roster. In 1961, Wood attended spring training with the Red Sox for the first time. In his first inning of work, he struck out three San Francisco Giants hitters, prompting the Boston Globe to declare that he would have "spectacular success" in his career. Sent to the Class B Winston-Salem Red Sox to begin the season, he posted an 8–5 record with a 3.15 ERA, 103 strikeouts, 33 walks, and 99 hits allowed in innings pitched. Having trouble with their attendance numbers, the Red Sox promoted the young Wood to the major leagues in the middle of June. He made his major league debut at Fenway Park on June 30, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out three over the final four innings of a 10–2 loss to the Cleveland Indians. In the second game of a July 19 doubleheader, he made his first major league start (also against Cleveland), allowing three runs in three innings but not getting the decision in an eventual 9–8 defeat. He appeared in six games (one start) for the Red Sox, posting no record, a 5.54 ERA, seven strikeouts, seven walks, and 14 hits allowed in 14 innings before getting sent back to the minors in late July, this time to the Johnstown Red Sox of the Class A Eastern League. Wood did not pitch well, losing seven of 10 decisions and posting a 4.62 ERA with 44 strikeouts, 15 walks, and 80 hits allowed in 74 innings. Boston's Eastern League affiliation became the York White Roses in 1962, and Wood ranked among the league leaders by season's end. He finished tied for second in wins (15, tied with Dave McNally and Sonny Siebert behind Paul Seitz's 16), sixth in ERA (2.84), sixth in strikeouts (178), and third in hits allowed (198, behind Jay Ritchie's 209 and Richard Slomkowski's 202). His 219 innings pitched topped the league. Promoted to Boston in September, he made one start for the Red Sox on the 22nd, allowing three runs in innings but receiving a no decision in a 4–3 loss to the Washington Senators. In 1963, Wood was one of the last pitchers cut in spring training. He opened the season with the Class AAA Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League, but after recording a 1.12 ERA and winning five of seven decisions, he joined the Red Sox in early June. Boston initially used