1975 Hall of Fame Game

The Boston Red Sox hit four home runs en route to a 11-5 win over the San Francisco Giants in the 33rd Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 18, 1975 – the latest date ever for a Hall of Fame Game.

The Red Sox took an early four-run lead in the top of the first inning on two two-run home runs.

Cecil Cooper reached on an error to lead off the game and scored when Fred Lynn homered over the left field wall.

Jim Rice singled to center, and Dwight Evans hit a shot over the right field fence to give Boston its third and fourth runs.

In the bottom of the first, Derrel Thomas reached on an error with two outs in the inning. He then scored on back-to-back singles by Willie Montañez and Gary Matthews to bring the Giants within three.

Each team scored a run in the third inning when Carlton Fisk and Marc Hill hit solo shots for the Red Sox and Giants, respectively.

San Francisco made it 5-3 in the fourth, but Boston responded by scoring two runs in the fifth inning on a Doug Griffin single, a double by Evans and another single by Bob Heise.

The Giants picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. After two singles from Gary Thomasson and Tim Robinson, Boston left fielder Tim Blackwell – normally a catcher – dropped Doug Radar’s pop fly, allowing Thomasson to score.

Leading 9-4 in the top of the eighth, Boston added two more insurance runs. Cooper drew a walk to begin the inning, then Rick Miller doubled. Griffin then singled to score both runners.

Steve Ontiveros homered to left field for the Giants in the bottom of the ninth, but Boston reliever Steve Barr stifled the San Francisco comeback, giving Boston the win.

Cooper led the Red Sox offensively with two hits and three runs scored. For San Francisco, Thomasson and Matthews each had two hits while Hill had two RBI.

No pitcher threw more than four innings in the game, but Boston starter Dick Pole earned the win, giving up two runs on four hits. The Giants’ Tom Bradley took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out four.