Harry Agganis had been a promising young first baseman for the Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately, Agganis had been hospitalized with chest pains several weeks before, and passed on this day in 1955.
The Boston Red Sox looked like they had a potential star in young first baseman Harry Agganis. Signed out of Boston University, Agganis decided to forgo a career with the Cleveland Browns in order to sign with his hometown Red Sox.
That signing proved to be an excellent choice, as he dominated with the Louisville Colonels in 1953 during his one season in the minors, posting a .281/.358/.491 batting line with 23 homers and 38 doubles. He appeared on his way to being another excellent hitter in the midst of the Red Sox lineup.
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After that one year in the minors, Agganis produced a solid .251/.321/.394 batting line with 11 home runs and 13 doubles in 1954. He started off the following season well, producing a .313/.383/.458 batting line with ten doubles in his first 25 game, but that success would not last. He was hospitalized on May 16 due to chest pains, and following a bout of pneumonia, died due to a massive pulmonary embolism on this day in 1955.
Along with the untimely passings of Len Bias and Reggie Lewis, as well as the beaning of Tony Conigliaro, Agganis’ death is considered to be one of the great tragedies in Boston sports history. His death stunned the city, with a reported 10,000 mourners attending his wake at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Lynn, Massachusetts, his home town.
He has received numerous honors after his death. Agganis Arena at Boston University was named in his honor, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974. Gaffney Street was renamed Agganis Way in 1995, and a foundation bearing his name has raised over $1,000,000 in scholarships for student athletes in the Boston area, including his home town.
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The Boston Red Sox thought they had a star in the making in Harry Agganis. Instead, he would end up as one of the more tragic stories in the history of Boston sports.