Historically, the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox rivalry is one of the fiercest, nastiest, and most important in Major League Baseball history.
For well over a century, the AL foes, geographically separated by about 200 miles, have battled – both on and off the field – providing memories forever etched in the game’s lore.
The list of highlights is long and includes Babe Ruth being sold by Sox owner Harry Frazee to the Yankees in 1919; thus, beginning the Curse of the Bambino.
There was Bucky Dent connecting on a Mike Torrez hanging breaking ball for a home run; a blast which gave New York the 1978 pennant. And, New York’s Aaron Boone hitting a walk-off series-winning homer against Boston’s Tim Wakefield in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS.
While the Yankees have won about 55% of their over 2,317 regular-season matchups, the Red Sox have also enjoyed monumental victories over the Yankees.
After trailing the 2004 ALCS 3-0, Boston reeled off four straight wins to send the Yankees packing. With the victory, Boston advanced to the World Series, where they would capture their first title in 86 years.
The rivalry has seen its share of fights including a 2004 dustup which pitted New York’s Alex Rodriguez against Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek, and of course who could forget Sox star pitcher Pedro Martinez shoving 72-year-old Yankees coach Don Zimmer to the ground one year earlier?
But while these teams have engaged in fisticuffs, notable games, and perhaps the most lopsided trade in sports history, it can also be said that the rivalry has been on hiatus for some time.
“I mean it was like hatred,” said Brian Doyle, a reserve infielder, who hit a team leading .438 for the Yanks in the 1978 World Series. “It’s just not the same as it was back then.”
Dent concurred with Doyle telling USA TODAY Sports, “I don’t think it is quite as intense because back in the 70’s you didn’t change teams very often. It was always (Thurman) Munson, (Carlton) Fisk, (Graig) Nettles, Bill Lee.”
While the rivalry has featured some of baseball’s juiciest storylines, it’s also cyclical.
“Early in my career, when the Red Sox didn’t have much of a good team, when I first came up in the late ‘60s, the rivalry was not as intense,” said Roy White, who spent his entire 15-year career with the Yankees. “Once they came up into prominence and we got into prominence also, in the late 70s – those were series to be remembered.”
That era featured historical matchups and more than a few memorable dust-ups including a 1976 bench-clearing brawl which began when New York’s Lou Piniella collided with Boston catcher Carlton Fisk.
The most impactful result of the fight was a separated left shoulder for Lee, which forced “The Spaceman” to miss 51 games that year.
The rivalry remained strong until Boston broke the supposed Ruth curse.
“Once they started winning the World Series, it kind of calmed down,” said Tino Martinez, who was a key member of the 1999 Yankees, which defeated the Red Sox in the ALCS before winning the World Series. “You play them so many times now, it takes away a little of the rivalry.”
Still, whether or not the players on this year’s Boston and New York squads maintain animosity for each other based solely on the names on the front of the opponents’ jerseys, both sides know their upcoming series, which begins Thursday in the Bronx, is pivotal, and fans just may once again be treated to fireworks in this latest battle between baseballs Hatfields and McCoys.
The stakes are high with both teams clinging to AL wild card spots and only six weeks left in the season.
But while both teams have their eyes squarely on the games ultimate prize, a championship, they know their fortunes would gain a huge boost with a successful series against their most hated rival.
“Not saying we don’t want to beat everybody, but the Red Sox are the number one team you want to beat,” said Mickey Rivers, the speedy leadoff batter who patrolled center field for the champion 1977 and ’78 Yankees.
“It’s always going to be a rivalry. It’s always Boston – New York,” said Dent.
