Red Sox History

Pedro Martinez took home his 2nd consecutive Cy Young award in 2000. The Red Sox drafted superstar slugger Manny Ramirez in 2001, who instantly became a success with the team. He hit three HRs in the first pitch at Fenway Park. But injuries to Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez and Jason Varitek nullified all the chances of Red Sox qualifying for postseason. However, despite the injuries that plagued the Red Sox players, the team remained in playoff contention. Moreover, Manager Jimy Williams was fired to be replaced by pitching Coach Joe Kerrigan. The firing would blow up in the Sox face as new Manager Joe Kerrigan; saw the Sox finishing the season in 2nd Place with a record of 82-79. The following season was a season of change. In the off-season the Red Sox were sold to a group headed by John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino. Joe Kerrigan was fired to be replaced by Grady Little. Carl Everett was traded. GM Dan Duquette was fired and replaced on an interim basis by Mike Port. Under Little, the Red Sox finished the season in 2nd place with a 93-69 record, but missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

The highlight of the season was Lowe's no-hitter at Fenway, and Manny Ramirez, despite of missing six weeks due to a fractured left index finger, won his first batting title. In 2003, the Red Sox came out from a 2-0 insufficiency against the Oakland Athletics to win the best-of-5 American League Division Series. Not only did the Red Sox have a powerful offense they had a solid starting pitching staff. In the ALCS, the Red Sox competed against the New York Yankees. The Red Sox and Yankees crushed each other all season. Manager Grady Little let Tim Wakefield come into pitch in the extra innings. However on the first pitch of the 11th Inning, Aaron Boone’s homer made the Yankees eligible for the postseason appearance. As a result, the following season, the Red Sox fired Little. 2004 season was an enigmatic and magical season the Red Sox and their fans. The team improved its roster by acquiring pitcher Curt Schilling from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The stellar performances by Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Pedro Martinez and newly acquired Curt Schilling took the team into the postseason as the American League Wild Card team after besting the Angels in the Division Series. In the ALCS, the Red Sox made a history by recovering from a 3-0 deficit.

In Game 7, the Sox frustrated from an 86-year playoff draught kicked off the Yankees in seven games and swept of the Cardinals to win their first World Series title ending the curse of the Bambino. Ramirez was named MVP of the Series. Founded in the Toledo, Ohio, the Red Sox came into existence in 1893 as the charter member of the minor Western League. Their monocracy ranks second after the New York Yankees. The Boston Americans became an American League franchise 1901. The team is based in Boston Massachusetts. Under player/manager Jimmy Collins, the club won two AL Championships. In 1903, they took home the World Series title after besting the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the following decade the Red Sox won four Fall Classic title led by Cy Young, whose 511 career victories are an all-time record. In 1912, the team moved its new ballpark, the Fenway Park. The team’s roster of 1912 and in 1915 featured the best outfielders of all-time: Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper and Duffy Lewis. In 1913, Joseph Lannin took the ownership of the Red Sox and procured 6-2, left-hander Babe Ruth, who went on to become the finest player in the history of baseball. He assisted the club to lead in wins, shutouts, complete games, and earned run average. He also proved himself as a reliable hitter. In 1919, the team’s the-then owner Harry Frazee sold his core of star player including Babe Ruth. Ruth’s departure brought bad luck for the Red Sox. The club finished in last place nine times in the AL from 1922 to 1932. The most effective team that formed the core of the club was also unnecessarily traded by Frazee. Tom Yawkee became the new owner of the team in 1933. He acquired outfielder Ted Williams. He steered the club into an era when the team assumed the name the "Ted Sox".

He became one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball The team repeatedly competed for the Championship through 1940s and 1950s but their endeavors were several times crumpled by the Yankees. In 1946, the Red Sox hoped to win the Championship but were bested by the Cardinals in the World Series. Williams retired at the end of the 1960 season, famously hitting a home run in his final at-bat. Carl Yastrzemski ("Yaz") joined the team in 1961. In 1967 the team became famous as “impossible Dream”, since it finished the season in ninth place. Yaz led the team to the World Series and won the American League Triple Crown and put on one of the greatest displays of hitting. The season is also remembered as one of the great championship races in the history of baseball as four teams vied for the title until almost the last game. In 1975, the Sox won the American League championship featuring Yaz, rookie outfielders Jim Rice and Fred Lynn, veteran outfielder Dwight Evans, catcher Carlton Fisk, and pitchers Luis Tiant and the eccentric junkballer Bill Lee. The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry reached its peak in the 1978 season. Though the club won the Eastern Division titles in1988, 1990, and 1995 but failed to conquer the American League Championship Series. In 1998 the Red Sox reached the playoffs as a wild card team led by star pitcher Pedro Martinez but lost to the Cleveland Indians in the first round. The logo of the team has two hanging red socks with white heels and toes, placed over a white baseball and enclosed by the words Boston and Red Sox. The mascot of the team is Wally, the Green Monster