Boston Red Sox History

The Red Sox are one of those teams that command a huge, dedicated fanbase, whether they win or lose. However, it hasn’t always been that ways. In order to understand the enthusiasm and near-religious devotion exhibited by loyal fans today, it is necessary to know a bit of Boston Red Sox History.

In 2004, the Red Sox won the World Series. This sent euphoric shockwaves all across Boston, because it was the first time the team had won this title in almost ninety years. Their last World Series victory had been in 1918 against the Chicago cubs; back then, the Red Sox were one of the most successful teams in the American League. As one of the league’s original eight franchises, the Sox won five World Series titles in the early years—including the very first World Series to ever be played. But things took a turn after that last victory in 1918, and they were unable to win again for decades. Not even the legendary Ted Williams and his ludicrously high batting average could pull them out of their slump. According to many fans, the reason for this was the most infamous piece Boston Red Sox history: the Curse of the Bambino.

The “Bambino” was, of course, Babe Ruth, who began his baseball career as a pitcher for the Red Sox in 1914. Then, a year or two after the team’s 1918 World Series win, Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees in what turned out to be the most regrettable move in Boston Red Sox History. The Yankees, who had not particularly distinguished themselves as a team up to that point, soon went on to out-perform the Red Sox and defeat them in every match-up. Writers and sports pundits later referred to this dry spell as the Curse of the Bambino—and while most fans claim to not believe in an actual curse, it is nevertheless referenced often in terms of the Sox’s rivalry with the Yankees.

Like other bits of Boston Red Sox history, such as the lore of Pesky’s Pole, the details of the “curse” and when it is supposed to have begun are buried in the elaboration and dramatization of legend. It was a real fact, however, that fans were no longer interested in the Sox. Game attendance dropped after their victories did; to see the team during this period, one would never assume that they would eventually have some of the most intensely devoted fans in baseball.

But everything changed for the Red Sox (again) in 1967, during the season known as the “Impossible Dream.” That year, the Sox won the American League Championship and earned a spot at the World Series, for the first time since 1946. While this didn’t ultimately result in a Series title, it was a crucial victory all the same—it taught baseball fans to believe in Boston again.