2007 Boston Red Sox
World Series Champions American League Champions American League East Champions
League	American League
Division	East
Ballpark	Fenway Park
City	Boston, Massachusetts
Record	96–66 (.593)
Divisional place	1st
Owners	John W. Henry (New England Sports Ventures)
President	Larry Lucchino
General manager	Theo Epstein
Manager	Terry Francona
Television	New England Sports Network
Radio	WRKO WEEI WROL (Spanish)
Stats	ESPN.com Baseball Reference
← 2006 Seasons 2008 →

The2007 Boston Red Sox season was the 107th season in the franchise'sMajor League Baseball history. Managed byTerry Francona, theRed Sox finished first in theAmerican League East with a record of 96–66. In thepostseason, the Red Sox first swept theAmerican League West championLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim in theALDS. In theALCS, the Red Sox defeated theAmerican League Central championCleveland Indians in seven games, despite falling behind 3–1 in the series. Advancing to theWorld Series, the Red Sox swept theNational League championColorado Rockies, to capture their second championship in four years.^[1]

On November 14, 2006, Major League Baseball announced that the Red Sox had competed for the rights to negotiate a contract withJapanesepitcherDaisuke Matsuzaka. Boston won with a bid of US$51.1 million and had 30 days to complete a deal. On December 13, 2006, the day before the deadline, Matsuzaka signed a six-year contract worth $52 million.

It was initially announced thatcloserJonathan Papelbon would become a starter in 2007, partially to protect his arm from the injury that sidelined him. PitchersHideki Okajima,J. C. Romero andJoel Piñeiro were signed as free agents.Brendan Donnelly was acquired from theLos Angeles Angels in a trade for pitcherPhil Seibel.

However, there was no clear candidate for the closer role. Papelbon wanted to re-fill that spot, and team officials believed he had rehabilitated himself so well in the offseason that his health of this shoulder was no longer a concern, and allowed him to return to the bullpen.^[2]

The Red Sox lost free agentÁlex González to theCincinnati Reds (leading the Red Sox to signJulio Lugo) andMark Loretta to theHouston Astros (allowingDustin Pedroia to become the team's starting second baseman).Trot Nixon, also a free agent, signed with theCleveland Indians, creating the need for a right fielder. The Red Sox pursuedJ. D. Drew, who had recently opted out of the remainder of his contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers to become a free agent. However, the Red Sox medical staff had concerns about Drew's previously injured shoulder. On January 25, 2007, the Red Sox and Drew agreed to a five-year deal worth $70 million.

OutfielderGabe Kapler, age 31, announced his retirement to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a coach. The Red Sox named himmanager of theirsingle-A affiliate, theGreenville Drive.

At the end of spring training of 2007, the Red Sox traded minor league veteran catcherAlberto Castillo forBaltimore Orioles outfielderCory Keylor.

Bright green jerseys, with "Red Sox" in white letters outlined in red across the front, were worn on April 20 to honor formerBoston Celtics coach, general manager, and presidentRed Auerbach, who had died during the previous off-season. The jerseys also had players' names on the back, believed to be a first for Red Sox home uniforms.^[3]

• November 30, 2006:Hideki Okajima signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.^[4]
• December 6, 2006:Julio Lugo signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.^[5]
• December 14, 2006:Daisuke Matsuzaka was purchased by the Red Sox fromSeibu Lions.^[6]
• December 15, 2006:J. C. Romero signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.^[7]
• January 4, 2007:Joel Piñeiro signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.^[8]
• February 14, 2007:J. D. Drew signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.^[9]
• June 18, 2007: J. C. Romero was released by the Red Sox.^[10]
• July 31, 2007:Éric Gagné was acquired by the Red Sox from theRangers in exchange forEngel Beltré,Kason Gabbard andDavid Murphy.^[11] In a separate trade, minor leaguer Sean Danielson was acquired by the Red Sox from theCardinals in exchange for Joel Piñeiro.^[12]
• August 6, 2007:Bobby Kielty signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.^[13]
• August 21, 2007: Minor leaguerChris Carter was acquired by the Red Sox from theNationals. Four days earlier, the Red Sox traded outfielderWily Mo Peña to the Nationals.^[14]
• August 23, 2007:Royce Clayton signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.^[15]

• Boston wins series 3–0

• Boston wins series 4–3

• Boston wins series 4–0

• The Red Sox set an MLB post-season record by outscoring their collective opponents 99–46.^[16]

