| 2012 Boston Red Sox | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| League | American League | |
| Division | East | |
| Ballpark | Fenway Park | |
| City | Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Record | 69–93 (.426) | |
| Divisional place | 5th | |
| Owners | John W. Henry (Fenway Sports Group) | |
| President | Larry Lucchino | |
| General manager | Ben Cherington | |
| Manager | Bobby Valentine | |
| Television | NESN (Don Orsillo, Jerry Remy) | |
| Radio | Boston Red Sox Radio Network (Joe Castiglione, Dave O'Brien, Jon Rish, Dale Arnold) | |
| Stats | ESPN.com Baseball Reference | |
| ||
The 2012 Boston Red Sox season was the 112th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished last in the five-team American League East with a record of 69 wins and 93 losses, 26 games behind the first-place New York Yankees. It was the first time the Red Sox finished last in their division since 1992. Under manager Bobby Valentine, the Red Sox finished with the third-lowest winning percentage in the American League.
On the heels of a 2011 season that ended with the team losing 20 of 27 games during September,[1] resulting in their elimination from playoff contention and the departure of manager Terry Francona,[2] the Red Sox struggled throughout their 2012 campaign under new manager Bobby Valentine. At the All-Star break the team was 43–43, and at the end of August they had fallen to 62–71. At 66–81 on September 16, the Red Sox were mathematically eliminated from the playoff race. On September 19, the team lost their 82nd regular season game, thus clinching their first losing season since 1997. On September 30, the Red Sox reached the 90-loss mark, assuring them of their first season with 90 or more losses since 1966. The next day, the team suffered their 91st loss of the season, to the arch-rival Yankees, the most defeats since their 100-loss season in 1965. On October 4, a day after their final game of the season, Valentine was fired,[3] with one year and two option years still remaining on his contract.
- ^ 2011 Boston Red Sox Schedule, Box Scores and Splits Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ McDonald, Joe (September 30, 2011). "Terry Francona, Red Sox split". ESPNBoston.com. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
- ^ ESPN.com news services, with additional information from the Associated Press (October 4, 2012). "Boston Red Sox fire manager Bobby Valentine after one season". espn.com. Retrieved October 4, 2012.