Tales From The 1967 Red Sox

By the end of 1966, the Boston Red Sox were a team in serious trouble. The Red Sox had not won a pennant in twenty years and had not posted a winning record in eight. Pampered by their benevolent owner, Tom Yawkey, the Red Sox had developed a reputation as a team that cared more about having a good time than winning baseball games. The "Gold Sox" (or "Jersey Street Jesters") were sometimes playing before fewer than 1,000 fans at Fenway Park. Yawkey, disillusioned, began seriously considering selling the team or moving the franchise to another city. Then, in 1967, a brash rookie manager named Dick Williams took charge of a hungry, but very young and inexperienced team that did not know how to win. A strict disciplinarian, Williams had no tolerance for nonsense, and he taught the Red Sox how to play the game right. Yet, when he predicted that the Red Sox would win more games than they'd lose in 1967, no one took him seriously. The Red Sox forged a 10-game, midseason winning streak. Adopting the theme song from the hit Broadway musical, Man of La Mancha, the 1967 Red Sox season became "The Impossible Dream." The fans grew excited again and started flocking to Fenway Park or tuning their radios to the broadcasts of the games. Over the season's final six weeks, the Red Sox never led or trailed by more than 1 1/2 games. Three teams were still in the pennant race during their final game. When that day was over, the Red Sox had become the first and only team in major-league history to rise from ninth place to league champion. The Red Sox remain indebted to the 1967 champions, and they will be indebted forever. Rico Petrocelli, one of Boston's most beloved athletes and a twenty-four-year-old shortstop on that "Impossible Dream" team, recaptures the thrills of that improbable season through his unique anecdotes. In this re-release timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary that magical year, Rico chronicles both the nightmare that threatened to swallow an organization and the resurrection that would reinvigorate a team and a city that share the same heart

By the end of 1966, the Boston Red Sox were a team in serious trouble. The Red Sox had not won a pennant in twenty years and had not posted a winning record in eight. Pampered by their benevolent owner, Tom Yawkey, the Red Sox had developed a reputation as a team that cared more about having a good time than winning baseball games. The "Gold Sox" (or "Jersey Street Jesters") were sometimes playing before fewer than 1,000 fans at Fenway Park. Yawkey, disillusioned, began seriously considering selling the team or moving the franchise to another city. Then, in 1967, a brash rookie manager named Dick Williams took charge of a hungry, but very young and inexperienced team that did not know how to win. A strict disciplinarian, Williams had no tolerance for nonsense, and he taught the Red Sox how to play the game right. Yet, when he predicted that the Red Sox would win more games than they'd lose in 1967, no one took him seriously. The Red Sox forged a 10-game, midseason winning streak. Adopting the theme song from the hit Broadway musical, Man of La Mancha, the 1967 Red Sox season became "The Impossible Dream." The fans grew excited again and started flocking to Fenway Park or tuning their radios to the broadcasts of the games. Over the season's final six weeks, the Red Sox never led or trailed by more than 1 1/2 games. Three teams were still in the pennant race during their final game. When that day was over, the Red Sox had become the first and only team in major-league history to rise from ninth place to league champion. The Red Sox remain indebted to the 1967 champions, and they will be indebted forever. Rico Petrocelli, one of Boston's most beloved athletes and a twenty-four-year-old shortstop on that "Impossible Dream" team, recaptures the thrills of that improbable season through his unique anecdotes. Rico chronicles both the nightmare that threatened to swallow an organization and the resurrection that would reinvigorate a team and a city that share the same heart. Now updated to include the Red Sox's successes since the 1967 season, Tales from the 1967 Red Sox Dugout is a must-have for all BoSox fans.

Calling all BoSox fans! In this one-of-a-kind compendium of anecdotes from players, managers, and beat writers, Jim Prime and Bill Nowlin capture all the magic and passion of Boston Red Sox baseball. Amazing Tales from the Boston Red Sox Dugout is a colorful journey through the history of the franchise. Included are the best memories and stories in the players’ and managers’ own words, as found in Prime and Nowlin’s Tales from the Boston Red Sox Dugout and More Tales from the Boston Red Sox Dugout. Within these pages, fans will chafe at the rivalries, cheer the wins, and challenge the losses both on the road and at home. From the earliest days of a promising young pitcher named Babe Ruth, through the glory years of Foxx, Williams, and Yastrzemiski, to the championship era of superstars such as Martinez and Ortiz, the Red Sox epitomize all that is grand about the grand old game. Featured players and managers include Wade Boggs, Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Carlton Fisk, Dustin Pedrioa, Jim Rice, Jason Varitek, and many other Red Sox legends. This massive collection captures the story and glory of Red Sox baseball both on the field and off. Without a doubt, this tantalizing offering from Prime and Nowlin will provide hours of entertainment for Red Sox and baseball fans alike.

Founded in 1901, the Boston Red Sox have been making history for over a century. The passion of the players, the tragedy and triumph of the “Bambino’s Curse”—the Boston spirit comes alive in this collection of stories and anecdotes from Fenway Park. Any baseball fan will ?nd this book irresistible.

