The rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox is a long-standing rivalry in the MLB. The two teams have maintained a fierce rivalry for more than 100 years. They first played each other on May 7th, 1903 in Boston. Babe Ruth also famously played for both teams. We discussed that a bit in our article about who is the greatest baseball player of all time. Without further ado, let’s discuss the heated rivalry between these two baseball teams.
Yankees vs. Red Sox: The Origins of the Rivalry
The rivalry’s origins date back to 1903, as previously mentioned. The two teams played each other in the 1904 ALCS and the Red Sox won that series. It is notable that the Red Sox were known as the Americans back then.
In the early years of the MLB, the Red Sox were incredibly successful. The Red Sox won the first World Series ever, which was the 1903 World Series. Additionally, in that series, the Red Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates five games to three games. The World Series was a best-of-nine series at the time.
In the 1904 season, the Red Sox and the Yankees played each other on opening day. The Yankees, then known as the Highlanders, beat the Red Sox 8-2 in that opening day game on April 14, 1904. Later in the 1904 season, the Red Sox beat the Yankees to win the American League pennant on the final day of the 1904 MLB regular season.
Babe Ruth Is Sold to the Yankees
In 1919, Harry Frazee, the owner of the Red Sox, sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000 in addition to a $300,000 loan. The Red Sox had won the 1918 World Series. However, the Yankees reversed their fortunes in this rivalry after they acquired Babe Ruth.
During Ruth’s time with the Yankees, the team made it to the World Series seven times and won it four times. Additionally, this dominance is why most Babe Ruth merchandise relates back to his time with the Yankees.
This era of Yankees dominance marks the beginning of the ‘Curse of the Gambino’. This curse lasted from 1920-2003, according to those who believe in it.
The Yankees won a total of 26 World Series championships in addition to 39 American League pennants during this time. By contrast, the Red Sox only won four American League pennants and didn’t win a single World Series championship during this time.
The Yankees and the Red Sox Meet in the 1999 ALCS
In the 1998-99 MLB season, the Yankees and the Red Sox finished in the top two places of their division. As a result, the two teams made the 1999 MLB playoffs. This led to the Red Sox playing the Yankees in the 1999 ALCS.
Despite the long rivalry between the two teams, the 1999 ALCS is the first time the Red Sox and Yankees played each in the playoffs. The Yankees were the defending World Series champions at the time. Meanwhile, the Red Sox had not made it to the ALCS since nine years earlier in 1990.
Game 1 ends in dramatic fashion with the Yankees winning it via a Bernie Williams walk-off home run in the 10th inning. Additionally, the Yankees won Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead. The Red Sox did win Game 3 13-1 to make it a 2-1 series. However, the Yankees responded with wins in Game 4 and Game 5 and won the series 4-1.
In the 1999 World Series, the Yankees swept the Atlanta Braves.
Playoff Rematch in the 2003 ALCS
Four years later, the two teams would meet in the 2003 ALCS. Due to the MLB schedule, once this series went to seven games, it meant that the Yankees and the Red Sox had played each other more than 25 times in the season. The Red Sox and Yankees went back and forth for seven games.
The Red Sox led Game 7 5-2 after seven and a half innings at Yankee Stadium. However, the Yankees mounted a late comeback and tied the game to force extra innings. Aaron Boone, the Yankees’ leadoff hitter at the time, then had a solo home run to win the game and the series for the Yankees.
Despite this, the Yankees lost the 2003 World Series to the underdog Florida Marlins in six games.
Yankees vs. Red Sox vs 2004 ALCS: The Rivalry Continues
The Yankees and the Red Sox faced off again in the postseason in the 2004 ALCS. The Yankees took a 3-0 series lead, capped off by a 19-8 win in Game 3. However, the Red Sox won the next three games to tie the series 3-3.
After this, the Red Sox dominated Game 7, winning 10-3 to advance to the 2004 World Series. The Red Sox then broke the supposed ‘Curse of the Gambino’ by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. After 86 years, the Red Sox were World Series champions once again.
Both Teams Win Titles in the 2000s
The Red Sox went on to win the AL East in 2007 before winning the 2007 World Series by sweeping the Colorado Rockies. However, the Yankees won the 2009 World Series by beating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. Pedro Martinez was the Rockies’ losing pitcher in Game 6. Martinez previously played for the Red Sox.
Red Sox Win the 2013 World Series
Additionally, in 2013, the Red Sox won the regular season series against the Yankees 13-6. This is crucial to note, since it helped the Red Sox finish with the best record in the American League. The Red Sox later beat the St. Louis Cardinals in six games to win the 2013 World Series.
Final Playoff Matchup in the 2010s
Also, the Red Sox faced the Yankees in the 2018 ALDS. The Red Sox won the series 3-1, outscoring the Yankees 20-4 at Yankee Stadium in Games 3 and 4. This marks the final time the two teams played each off in the playoffs in the 2010s.
Most Recent Playoff Matchup: 2021 American League Wild Card Game
The two teams had identical records at the end of the 2021 season. As a result, the Yankees and Red Sox played each other in the American League Wild Card Game. The Red Sox beat the Yankees 8-2 and qualified for the official 2021 MLB playoffs. They lost to the Houston Astros in the 2021 ALCS.
Overall Record in the Rivalry
The Yankees have the edge in the rivalry overall against the Red Sox, with 1,250 wins compared to 1,034 wins for the Red Sox. However, the playoff record between the Red Sox and the Yankees is tied at 12-12. The Yankees beat the Red Sox 6-5 at Fenway Park in Boston in the latest meeting between these two rivals.
This is a fantastic rivalry with plenty of drama and two great teams. We will see how the rivalry progresses in the future. It is important to recognize the role this rivalry has played in the history of professional baseball.