This Day in Red Sox History

August 18

1907: Rube Kroh beats the St. Louis Browns 2-1 in a complete game. This will be Kroh’s only win of the season.

1967: While facing right handed pitcher Jack Hamilton of the Angels in the bottom of the fourth at Fenway, OF Tony Conigliaro is hit the face by a fastball (according to most Red Sox players it was a spit ball). The ball hits him on his cheekbone, just below his left eye socket. Conigliaro suffers a fractured cheekbone, a dislocated jaw, and a damaged retina, and doctors say that had the ball hit an inch or two away it would have killed him. The 22 year old will miss the rest of the season as well as all of 1968. However by special permission of Commissioner William Eckert, Tony C. was able to be in uniform for the last game of the season, and was on the bench when the Sox won their first pennant in 21 yeas. At the time he was hitting .267 with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs in only 95 games. Due to his injury he has problems with his eyesight for the rest of his life, and never is able to live up to his Hall of Fame potential that was on display during his first three years.

1993: Righty Danny Darwin pitches a 5-0 shut out over the White Sox.

2006: In the second half of a day/ night double header the Yankees and the Red Sox play in the longest nine inning game in Major League History. The game lasts 4 hours and 45 minutes. The teams have a total of 34 hits. The Sox go on to lose the game 14-11.

By Mac Stepp Jr.