Yankees–Red Sox

For over 120 seasons, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees have battled in the American League, creating what many call the fiercest rivalry in American sports. A key moment came in 1919 when the Red Sox sold star player Babe Ruth to the Yankees, giving rise to the "Curse of the Bambino"—a superstition linked to Boston’s 86-year World Series drought. That curse ended when the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, after first overcoming a 3–0 deficit against the Yankees in the ALCS.

The two teams have met three times in the ALCS: the Yankees won twice, and the Red Sox once. They also faced off in the ALDS once, in which Boston won 3–1, including a 16–1 victory in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium—the largest postseason defeat in Yankees history. More recently, the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the 2021 Wild Card Game, while the Yankees returned the favor in the 2025 Wild Card Series. Before playoff expansion, they twice met in the final regular-season series to decide the AL pennant, with Boston (then the Americans) winning once and New York winning once. In another season, they tied for first place, and the Yankees won a tie-breaker after the Red Sox had held a 14-game lead. The 2004 ALCS comeback remains the only time in American baseball history a team has rallied from a 3–0 deficit to win a series.

This matchup is often called the greatest rivalry in sports. Games draw huge interest and national TV coverage from Fox/FS1, ESPN, and MLB Network, regardless of standings. They are among the most-watched MLB games each year. The rivalry has also sparked fan violence and drawn attention from politicians and athletes.

The cities themselves have a long history of competition. Boston was once the nation’s educational, cultural, and economic hub, while New York was seen as its rough, overcrowded cousin. But in the 19th century, New York’s economy surged ahead, fueled by the Erie Canal, immigration, and a larger population—New York had about 30,000 people on the eve of the Revolution, nearly double Boston’s 16,000. By the 20th century, Wall Street had made New York the financial center of the world. Even early baseball differed: the “Massachusetts Game” used four bases with home plate in the middle, while the “New York Game” (from the Knickerbocker Club) used a diamond with three bases. The New York version spread after the Civil War and became modern baseball.

The Red Sox dominated early, winning the first World Series in 1903 (as the Boston Americans) and four more by 1918. The Yankees began in 1903 as the New York Highlanders, after buying the defunct Baltimore Orioles’ franchise. Their first meeting was on May 7, 1903, in Boston, marked by a fight when Boston pitcher George Winter was knocked down; Boston went on to win the pennant and the 1903 World Series. In 1904, the teams met on opening day, and later that season, the Highlanders’ Jack Chesbro—in his record 41-win season—faced Boston in the final game for the pennant. A wild pitch by Chesbro in the top of the ninth allowed Boston to win.