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

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

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

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

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

The Red Sox not only won the AL East Division for the first time in 12 years, but clinched the best record in the American League—and all of baseball. While their 96–66 record was the same as that of theCleveland Indians, the Red Sox held the season series tiebreaker for American League home-field advantage, having bested the Tribe 5 games to 2. Thus, the wild cardNew York Yankees were sent to Cleveland while the Sox would host theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Josh Beckett started the series with a complete-game shutout in Game 1, resuming his dominance of the postseason after a three-season absence. AlthoughKevin Youkilis hit a solohome run in the first inning that would prove to be all the offense Beckett needed,David Ortiz provided additional support with a two-run homer in the third to cap off a 4–0 Game 1 victory. Game 2 was much closer, withDaisuke Matsuzaka andKelvim Escobar each surrendering three runs by the time the fifth inning was done. In the bottom of the ninth, after aJulio Lugo single and David Ortiz's playoff record-tying fourthwalk of the night (this time, intentional),Manny Ramírez ended the game with a towering home run that leftFenway Park over theGreen Monster. With a 6–3 Game 2 win, the Red Sox would go toAngel Stadium of Anaheim with a 2–0 series lead.

In Game 3,Curt Schilling brought back the dominant pitching, scattering six hits and striking out four in seven innings of shutout work. He had plenty of run support as well, with Ortiz and Ramírez hitting back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth, and a progression of hits that scored seven more in the eighth inning.Éric Gagné gave up the only run, giving up a ground-rule double toMaicer Izturis in the bottom of the ninth, then advancing Izturis to third on a wild pitch before giving up a sacrifice fly toHowie Kendrick that scored Izturis. After that, a strikeout and a flyout ended the game with a 9–1 Red Sox victory to clinch a series sweep.

The Red Sox sweep was one of three Division Series sweeps in the 2007 post-season. Only one series would go more than three—the Indians beat the Yankees in four games.

In Game 1,Travis Hafner got the first run on Josh Beckett with a solo home run in the first inning. Manny Ramírez answered back, driving in Kevin Youkilis with a single in the bottom of the first. After that, Beckett settled in, while Indians starterC.C. Sabathia fell apart. In the bottom of the third, he gave up a ground-rule double toJulio Lugo, and then after a bunt groundout forDustin Pedroia, he walked Kevin Youkilis, hit David Ortiz, and walked Manny Ramírez to give up the lead. Then he gave up a double toMike Lowell that scored Youkilis and Ortiz. AfterBobby Kielty was walked,Jason Varitek hit a groundout that could not be turned into a double-play, scoring Ramírez. The Sox tacked five more on, and win Game 1, 10–3.

Game 2 was a slugfest, withCurt Schilling andFausto Carmona both failing to make it out of the fifth inning, and a 6–6 tie after six innings. The game drew into extra frames, but the Red Sox bullpen got hammered in the top of the eleventh, with Éric Gagné,Javier López andJon Lester giving up seven runs. The Red Sox failed to answer back, and lost Game 2, 13–6. The series was even headed to Cleveland.

In Game 3, Daisuke Matsuzaka gave up 4 runs, and Jason Varitek provided the only Red Sox offense with a two-run homer in the seventh, as the Indians took theJacobs Field opener, 4–2, for a 2–1 series lead. Game 4 did not start much better for the Red Sox, with a seven-run fifth inning that sawManny Delcarmen allow four runs (two charged to starterTim Wakefield). In the top of the sixth, the Sox showed some life with back-to-back-to-back solo home runs by Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Manny Ramírez. That would be all of the Sox offense, as they fell, 7–3, to end up in a 3–1 ALCS hole once again.

Once more, the Red Sox faced ALCS elimination. But one person who was not panicking was Manny Ramírez. In his typical "Manny Being Manny" attitude, Ramirez told reporters that if the Red Sox were eliminated, it wouldn't be "the end of the world." His comments seemedlaissez faire at the time, as many members of the Boston media chose to interpret them as meaning that Manny would not put forth his best effort in the games to come and would thus disrupt his team's ability to compete. Fate proved them wrong though. With Josh Beckett on the mound again for Game 5, the Red Sox dominated, with Kevin Youkilis driving in three and David Ortiz driving in two to power a 7–1 Red Sox victory to force the ALCS back toFenway Park.

