While the 2017 Red Sox
did enjoy a successful regular season—topping
The Bronx Embalmers for the AL East crown—
they also set a dubious MLB record that could stand forever. Back in August, former Manager
John Farrell forgot to insert a substitute player—
Hanley Ramriez—into the batting order in the bottom of the ninth in a 16-3 blowout loss to the Orioles. Ramirez was
supposed to hit for the player he replaced—DH
Chris Young.
ManRam had come into the game as a defensive replacement to play first—since
Mitch Moreland had to pitch in garbage time. But,
really, he replaced Young in the lineup at DH. Farrell still sent up Young to bat in the ninth—
who actually got an illegal hit! Of course, nobody noticed or cared, but it marked the first time in MLB history of an illegal re-entry into a lineup. So, there's that.