The '67 Red Sox fulfilled a seemingly Impossible Dream, overcoming 100-to-1 odds by climbing out of ninth place to capture the pennant for the first time in 21 years. Thousands of delirious fans streamed onto the field at Fenway Park mobbing the team, dismantling the scoreboard, climbing the screen behind home plate. It truly was, in the words of Sox radio announcer Ned Martin, "pandemonium on the field." As Peter Gammons once wrote of this great season, "It wasn't always the way it is now, and might never have been but for '67." This book is a tribute to the members of the Impossible Dream team, including biographies of all 39 players that year as well as appreciations of this remarkable season by an all-star lineup featuring Joe Castiglione, Ken Coleman, Gordon Edes, Peter Gammons, Jim Lonborg, and many more. The book also presents over 300 rare photographs and memorabilia from this special Red Sox season. A project of the Boston chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research, this volume gathers the collective efforts of more than 60 SABR members and friends of the non-profit research society. Contents: 1967 by Jim Lonborg 1967 by Tom Werner "Saviors" by Richard A. Johnson " '67 - When the Dream Began" by Peter Gammons Players: Jerry Adair by Royse Parr Mike Andrews by Saul Wisnia Tony Conigliaro by Bill Nowlin Don Demeter by Jonathan Arnold Joe Foy by Ray Birch Russ Gibson by Tom Harkins Ken Harrelson by Alex Edelman Tony Horton by Mark Kanter Elston Howard by Cecilia M. Tan Dalton Jones by Maurice Bouchard Jim Landis by Mike Richard Rico Petrocelli by R.R. Marshall Ken Poulsen by Charlie Bevis Mike Ryan by Dave Williams George Scott by Ron Anderson Norm Siebern by Doug Skipper Reggie Smith by Jeff Angus Jose Tartabull by Joanne Hulbert George Thomas by Ray Birch Bob Tillman by Barb Mantegani Carl Yastrzemski by Herb Crehan & Bill Nowlin Yaz and the Triple Crown by Bill Nowlin Can Stephen Jay Gould's theory explain why there were no batting Triple Crowns for 45 years? by Andy Andres Pitchers Gary Bell by Cecilia M. Tan Dennis Bennett by Mark Armour Darrell Brandon by David Laurila Ken Brett by Jon Daly Galen Cisco by Les Masterson Hank Fischer by Mike Richard Bill Landis by Bill Nowlin Jim Lonborg by Saul Wisnia Sparky Lyle by Diane Wells-MacLennan Don McMahon by John Vorperian Dave Morehead by Andrew Blume Dan Osinski by Ron Anderson Billy Rohr by Alex Edelman Jose Santiago by Edwin Fernandez Cruz and Bill Nowlin Lee Stange by Les Masterson Jerry Stephenson by Bill Nowlin Gary Waslewski by John Cizik John Wyatt by Andrew Blume Manager/Coaches: With A Little Help from the Coaches by Ken Coleman and Dan Valenti Dick Williams by Eric Aron Bobby Doerr by Bill Nowlin Al Lakeman by Bob Brady Sal Maglie by Judith Testa Eddie Popowski by Wayne McElreavy Frank Malzone by Bill Nowlin Games: April 12, Bob LeMoine April 14, Gregory Wolf July 23, Mark Sternman August 18, Alan Cohen August 27, Mike Richard September 30, Rick Bush October 1 MIN v. BOS, Bill Nowlin October 1 CAL v. DET, Mark Armour Owner Tom Yawkey by Mark Armour GM Dick O'Connell by Kerry Keene Broadcasters Ken Coleman by Curt Smith Ned Martin by Bob LeMoine Mel Parnell by Bill Nowlin The 1967 Broadcast Team, Remembered by Joe Castiglione Partners by Ken Coleman My Way, Dick Williams "Spring Training 1967" Bill Nowlin Was It Really Impossible? Mark Armour The Cardiac Kids, Harvey Soolman Bookies Blanch! Bosox 100-1 at Season's Start The Great Race, Andy Andres Providence, Gerry Beirne Front Page News Coverage The BoSox Club, Bill Nowlin Jimmy Fund, Saul Wisnia Afterwords When Defeat is Not A Loss, Glenn Stout The Kind We Call Immortal, Gordon Edes The Birth of Red Sox Nation, Bill Nowlin Appendices: Season Timeline 1967 How Many People Came to Opening Day? Welcoming Home the triumphant Red Sox, Tom Harkins World Series Recaps, Dan Desrochers 1967 Red Sox Administratio

Amazing Tales from the 2004 Boston Red Sox Dugout is a different kind of look back at the incredible championship season—through the eyes of the players involved. It is packed full of anecdotes, quotes, and perspectives from each member of the team, presented in the context of their on-field heroics. The book includes intimate snapshots of particularly relevant moments—rare glimpses behind the scenes—in order bring you back to the moment. This was a group of bona fide characters who showed great character in facing every challenge put before them—including overcoming a three games to none deficit in the ALCS against their archrivals. The season had more than its share of the humorous, the poignant, and the downright weird. Thanks to an unconventional and irreverent—but effective—approach to the game, the underdog 2004 Red Sox captured the imagination of New England and the entire nation. In their quixotic quest, they defied an ancient curse and slew the hated Yankees en route to the October Classic and a meeting with the St. Louis Cardinals. Amazing Tales from the 2004 Boston Red Sox Dugout is a personal and informal look at the first Red Sox team to win a World Series championship in 86 frustrating years. Like the team itself, it is quirky; but also like the team, it is a winner. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Former Boston Red Sox star Rico Petrocelli gives longtime fans an opportunity to relive the magical, unforgettable 1967 season, and younger fans a chance to learn about the year that reversed the fortunes of a dying franchise and served as the catalyst that transformed the Red Sox into one of the best and most popular organizations in professional sports today. Through his anecdotes, the former All-Star shortstop provides a unique first-hand account of that incredible campaign with the added perspective that time can only enhance. Petrocelli, who starred for the Red Sox from 1965-76, was a Red Sox in the worst of times, the best of times, and the greatest of times. From his game-winning home run on Opening Day to his catch for the final out that clinched the pennant, he was a major force on the Impossible Dream. Now he takes Red Sox fans back through the 1967 season, one fascinating tale at a time, along with some of his views from more recent Sox successes.