This Date In Red Sox History: August 28 - Doubleheader Record, Tim Wakefield, Ken Harrelson

Games of Note: The Red Sox play a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox back on August 28 of 1912, and it goes well, with Boston taking both games, 5-3 and 3-0. There's something historical about the two contests, though, and it's the number of times the Red Sox come up to bat: Boston logs just 50 at-bats, the fewest ever in a doubleheader, in the process.

Moving things along all the way to 1999, and the Red Sox defeat the Angels, 7-6. Tim Wakefield faced off against Steve Sparks, in the 27th known match-up of knucklers. Wakefield threw 6-1/3 frames, striking out one and walking one while allowing three runs. Sparks fared a bit worse, lasting just 5-1/3 while giving up six runs. Sparks also handed out four free passes against the one punch out.

Transactions: Ken Harrelson -- yes, one and the same -- signs with the Red Sox on August 28, 1967. He had been released by the Kansas City Athletics days earlier, two months after they had reacquired him roughly a year after dealing the outfielder away to the Senators in the first place. Harrelson wasn't much help in Boston down the stretch, hitting just .200/.247/.388 in 85 plate appearances, but he was excellent in 1968, leading the AL in RBI thanks to a .275/.356/.518 line and 155 OPS+.

Boston released Jim Landis, who they had signed six days prior, in order to make room for Harrelson.

Birthdays: Mike Torrez turns 66 years old today. Torrez signed as a free agent with the Red Sox before the 1978 season, and stayed with Boston through the 1982 season before the Sox dealt him to the Mets. Torrez threw 1,012 frames with the Sox, posting a 94 ERA+ and 1.1 K/BB.

His most important season was his first with Boston, as he posted a 105 ERA+ and threw 250 innings in 36 starts. The last of those starts came on October 2, against the New York Yankees, in Game 163. Torrez gave up the homer to Bucky Dent that still causes many a Sox fan to cringe, and took the loss in the contest that eliminated the Sox from playoff contention.