American League Pennant (1912)

Lore & Background

The Red Sox were a dominant team in the new league, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series in 1903 and winning four more championships by 1918. However, they then went into one of the longest championship droughts in baseball history, dubbed the "Curse of the Bambino" after its alleged inception due to the Red Sox' sale of star player Babe Ruth to the rival New York Yankees two years after their World Series championship in 1918. The Sox endured an 86-year wait before the team's sixth World Series championship in 2004. The team's history during that period was punctuated with some of the most memorable moments in World Series history, including Enos Slaughter's "mad dash" in 1946, the "Impossible Dream" of 1967, Carlton Fisk's home run in 1975, and Bill Buckner's error in 1986. Following their victory in the 2018 World Series, they became the first team to win four World Series trophies in the 21st century, with championships in 2004, 2007, 2013 and 2018. The team's history has also been marked by its intense rivalry with the New York Yankees, arguably the fiercest and most historic in North American professional sports.

In Their Own Story

Dust kicked up from the infield dirt as Smoky Joe Wood fired another fastball, his arm moving with a blur that left batters guessing. At second base, Tris Speaker shifted his weight, eyes tracking the ball before it even left the bat. The stands at Fenway buzzed with a mix of cigar smoke and shouting fans, a chaotic backdrop to the precision on the field. Every play felt heavier than usual; this wasn't just another regular-season contest, but a declaration that Boston had arrived as baseball's new capital.

Reader's Guide

The Red Sox are owned by Fenway Sports Group, which also owns Liverpool of the Premier League in England, the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins and partially owns RFK Racing of the NASCAR Cup Series. They are consistently one of the top MLB teams in average road attendance, while the small capacity of Fenway Park prevents them from leading in overall attendance. From May 15, 2003, to April 10, 2013, the Red Sox sold out every home game—a total of 820 games (794 regular season) for a major professional sports record. Both Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" and the Standells' "Dirty Water" have become anthems for the Red Sox. As of the end of the 2025 season, the franchise's all-time regular-season record is 10,044–9,336–83 (.518).

Did You Know?

• The Red Sox won their first American League pennant in 1903, then won the first modern World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• The team's name "Red Sox" was chosen by owner John I. Taylor around 1908, after the team had previously worn dark blue stockings.
• The Red Sox won the 1912 American League pennant by 14 games over the Philadelphia Athletics, their first pennant since 1904 and their first as the Red Sox.
• In the 1912 World Series, Game 2 ended in a tie; the Red Sox ultimately won the series in eight games.