Boston Red Sox: A look at the top no-hitters in franchise history
By Rick McNair
Bill Monbouquette was local (Medford) so that is something of note – props to the local kid. Monbo, who died recently, was also an excellent pitcher who was a three-time All-Star and a 20 game winner in 1963.
On August 1st in 1962, Monbo faced off against future Hall of Fame inductee Early Wynn in a game at the old White Sox Park before 17,185. Both the Red and White Sox were miserable teams on the path to nowhere so the game did provide a modicum of excitement to an otherwise unforgettable season.
Wynn was on top of his game, allowing only a lone run and eight hits, but Monbouquette was just a tad better, allowing just one walk – a second inning pass to Al Smith. The Red Sox managed the only run of the contest in the eighth inning when Jim Pagliaroni, Pete Runnels, and Lou Clinton hit consecutive singles with Clinton getting the RBI. The White Sox last effort in the ninth saw a strikeout of Sherm Lollar, a ground out by pinch hitter Nellie Fox and a game-ending whiff by Luis Aparicio.
Pags was the catcher and he had a notable visit to Boston as a 17-year-old getting into an MLB game. The HP umpire was Bill McKinley, who was an American League umpire for 20 years before mandatory retirement kicked in. McKinley is also noted for an attempted extortion attempt on him and fellow umpire Ed Runge.
Monbouquette finished 1962 with a 15-13 record and an ERA of 3.33. The game itself moved his record to 9-10 and started Monbo with a push to elevate above .500 and Monbouquette was one of the few bright spots on a team that finished 76-84.
This one makes the list since it was a nerve-racking game that went into the eighth before the Red Sox pushed across a run. Combine that with Monbouquette’s local roots and his youth – 25-year-old – and it looked like a future star was in the works for Boston. Unfortunately, the promise of extended stardom never happened and Monbouquette finished his Boston career with a 96-91 record.