January 14th, 1934 - The 1934 Boston Red Sox

The 1934 Boston Red Sox finished fourth with a record of 76 and 76. Roy Johnson (of) and Bill Werber (3b) were their best hitters 1934. Wes Ferrell and Fritz Ostermuller were their star starting pitchers with Herb Pennock and Joe Mulligan the leaders of a strong bullpen. One note of interest is Lefty Grove. One of the all time greatest pitchers in baseball, Grove has had a terrific career prior to 1934, and will have a terrific career after it. During 1934, however, he was playing injured, the result of letting a bad toothache go untended long enough for it to effect his pitching. Other than his first year in the league and his last, Grove had an incredible ERA for every year EXCEPT 1934. The Beantowners manager is Bucky Harris, who had just left the managing job in Detroit. Their fourth place finish will be the best for Boston until 1938. In 1935, Joe Cronin will be sold to Boston by his father in law, Washington Nationals owner Clark Griffith, and he'll play shortstop and replace Harris (who will move to Washington to manage) managing from 1935 through 1948.