Boston Red Sox Carroll Hardy Becomes Trivia Answer

Only one player in MLB history ever pinch hit for both Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. On this day in 1961, Boston Red Sox outfielder Carroll Hardy pinch hit for Yaz to come in for both legends.

Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Carroll Hardy had a fairly non-descript career. A player who was more of a fourth outfielder and a pinch hitter, Hardy was a regular in only two of his eight major league seasons with four different clubs. In most cases, Hardy would be a player that few would recall.

However, Hardy managed to accomplish a few pinch hitting feats that withstand the test of time. He pinch hit for future single season home run record holder Roger Maris in 1958 and hit his first career home run. Hardy also holds the record for the latest walkoff grand slam on hisotory, breaking a scoreless tie in the twelfth inning of a game on April 11, 1962 against the Cleveland Indians.

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Hardy earned notoriety as being the only player to pinch hit for Ted Williams. On September 20, 1960, Williams fouled a ball off his foot, causing him to leave the game, with Hardy finishing out the at bat. Not even a year later, Hardy would pinch hit for Carl Yastrzemski, bunting for a base hit in the eighth inning of the Red Sox game on this day in 1961.

While no one would know it at the time, Hardy would become the only player to ever pinch hit for both players. It is quite the unique honor, with Hardy pinch hitting for two legends, even if no one at the time knew what Yaz would become.

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The answer to several baseball trivia questions, Carroll Hardy made a real mark on the game with his pinch hitting exploits for the Boston Red Sox.