10 moments that defined Fred Lynn
BOSTON — Few have ever burst onto the scene fairly like Fred Lynn did in 1975.
During that memorable season, Lynn was a each day spotlight movie on the plate and in heart area. He shaped the “Gold Dust Twins” together with fellow rookie Jim Rice and the Red Sox discovered themselves within the World Series. Lynn turned the primary participant in historical past to be named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the identical season. Nobody did it once more till Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.
And there can be extra greatness in Lynn all through the years, particularly his Red Sox years — which ended abruptly with an unpopular commerce to the Angels following the 1980 season.
As a member of the Red Sox, Lynn slashed .308/.383/.520 with 124 homers, 521 RBIs and was 6-for-6 in All-Star appearances throughout his Boston profession. In a 17-year profession, Lynn was a nine-time All-Star with 4 Gold Glove Awards and smashed 306 homers to go together with a .283 common.
Here are 10 moments that helped outlined Lynn’s profession in celebration of his birthday on February 3.
1) All-Star grand slam in 1983
When you’re the solely particular person in baseball historical past to do one thing, that’s certain to turn out to be your prime second. Though Lynn did terrific issues within the common season and the postseason, he’ll all the time be outlined by his historic second at Comiskey Park when he smashed the primary — and nonetheless solely — grand slam in All-Star Game historical past. The blast got here in opposition to Giants lefty Atlee Hammaker and propelled the American League to a 13-3 romp that snapped a string of dominance during which the National League had gained 19 out of 20.
2) Eruption in Detroit
The coming-out-party for Lynn as a budding celebrity needed to be the evening of June 18 in that rookie yr of ’75 when the left-handed hitter with the candy swing clubbed three homers, a triple and a single to go together with 10 RBIs at Tiger Stadium. His 16 whole bases in that contest nonetheless characterize a single-game document for a Red Sox participant. Boston pounded the Tigers, 15-1.
3) Getting the Game 6 social gathering began
Game 6 of the 1975 World Series is on the quick record of probably the most compelling contests in baseball historical past. It was Lynn who bought this social gathering began Fenway Park by smashing a three-run homer within the backside of the primary inning in opposition to Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine. Cincinnati would ultimately flip that 3-0 deficit right into a 6-3 lead. But Bernie Carbo and Carlton Fisk got here again with monumental homers turning it into an epic 7-6 win in 12 innings for Boston. Though the late-game dramatics will all the time be remembered, maybe they wouldn’t have been attainable with out the early salvo from Lynn.
4) Lynn saves Tiant, Sox in Game 4
If the homer in Game 6 was Lynn’s defining offensive second from the one World Series he ever performed in, his sensational, working catch to assist save Luis Tiant to protect a pulsating victory in Game 4 goes down as his signature defensive play in that sequence. In the underside of the ninth, the Reds had the tying and go-ahead runs on base with one out. Ken Griffey Sr. belted a line drive that appeared to have additional bases written throughout it. But Lynn bought an important soar and made an amazing snag as Boston held on for a 7-6 victory that tied the Fall Classic at 2.
5) 1979
If 1975 is the season that may all the time outline Lynn, ’79 is the one during which he put up his most spectacular statistics. In his penultimate season with the Red Sox, Lynn had league-leading totals in batting common (.333), on-base proportion (.423), slugging proportion (.637) and OPS (1.059 OPS). He added profession highs in runs (116), homers (39) and RBIs (122). And there was one more massive Lynn second on the nationwide stage when he hit a two-run homer off an all-time nice in Steve Carlton to provide the AL an early 3-2 lead within the All-Star Game at Seattle’s Kingdome.
6) 1982 ALCS MVP
Lynn’s postseason heroics weren’t restricted to his time in Boston. He had one nice — albeit abbreviated — October run for the Angels in 1982. Though the Brewers got here again from an 0-2 sequence deficit to beat the Angels in 5 video games, Lynn achieved the rarity of being named the MVP of that sequence regardless of taking part in for the dropping staff. Lynn went 11-for-18 (.611 common) with two doubles, a homer and 5 RBIs.
7) Yet one other ASG homer
With Lynn’s time winding down in Boston, he nonetheless had one other massive second in him when he smashed his third profession homer in All-Star Game competitors. This one was the 1980 Midsummer Classic at Dodger Stadium, and Lynn took Bob Welch deep for a two-run shot within the fifth that snapped a scoreless tie. The legendary Vin Scully made the decision.
8) Collision and sensational catch
When Lynn was in sizzling pursuit of the baseball, a collision was only a minor nuisance. Take the evening of Sept. 21, 1982, when Lynn roared again and jumped on the wall to attempt to take additional bases away from Kansas City’s Amos Otis. Angels left fielder Brian Downing had related concepts and crashed into Lynn. Somehow, Lynn managed to hold on to the baseball. Downing bought the worst of the collision however was within the lineup the subsequent day.
9) Lynn belts No. 300
Though few individuals will ever consider Lynn as a Detroit Tiger, that’s the staff he was taking part in for when he smashed the three hundredth homer of his profession. The rocket off the façade of the decrease deck in proper was struck on Sept. 4, 1989, and got here off of Royals ace Bret Saberhagen. It was the ultimate dwelling run for Lynn in Detroit. He would hit his remaining six taking part in for his hometown San Diego Padres in ’90.
10) Lynn elected to Red Sox Hall of Fame
Initially, Lynn’s profession gave the impression to be on a Hall of Fame observe. But due to his departure from the Red Sox — Lynn had a swing constructed completely for Fenway — and a few accidents, that by no means got here to fruition. He did, nevertheless, get elected into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2002. That was a candy second for Lynn, the beginning of his reconciliation together with his authentic staff. Though he lives in Southern California, Lynn is a frequent customer to Fenway Park.