The Red Sox were hardly finished. In Game 6, Curt Schilling redeemed himself, giving up two runs in seven innings, whileJ. D. Drew hammered a grand slam in the first inning, and the Sox tacked on six more in the third, leading to a 12–2 victory. Éric Gagné finished the game by pitching a perfect 9th inning. Game 7 gave Daisuke Matsuzaka his chance at redemption, and he did not disappoint, giving up 2 runs in five innings, whileHideki Okajima andJonathan Papelbon each pitched two scoreless innings. The Sox hammered out a run in each of the first three innings, then exploded with a Dustin Pedroia two-run homer in the seventh, and six more runs—including another two-run homer by Kevin Youkilis—in the eighth. With an 11–2 Game 7 victory, the Red Sox came back once again from elimination, bringing them to their second World Series in four years.

At first, the World Series seemed like a tough task. After going the distance with the Indians, the Red Sox had to face the red-hotColorado Rockies, who had just finished a 21-of-22 run that included forcing and winning a Wild Card one-game playoff with theSan Diego Padres, then sweeping thePhiladelphia Phillies in theNLDS and theArizona Diamondbacks in theNLCS. The Red Sox were counting on their historically-dominant postseason pitching and the possibility that eight days off would leave the Rox rusty.

Game 1 proved, once more, to be a domination. Josh Beckett gave up just one run in seven innings of work while striking out nine, while Rockies starterJeff Francis gave up a home run on his second pitch to Dustin Pedroia in the bottom of the first, and a total of six runs in four innings. It got worse from there, as the Red Sox hammered relieverFranklin Morales for seven runs in the fifth inning. The Red Sox took Game 1, 13–1.

In Game 2, Curt Schilling gave up one run in 51⁄3 innings, and Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon finished the game flawlessly. This time, the dominance was necessary, as the Red Sox scored two times, with Jason Varitek driving in Mike Lowell in the fourth, then Lowell driving in David Ortiz in the fifth for their only offense of the game. With a 2–1 Game 2 win, the Red Sox went toCoors Field inDenver with the advantage, hoping therarefied air would not affect them too much.

Game 3 began with another dominating offensive performance. Boston struck first, with six runs in the third inning that knocked out Rox starterJosh Fogg. Mike Lowell and pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka each had two RBIs, and Manny Ramírez was called out at home on a controversial, but ultimately correct, tagout call. The Rockies tried to come back, bringing in five runs, including aMatt Holliday home run. But the Sox put it away, with rookies Dustin Pedroia andJacoby Ellsbury combining to drive in three in the eighth inning, and Mike Lowell scoring the final Sox run in the ninth to seal a 10–5 win that put the Red Sox one game away from their second World Series Championship in four years.

Game 4 gaveJon Lester his shot at redemption, as a back injury toTim Wakefield gave Lester the start. He was scoreless in5+2⁄3 innings, with Mike Lowell scoring two runs and Jacoby Ellsbury scoring one in support. In the eighth inning, Bobby Kielty hit a pinch-hit home run to put an end to the Sox's scoring. Hideki Okajima almost gave the game up, allowing two runs in the eighth before Jonathan Papelbon came in to save the game in1+2⁄3 innings. The Red Sox celebrated a 4–3 win and a four-game World Series sweep at Coors Field. Mike Lowell, with his .400 average and six runs scored, was named the MVP of the World Series.

Two days later, on October 30, the Red Sox were the guests of honor in a Rolling Rally through Boston, after which the team began to lay their plans for the2008 season.

During the course of the 2007 season, the Red Sox were helped out and sometimes carried by rookies. Five rookies stick out in particular.Dustin Pedroia,Jacoby Ellsbury,Clay Buchholz,Daisuke Matsuzaka, andHideki Okajima all had their moments and left their mark of this season in Red Sox history.

Dustin Pedroia began the season as the Red Sox starting second baseman. Pedroia, 24, struggled in April only batting .182, with 10 hits in 55 at-bats. Although he struggled in the first month, Pedroia heated up batting an outstanding .415 in the month of May. Pedroia was honored as American League Rookie of the Month for the month of May. Pedroia continued this hot hitting for the remainder of the season. Pedroia also excelled his play in the postseason by 2 HR and driving in 10 runs in 14 games to help the Red Sox win the World Series. Pedroia ended batting .317 which ranked 10th among all American League players. Pedroia also finished with 8 home runs and 50 runs batted in. Pedroia won the American LeagueRookie of the Year award.

Pedroia was not the only rookie position player to make an impact this season.Jacoby Ellsbury, 24, made his MLB debut on June 30. Instantly Ellsbury succeeded. In only 33 games and 116 at-bats, Ellsbury hit .353, had 3 home runs, and had 41 hits. Jacoby also showed off his versatility by stealing 9 bases without getting caught. Ellsbury also had a terrific postseason. Ellsbury replaced center fielderCoco Crisp in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Indians. He did not heat up until Game 3 of the World Series, where he had 4 hits and 2 doubles. Ellsbury batted an amazing .438 in the 4-game sweep of theColorado Rockies.

