• May 12, 1953: Outfielder Dom DiMaggio retires from professional baseball after manager Lou Boudreau decided to promote Tom Umphlett to be the regular Red Sox centerfielder; weeks earlier, according to DiMaggio, he had informed General Manager Joe Cronin that he should be traded or made regular centerfielder otherwise he would retire, after Cronin refused to do either, DiMaggio decided to retire.
• June 18, 1953: Sammy White scored three runs in one inning for the Red Sox. The Red Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers, 23–3 at Fenway Park.

Transactions

• April 23, 1953: The Washington Senators purchase outfielder Clyde Vollmer from the Red Sox.
• May 13, 1953: The Red Sox purchase infielder Floyd Baker from the Washington Senators.
• July 1, 1953: Marv Grissom was selected off waivers from the Red Sox by the New York Giants.
• September 8, 1953: Shortstop Johnny Lipon is sold by the Red Sox to the St. Louis Browns on a waiver deal.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup

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

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: San Jose

Roanoke club folded, July 24, 1953

References

External links

• 1953 Boston Red Sox team at Baseball-Reference
• 1953 Boston Red Sox season at baseball-almanac.com