 |
Purchased from Kansas City, "Smoky" Joe Wood lived up to all of the promise that surrounded his name. His record for his rookie year was only 1-1, but the victory he notched was a shutout. By the 1911 season, Wood was smoking and he showeded his golden arm for the baseball world to see. His 23-17 record that year included a no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns on July 29. He also recorded 15 strikeouts in one game -- a record which wouldn't be broken until Boston's Bill Monbouquette fanned 17 in 1961. In 1912, his 34-5 record was the best in the league. "Smoky" Joe's most memorable game came on September 6, 1912. Carrying a 13-game winning streak, the Washington Senators came to town and challenged the Red Sox to throw their bright, young talent a day ahead of his scheduled start against their staff's ace: Walter "Big Train" Johnson. Johnson's record-setting 16-game consecutive win streak had just been snapped. Wood accepted the challenge and the newspapers went wild. They compared the two hurlers to prize fighters. In the sixth inning, Tris Speaker and Duffy Lewis traded doubles off of Johnson and scored a run. It would be the only time either team crossed the plate that afternoon as Wood won his 14th straight. "That was the only game I remember at Fenway Park, or anywhere else for that matter," Wood said after retiring. "The fans were practically sitting along the first baseline and third baseline." Wood went on to notch two more wins, tying Johnson's 16-game record, before losing. While fielding a bunt in July of the 1913 season in Detroit, Wood slipped on wet grass and broke his thumb. Many speculate he was rushed back into the lineup too quickly, for though he still possessed tremendous speed with his fastball, it typically took him weeks to recuperate. He posted respectable numbers the following three years but never again topped the 20-win plateau. His next best year was 1915 when he posted a 15-5 record. Because of his ailing arm, "Smoky" Joe took up playing the outfield for a number of seasons. But the Red Sox eventually sold him to Cleveland. Though he really only had that one true great season with the Red Sox, Boston remembered with him a standing ovation on Old Timers Day at Fenway Park in 1984, nearly 75 years after the 1912 season. Joe Wood was 94 that day and he was happy that Boston remembered him as "Smoky." |
