American League Pennant (1915)

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

The air inside Fenway Park in 1915 was thick with the scent of cut grass and coal smoke, a sensory signature of the era. The stands were a churning sea of red and white, buzzing with an anticipation so heavy it felt tangible. On the mound stood Dutch Leonard, his arm a blur as he delivered pitches that seemed to vanish before reaching the plate. Batter after batter fell, silenced by the sheer velocity and pinpoint accuracy of Boston's pitching staff. In the dugout, Babe Ruth leaned against the railing, watching with a quiet intensity that belied his youth. He understood the weight of the moment; this wasn't just another game, but the culmination of three years of relentless dominance. As the final out was recorded in the World Series, the roar from the crowd erupted like a thunderclap, shaking the very foundations of the wooden grandstands. Red Sox fans poured onto the field, their faces illuminated by the flickering floodlights, celebrating a third title that felt both inevitable and miraculous.

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 the 1915 World Series, but it was not their third consecutive pennant; they won pennants in 1912, 1915, and 1916, but not in 1913 or 1914.
• Dutch Leonard did not have a 32-win season in 1915; he went 15-7 with a 2.36 ERA. His 32-win season and 1.04 ERA were in 1914.
• The 1915 World Series was not the first best-of-seven format; the 1905 World Series was the first best-of-seven.
• The 1915 championship was not the last Red Sox title for nearly nine decades; they won again in 1916 and 1918.
• Babe Ruth was not a teenager in 1915; he was 20 years old.