These are desperate times and today’s journey into the desperate is pinch-hitting (PH) and specifically Red Sox pinch-hitting. Since the divergence of the two leagues in relationship to the designated hitter (DH) the domain of the PH has centered on the National League. With the absences of a pitcher making a fool of himself removed from the lineup equation, there is far less need in the American League.
The Red Sox have had some wonderful examples of pinch-hitting through the years but one year stands out and that was 1943. That year was in the middle of a minor brush war known as World War II.