Boston Red Sox

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. 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, the "Impossible Dream" of, Carlton Fisk's home run in, and Bill Buckner's error in. 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, 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 Shea Stadium was thick with humidity and anticipation as the eighth inning approached. A lone Mets fan in the corner section clutched a worn-out '86 World Series cap, his eyes fixed on the pitcher's mound where the Red Sox closer stood ready. The scoreboard flickered, showing a one-run lead that felt as fragile as glass. Across the diamond, the Boston dugout was silent, a collective holding of breath before the inevitable storm. As the first pitch sailed toward home plate, the roar of the crowd seemed to pause for a heartbeat, suspended between hope and the fear of history repeating itself.

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 ().

Did You Know?

• The name Red Sox, chosen by owner John I. Taylor after the 1907 season, refers to the red hose in the team uniform beginning in 1908.
• The team name "Red Sox" had been used as early as 1888 by a "colored" team from Norfolk, Virginia.
• The Red Sox' 86-year championship drought was dubbed the "Curse of the Bambino" after the sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees.
• The Red Sox became the first team to win four World Series trophies in the 21st century, with championships in 2004 and 2018.