Bernie Carbo

From SoSH

Bernardo "Bernie" Carbo (born August 5, 1947) was a Major League outfielder for parts of 12 seasons, and with 6 different teams. Carbo was a big fan favorite during his years with the Red Sox.

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Achievements 3 Moment in the Sun 4 Trivia 5 Transactions 6 External Links

Overall Career

The journeyman outfielder starred in the 1975 World Series, tying the Series record with two pinch homers; the second tied the score in the eighth inning of Game Six, setting the stage for Carlton Fisk's dramatic overtime home run. Carbo had been the Reds' number-one draft pick in the inaugural 1965 draft, ahead of Johnny Bench. He was TSN Rookie of the Year in 1970, batting .310 with 21 HR. But the lefthanded hitter slumped to .219 his sophomore year, and arrived in Boston in 1974.

With the Red Sox, Carbo was given a giant stuffed animal for good luck. He tabbed it "Mighty Joe Young," and the beast became as well known in Boston as Bernie. His 1978 sale to Cleveland caused Boston pal Bill Lee to walk out (after the season, Lee was sent to the Expos); Lee claimed Carbo was "the best tenth man in baseball."

Carbo hit .287 in 60 games with the Indians in 1978. On March 10, 1979, Carbo signed as a free agent with the Cardinals, returning to the National League for the balance of his career. He batted .281 in 64 at-bats over 52 games for the Cards in 1979. His major league career came to a close in 1980, playing in 14 games with the Cardinals and seven with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Carbo finished his 12-year major league career with a .264 average and .387 OBP with 96 homers and 358 RBI.

Following the end of his baseball career, Carbo went to cosmetology school and operated a hair salon for eight years. However, his long-standing substance abuse problems led to a downward spiral which got so bad, as he related to Doug Hornig in The Boys of October, that he began to deal as well. He reportedly hit bottom in 1993 after his mother had committed suicide, his father passed away, and his first marriage dissolved. His ex-teammates and fellow "Buffalo Heads" Lee and Jenkins helped him find the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT), an organization that helps needy former players and was instrumental in getting him into recovery from his addictions. Since 1980, he has run a baseball school for high school, college and pro players. He formed the "Diamond Club Ministry" in which he travels around the country speaking to primarily young adults about religion, baseball and the dangers of substance abuse. He has also served as a substitute teacher. He has remarried and has one son from his current marriage and three grown daughters from his first marriage. He currently is the field manager of the Pensacola Pelicans of the independent Central Baseball League.

Achievements

• League Leaders - Top 10: OBP (1970)
• League Leaders - Top 10: OPS (1970)

Moment in the Sun

• October 21, 1975: In Game 6 of the World Series, Carbo hits a pinch 3-run home run in the 8th to tie the game at 6-all. This game is best remembered for Carlton Fisk waving his twelfth-inning walk-off home run fair, but most Sox fans know that Carbo's blast was more important. The Sox had taken a three-run lead in the first on Fred Lynn's home run, but the Reds came back to score six runs off a tired Luis Tiant, and with the game in the hands of their deep bullpen, they seemed certain to win. After Lynn singled and Rico Petrocelli walked off Pedro Borbon to lead off the eighth, Rawley Eastwick was brought in. He struck out Dwight Evans and got Rick Burleson to line out to left. Carbo was sent up as a pinch hitter for pitcher Rogelio Moret. Carbo worked the count to 2-2, and then fouled off a slider with what Fisk later described as "the worst swing I ever saw." The next pitch was a fastball over the middle of the plate, and Carbo sent it over the center field wall, tying the game and setting the table for Fisk's thrill of victory moment.

Trivia

• Carbo hit 2 pinch-hit home runs during the 1975 World Series.

Transactions

• June 8, 1965: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1st round (16th pick) of the 1965 amateur draft.
• May 19, 1972: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joe Hague.
• October 26, 1973: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals with Rick Wise to the Boston Red Sox for Reggie Smith and Ken Tatum.
• June 3, 1976: Traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers for Tom Murphy and Bobby Darwin.
• December 6, 1976: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers with George Scott to the Boston Red Sox for Cecil Cooper.
• June 15, 1978: Purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Boston Red Sox.
• November 2, 1978: Granted Free Agency.
• March 10, 1979: Signed as a Free Agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.
• May 27, 1980: Released by the St. Louis Cardinals.
• September 1, 1980: Signed as a Free Agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• October 8, 1980: Released by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• June 20, 1981: Signed as a Free Agent with the Detroit Tigers.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis