A long June day that turned a young catcher into a Fenway legend.

Jim Pagliaroni had the kind of day every young ballplayer dreams about on June 19, 1961, when the Red Sox hosted a doubleheader against Washington at Fenway Park. The 23-year-old catcher worked all 22 innings and delivered the decisive blows in both games, starting with a ninth-inning grand slam that erased a seven-run deficit and set up a dramatic walk-off win. Hours later, with the nightcap tied deep into extra innings, Pagliaroni led off the 13th and again played the hero with a home run as Boston secured its second walk-off of the day. By night’s end, Fenway had witnessed one player do just about everything.

🕵️ Inside Today’s Original Newspaper Coverage:

  • A lofty Fenway comparison appears under a celebratory photo

  • Pagliaroni tempers expectations in his own words

  • A whimsical Red Sox family game shares the page

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