Former Red Sox Reliever Al Worthington, World Series Champion with Giants, Dies at 97

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Detail view of a baseball bat weight with a Boston Red Sox logo during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 28, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

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The Boston Red Sox lost one of their historical figures this week with the passing of Al Worthington, a former reliever who collected 14 seasons and 602 major league appearances while becoming one of the premier right-handed pitchers of his era.

Worthington, who pitched part of the 1960 season in Boston, died at age 97. His professional baseball journey included a World Series championship with the New York Giants in 1954 and a standout closing role with the Minnesota Twins during their groundbreaking 1965 title run.

Born on February 5, 1929, Worthington was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and had been among the four oldest living former major leaguers prior to his death. He was also one of the last remaining players to have appeared for the original New York Giants before their relocation to San Francisco in 1958.

A controversial figure throughout his career, Worthington twice walked away from baseball to protest sign-stealing schemes. His first public objection came in 1959 against Giants manager Bill Rigney, and he later confronted Chicago White Sox general manager Hank Greenberg in 1960 following allegations against that organization.

These principled stances established Worthington as an early voice against practices he believed compromised the integrity of the game, often putting him at odds with teammates and front office personnel alike.

Worthington’s 14-year major league career spanned multiple franchises, including stints with the Twins, Giants, Red Sox, and White Sox, leaving behind a legacy defined by durability, effectiveness, and an unwavering commitment to his convictions on the mound.

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