Table of Contents
Boston Red Sox
The Curse of the Bambino
The “Curse of the Bambino” haunted the Red Sox for 86 years after selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919, leading to a championship drought until 2004. 1)
Fenway Park: Baseball’s Oldest Stadium
Opened on April 20, 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest stadium in Major League Baseball and remains a beloved icon of the sport. 2)
Green Monster Origins
The Green Monster was painted green and cleared of ads in 1947; it stands 37 feet tall and is a trademark of Fenway. 3)
Ted Williams Hits .406
Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941, the last MLB player to hit over .400 in a full season. 4)
2004 ALCS Comeback
The Red Sox became the first MLB team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series, stunning the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. 5)
David Ortiz: October Legend
David Ortiz hit 17 postseason home runs with the Red Sox and was named 2013 World Series MVP. 6)
Pedro's All-Star Game Dominance
In the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park, Pedro Martínez struck out 5 of the 6 batters he faced and won MVP. 7)
Fisk’s Famous Homer
Carlton Fisk's iconic Game 6 walk-off home run in the 1975 World Series is one of baseball’s most replayed moments. 8)
1918: Last Pre-Curse Title
Before 2004, Boston's last championship came in 1918 when they defeated the Cubs. 9)
Manny Being Manny
Manny Ramirez hit 274 home runs during his time with the Red Sox and was 2004 World Series MVP. 10)
Cy Young’s Red Sox Milestone
Cy Young pitched with Boston before 1911, notching 192 of his 511 wins with the franchise. 11)
First World Series: 1903
The Red Sox (then the Boston Americans) won the very first modern World Series in 1903. 12)
Negro League Recognition
Boston honors the legacy of Black players like Satchel Paige through its celebration of Negro League history. 13)
Red Sox Rejected Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson was given a sham tryout by the Red Sox in 1945 — they were the last team to integrate. 14)
Pesky Pole Legacy
The right-field foul pole at Fenway is called the Pesky Pole after Johnny Pesky, though the nickname came well after his playing days. 15)
Last to Integrate — Pumpsie Green
In 1959, Pumpsie Green became the first African-American player to suit up for Boston — the last MLB team to integrate. 16)
Ortiz Hits No. 500
David Ortiz became the 27th MLB player to hit 500 career home runs in 2015. 17)
Mookie Betts Wins MVP
Mookie Betts won the AL MVP in 2018, leading Boston to a 108-win season and a championship. 18)
Clemens’ 20 K’s in 1986
Roger Clemens became the first MLB pitcher to strike out 20 batters in a 9-inning game on April 29, 1986. 19)
The Yankees–Red Sox Rivalry
The Red Sox–Yankees rivalry remains one of sports' most intense, especially after the 2004 ALCS. 20)
Nomar’s Boston Brilliance
Nomar Garciaparra won AL Rookie of the Year in 1997 and batted .372 in 2000. 21)
Singing “Sweet Caroline”
“Sweet Caroline” has been a Fenway Park tradition since 2002 and plays in the middle of the 8th inning. 22)
JBJ’s ALCS Heroics
Jackie Bradley Jr. won ALCS MVP in 2018 thanks to timely hits and elite defense. 23)
2007 World Series Sweep
The Red Sox swept the Rockies in the 2007 World Series behind strong pitching and veteran hitting. 24)
Bloody Sock Game
Curt Schilling pitched with torn tendons in his ankle in the legendary “bloody sock” game during the 2004 ALCS. 25)
J.D. Drew’s ALCS Grand Slam
J.D. Drew hit a crucial grand slam in Game 6 of the 2007 ALCS vs. the Indians. 26)
Combined No-Hitter in 2024
In May 2024, the Red Sox threw a combined no-hitter against the Rays at Tropicana Field. 27)
Bobby Doerr: Red Sox Legend
Bobby Doerr made 9 All-Star teams as a Red Sox second baseman and served as a coach after retirement. 28)
4 Titles in 15 Years
Boston won 4 championships (2004, 2007, 2013, 2018), more than any other team in that span. 29)
Franchise Record 108 Wins
The Red Sox won a franchise-record 108 games in 2018. 30)
Pedroia’s MVP Year
Dustin Pedroia won AL MVP in 2008, leading the league in hits and runs. 31)
Tris Speaker’s Greatness
Tris Speaker hit .337 over his Red Sox career and helped Boston win 1912 and 1915 titles. 32)
World Series at Braves Field
The Red Sox played the 1915 and 1916 World Series at Braves Field to accommodate larger crowds. 33)
Mo Vaughn Wins MVP
Mo Vaughn hit 39 homers with 126 RBIs in 1995 to win AL MVP for the Red Sox. 34)
First Team to Wear Uniform Numbers
The Red Sox were the first AL team to consistently wear uniform numbers, starting in 1931. 35)
Yaz Wins Triple Crown
Carl Yastrzemski won the 1967 AL Triple Crown with a .326 average, 44 home runs, and 121 RBIs. 36)
Lowell Named 2007 WS MVP
Mike Lowell hit .400 in the 2007 World Series and took home MVP honors. 37)
Dwight Evans' Defensive Reputation
Dwight Evans won eight Gold Gloves and had one of the best arms in the game. 38)
Buchholz's Rookie No-Hitter
Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter in only his second major league start on Sept. 1, 2007. 39)
Lucchino Revitalizes Sox Brand
Larry Lucchino joined the Red Sox in 2002 and played a major role in restoring Fenway and embracing analytics. 40)
John Henry and the New Era
John Henry led the ownership group that purchased the Red Sox in 2002, ushering in a new championship era. 41)
Trot Nixon: Fan Favorite
Known for his gritty play, Trot Nixon became a symbol of the early-2000s “Dirt Dogs” identity. 42)
2019 London Series
The Red Sox and Yankees played MLB’s first-ever games in Europe in London in 2019. 43)