The Boston Red Sox also had one incredible rookie pitcher namedClay Buchholz. Buchholz, 23, made his MLB debut on August 17. In his first start against theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Fenway Park, Buchholz pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 earned runs, while striking out 5 batters. However, it was not until his second Major League start before Clay Buchholz became a household name throughout Red Sox Nation. On September 1 against theBaltimore Orioles atFenway Park, Buchholz pitched ano-hitter. He struck out 9 Orioles including Oriole right fielderNick Markakis on a curveball to complete this outstanding feat. Buchholz became the second rookie in Major League history to pitch a no-hitter. Buchholz pitched in 4 games with the Red Sox. He was 3–1 with a 1.59 ERA and 22 strikeouts. Despite his success in the regular season, Buchholz was left off the Red Sox postseason roster due to what Red Sox management determined was a fatigued arm.

The season got off to a wonderful start. On April 22, 2007, in a game against theNew York Yankees, the Red Sox hit four consecutivehome runs for the first time in franchise history (and the fifth time in major league history),^[17] whenManny Ramírez,J. D. Drew,Mike Lowell, andJason Varitek all hit home runs off Yankees pitcherChase Wright. Drew also hit the second of four consecutive home runs the last time this happened, when theLos Angeles Dodgers did it against theSan Diego Padres on September 18, 2006. That series was also the first series since the1990 season that the Red Sox swept the Yankees in a three-game series at Fenway.^[18]

Six members of the Red Sox were chosen to play in the season's all-star game.David Ortiz was elected to start at first base by the fans, third baseman Mike Lowell and outfielder Manny Ramírez were chosen by their fellow players as reserves. PitchersJosh Beckett andJonathan Papelbon made the initial team, and relieverHideki Okajima was voted in by the fans as the winner of the 32nd-man internet vote. It was the first time the Red Sox had more than two pitchers make the all-star team.^[19] Josh Beckett was credited with the win for the American League.

On September 1, 2007, against theBaltimore Orioles, rookie pitcherClay Buchholz threw ano hitter in his second major league start. He was the first rookie in Red Sox history to throw a no hitter, as well as the 17th pitcher in Red Sox history to throw one. He got ninestrikeouts and gave up threewalks andhit one batter.

Julio Lugo andCoco Crisp became the first pair of Red Sox players to have at least 25 stolen bases sinceTris Speaker andHal Janvrin in 1914.^[20]

Leading the league with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, and an AL-record 1,079 errorless chances at first, Kevin Youkilis won the 2007 ALGold Glove award for first basemen.^[21]

• Jacoby Ellsbury –AL Rookie of the Month (September)
• Hideki Okajima –AL Rookie of the Month (April)
• David Ortiz –Silver Slugger Award (DH),AL Player of the Month (September)
• Dustin Pedroia –American League Rookie of the Year,AL Rookie of the Month (May)
• Kevin Youkilis –Gold Glove Award (1B)

All-Star Game

• Josh Beckett, reserve P
• Mike Lowell, reserve 3B
• Hideki Okajima, reserve P (final vote winner)
• David Ortiz, starting 1B
• Jonathan Papelbon, reserve P
• Manny Ramírez, reserve OF

TheClass A-Advanced affiliate changed from theWilmington Blue Rocks to theLancaster JetHawks.

Source:^[22][23]

• Monagan, Matt (March 10, 2021)."The story behind the Fenway pizza throw".MLB.com. RetrievedMarch 10, 2021.The Red Sox were taking on the Angels on Patriots' Day 2007, one of the holiest of all holidays in Boston.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to2007 Boston Red Sox season.

• Game logs:

1st half:Boston Red Sox Game Log on ESPN.com

2nd half:Boston Red Sox Game Log on ESPN.com

• 2007 Boston Red Sox at Baseball Reference
• Batting statistics:Boston Red Sox stats on ESPN.com
• Pitching statistics:Boston Red Sox pitching stats on ESPN.com
• 2007 Boston Red Sox Draft SelectionsArchived July 8, 2017, at theWayback Machine

• World Series champion seasons
• Boston Red Sox seasons
• American League East champion seasons
• American League champion seasons
• 2007 Major League Baseball season
• 2007 in sports in Massachusetts
• 2007 in Boston

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