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Gentleman Jim is mainly remembered for his gutsy performance in the 1967 World Series, after a Cy Young 22-9, 246-strikeout career season. 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 31 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 Julian 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. After the dream season, Lonborg was largely ineffective, winning just 27 more games for the Red Sox in the next four years. He won 14 games after being traded to Milwaukee in 1972, then spent the remaining seven years of his career in Phildelphia. In 1974 he won 17 games, but the highlight of his season was a grand slam he hit on June 29 against Montreal, only his third career homer. He won 18 games in 1976 and went 11-4 in 1977 before fading out two seasons later. (SEW)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 10, 1965: At Fenway Park, the 9th place Yankees lose again, 3–2, when Carl Yastrzemski outhits a hobbling Mickey Mantle. Yaz hits a pair of homers and sacrifice fly, while Mantle is 3-for-4 with a homer. After Mantle doubles with two outs in the 9th, starter Jim Lonborg is lifted and Dick Radatz gets the final out. It is Lonborg's first major league win. Before the game the Yankees trade INF Pedro Gonzalez to Cleveland in exchange for 1B Ray Barker. Barker will help fill in for the injured Maris. » April 12, 1966: In his first American League at bat, Frank Robinson is hit by a pitch from Boston's Earl Wilson. Brooks Robinson then follows with a homer. Frank will later add a homer as the visiting O's win in 13 innings, 5–4, on a walk by Jim Lonborg. » July 23, 1966: Bob Allison of the Twins suffers a broken left hand when hit by a Jim Lonborg pitch during Minnesota's 10–4 win over the Red Sox. » March 16, 1967: In one of the highest scoring spring training games ever, the Red Sox tally ten earned runs in the 9th inning to upend the Mets, 23–18. Boston outhits the Mets 23 to 17 and Jim Lonborg is the eventual winner over Jack Hamilton. » April 12, 1967: In 40 degree weather at Fenway, Boston takes its season opener with the White Sox, 5–4, as righty Jim Lonborg wins with the help of a 3-run Rico Petrocelli home run. A pre-season poll picks the Red Sox to finish 9th. » October 1, 1967: Boston clinches the American League pennant with a 5–3 win over Minnesota, Jim Lonborg besting Dean Chance. Carl Yastrzemski goes 4-for-4 and has 10 hits in his final 13 at bats to grab the Triple Crown (.326, 44, 121). Detroit, which could tie for the lead with a sweep, beats California in the opener 6–4. They then drop the 2nd game 8–5 despite sending eight Tiger pitchers to the mound. The four teams combined for 6–12 record over the final week, while Boston won the pennant with .568 winning percentage, the lowest in league history. » October 5, 1967: Jim Lonborg pitches the 4th one-hitter in World Series history and Yaz (Carl Yastrzemski) hits two home runs in Boston's 5–0 win to even the Series. » October 9, 1967: Roger Maris homers for the Cardinals in the 9th, but Jim Lonborg's 3–1 win sends the World Series back to Boston. » November 3, 1967: Boston's Jim Lonborg is named American League Cy Young Award winner. » December 24, 1967: Red Sox star Jim Lonborg falls while skiing and injures his knee. The 1967 Cy Young Award winner, 22–9 this past season, will fall to 6–10 in 1968. » September 20, 1968: At Yankee Stadium, Boston's Jim Lonborg tosses just his 3rd complete game of the year to beat New York, 4–3. Yastrzemski has three hits, including a homer, to raise his average to .306. Mantle hits homer number 536, the last of his career, for New York. » July 13, 1969: Undefeated O's ace Dave McNally wins his 13th but needs relief help in subduing the Red Sox, 6–3. Jim Lonborg, making his first start since breaking his toe June 21, takes to loss. Tony Conigliaro has a pair of homers and Reggie Smith stretches his hit streak to 20 games. » July 27, 1969: Seattle suffers another heartbreaker, losing 5–3 to Boston in 20 innings at Sicks Stadium. Joe Lahoud hits a 2-run home run in the top of the 20th for Boston, and Tommy Harper matches in the bottom of the inning for the losers. Jim Lonborg is the winner. » August 1, 1969: Dick Williams pulls Carl Yastrzemski from the Boston lineup after one at bat and fines him $500 for "dogging it." Jim Lonborg allows just three hits over eight innings, but the A's rally in the 9th for three runs and beat the Sox, 4–3. » October 11, 1971: The Red Sox and the Brewers engineer a 10-player trade that sees P Jim Lonborg, P Ken Brett, OF Joe Lahoud, OF Billy Conigliaro and 1B George Scott go to Milwaukee, and P Marty Pattin, P Lew Krausse and OF Tommy Harper head to Boston. » October 4, 1972: Milwaukee's Jim Lonborg completes a successful comeback year with his 14th win, a 3-hit 1–0 victory over the Yankees. » October 31, 1972: The Phillies trade IF Don Money and two others to the Brewers for four pitchers, including Jim Lonborg and Ken Brett. » May 4, 1973: The Phillies edge the Braves 4–3 in a 20-inning marathon. Dick Ruthven starts for the Phils and Jim Lonborg finally gets the win over Ron Reed. » June 10, 1974: During a 12–0 win over the Astros, Phillie 3B Mike Schmidt hits a ball off the public address speaker hanging from the Astrodome roof, 117 feet up and 300 feet from the plate. Schmidt must settle for a titanic single. Jim Lonborg is the winner. » August 12, 1976: At Philadelphia, the Braves edge the Phils, 4–3, pinning the loss on Jim Lonborg. Atlanta pitcher Frank LaCorte wins his first ML game after nine losses. » October 5, 1977: In game two of the NLCS, Dusty Baker's grand slam, off Jim Lonborg, leads the Dodgers to a 7–1 win over the Phillies as Don Sutton goes the distance for LA. Bake McBride's homer in the 3rd is the only score for Philley.