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James Reynold Lonborg (born April 16, 1942) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played with the Boston Red Sox (1965-71), Milwaukee Brewers (1972) and Philadelphia Phillies (1973-79).
Born in Santa Maria, California, Lonborg graduated from Stanford University. He enjoyed his best year in the 1967 Red Sox' "Impossible Dream" season, when he led American League pitchers in wins (22), games started (39), and strikeouts (246). In the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, he pitched what was only the fourth one-hitter in Series history. In addition, he received the Cy Young Award, played in the All-Star game, and finished prominently in voting for the MVP award (6th in the votation).
In his 15-year career, Lonborg compiled a 157-137 record with 1475 strikeouts, a 3.86 ERA, 24 complete games, 15 shutouts, and 2464.1 innings in 425 games. Currently, he works as a dentist in Scituate, Massachusetts.
Jim Lonborg was selected to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2002.
Fact
- The tall and articulate Lonborg had compiled just a 19-27 record in his first two seasons before leading the Red Sox to their first pennant in 21 years. He ensured the pennant by beating the Twins and Dean Chance on the last day of the season, the only time the Red Sox were in first place in a wild three-team race between the Red Sox, Tigers, and Twins. Four days later in the World Series, he beat the heavily favored Cardinals with a one-hitter 5-0 to knot the Series at one game each. He lost the perfect game when he walked Curt Flood with two out in the sixth on a 3-2 pitch, then lost the no-hitter when Julián Javier doubled with two out in the eighth. Lonborg then tossed a three-hit, 3-1 victory in Game Five to give Boston a 3-2 Series edge. A Roger Maris homer in the ninth spoiled the shutout and Lonborg's 17-inning scoreless skein. By the seventh game and on only two days' rest, however, Lonborg finally gave out, losing a 7-2 decision to Bob Gibson, who won his third Series game. -Edith Williams, at Baseball Library (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/L/Lonborg_Jim.stm)
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