The Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball are one of the most storied franchises in American baseball history. The franchise has been a part of baseball in America for more than a century and has gone from dominating to lovable underdogs and back again during its hundred years of existence. Boston has some of the most passionate fans in the game and they are a group that has endured the heights of ecstasy as well as the deepest depths of despair.
Boston’s history begins in 1901 when the minor league baseball group known as the Western League decided to declare itself equal to the National League, the only major league baseball association at the time. The newly formed American League decided to place a franchise in Boston to compete with the city’s National League team. That new franchise would be the Boston Red Sox, though they didn’t have an official nickname until 1908. Boston’s new franchise would finish second in 1901 and third in 1902 before winning its first pennant in 1903 and repeating in 1904. Boston began to build its legacy. almost immediately by appearing in the first modern World Series in 1903 and defeating the heavily favored Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League five games to three in a best-of-nine series. Before the first two decades of the 20th century were out, the new Red Sox would win a total of five World Series titles, winning again in 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918 in addition to their 1903 title.
However, Boston’s good old days would soon come to an end, notably marked in history by the sale of Babe Ruth to the franchise’s heated rival, the New York Yankees. Financial strains led to Ruth’s sale to the Yankees and, in the minds of many, contributed to the rise of the Yankees and the Red Sox’s troubles during the 1920s and 1930s. After winning four World Series titles and four American League pennants under Ruth, the Red Sox would have to wait until 1946 to win another American League pennant and would wait an agonizing 86 years to win another World Series title which occurred in 2004. During the 86-year span between the World Series titles, Boston fans would have to endure losing seasons and agonizing close calls that would see their beloved “Sawx” lose all four World Series spots during their title drought.
When the club emerged in 2004 as the World Series title holder, it capped the franchise’s return to prominence that saw it win another World Series title in 2007 and become a perennial contender to win the title. Since 2004, the Red Sox have made five postseason appearances, as a wild-card team in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009 and as champions of the American League East in 2007. The franchise has also seen its fan base grow around the world. during its resurgence in the 2000s Boston fans are now so numerous in states across the country and around the world that they are simply known as “The Nation.”
The franchise has played in the same stadium since 1912, Fenway Park. When the club formed as an original member of the American League, they played their home games at the Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds. The Red Sox played there from 1901 to 1911 before moving to Fenway Park for the 1912 season. Fenway has stood the test of time and is now not only the oldest home in baseball, but also the oldest home in professional sports. Americans. The franchise has sold out every home game at Fenway Park since May 15, 2003.