History of the Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox began playing major league baseball in 1901 when the American League was formed. They won several World Series in their first nineteen years, prior to giving up Babe Ruth to the rival Yankees. The "Curse of the Bambino" kept the Red Sox from a World Series victory until 2004.

The Red Sox had their best season in 2018, when they had 108 wins and 54 losses. They had their most postseasons from 2000 to 2009, going to the playoffs six times and winning two World Series titles.

1901-1909

The Red Sox dominated the American League in its first few years, winning the pennant in 1903 and 1904 and the first World Series in 1903. The team's fortunes, however, went downhill in 1906, when the Red Sox lost 100 games.

From 1901 through 1907, the team was known as the Boston Americans. The name was changed to the Boston Red Sox in 1908. They played at the Huntington Avenue Grounds from 1901 through 1911.

The Red Sox had winning seasons from 1901 through 1905 and again in 1909. Their best season was 1904, when they had 95 wins and 59 losses. In 1903, they had 91 wins and 47 losses. That year, they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series.

The Red Sox had five managers from 1901 through 1909. Three were player managers - Jimmie Collins (1901-1906), Bob Unglaub (managed 29 games in 1907), and Deacon McGuire (1907-1908). The other two managers were Chick Stahl, who managed 40 games in 1906, and Fred Lake, who managed the team in 1908 and 1909.

Several future Hall of Famers played with the Red Sox from 1901 through 1909. Both Jimmy Collins and Cy Young joined the team in 1901, and Tris Speaker played with them from 1907 through 1915.

1910-1919

The Red Sox moved to Fenway Park in 1912, and the team improved significantly after the move. They had winning seasons every year from 1910 through 1919. Their best season was 1912, when they had 105 wins and 47 losses. They won the AL pennant and defeated the New York Giants in the World Series that year.

The team's management signed Babe Ruth in 1914, and the Red Sox dominated the major leagues for the next few years, winning the World Series in 1915, 1916 and 1918. They defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in 1915, the Brooklyn Robins in 1916, and the Chicago Cubs in 1918.

After the 1919 season, the owner of the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. The team fell apart after Ruth left and they didn't have another winning season until 1935. The team's misfortunes were often blamed on the sale of Ruth.

From 1910-1919, the Red Sox again had three player-managers (Jake Stahl in 1912 and 1913, Bill Carrigan from 1913 to 1916, and Jack Barry in 1917). They had two other managers - Patsy Donovan in 1910 and 1911 and Ed Barrow from 1918 through 1920.

In addition to Ruth, the Red Sox had another future Hall of Fame player, Harry Hooper, on their roster. Hooper played with them from 1909 through 1920.

1920-1929

A few years after Ruth was gone, the owner of the Red Sox sold even more of the players and the team went from a World Series championship team to one that lost over 100 games in 1925. They had no winning seasons from 1920 to 1929. Their best season was 1921, when they won 75 games and lost 79 games, but things went downhill fast for the team. They lost 93 games in 1922 and by 1925, they managed to win only 47 games while losing 105 games. The following two years were just as bad, with 107 losses in 1926, and 103 losses in 1927. They lost 96 games in both 1928 and 1929.

The Red Sox had two future Hall of Fame players as managers in the 1920s. Hugh Duffy managed in 1921 and 1922, and Frank Chance managed the team in 1923. Other managers of the team were Ed Barrow (1920), Lee Fohl (1924-1926), and Bill Carrigan (1927-1929).

Although the Red Sox was a losing team in the 1920s, they had a few good players. Future Hall of Famer Red Ruffing played with them from 1924 through 1930. Pitcher Howard Ehmke, who played with them from 1923 to 1926, pitched a no-hitter on September 7, 1923.

1930-1939

In 1933, Tom Yawkey bought the Boston Red Sox and he began to replenish the team with good players and their fortunes started to turn around. They added a large number of future Hall of Fame players, including Rick Ferrell (1933-1937), Lefty Grove (1934-1941), Jimmie Foxx (1936-1942), and Bobby Doerr (1937-1944, 1946-1951).

With their greatly improved roster, the Red Sox started winning again, with their first winning season in 1935. They followed this with winning seasons from 1937 to 1939. Although they had winning seasons, none were good enough to send them to the World Series.

As in previous decades, the Red Sox had five managers in the 1930s. Heinie Wagner was first, lasting just through the 1930 season. He was followed by Shano Collins in 1931 and 1932, player-manager Marty McManus in 1932 and 1933, Bucky Harris in 1934, and future Hall of Fame player Joe Cronin from 1935 through 1947.

1940-1949

The Red Sox continued to have winning seasons in 1940, 1941, and 1942. They then had a few years of losing seasons until 1946, when they had their best season, with 104 wins and 50 losses. They won the AL pennant and faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. They played well but lost the series in game seven.

Joe Cronin continued to manage the Red Sox through 1947. He was followed by Joe McCarthy, who managed the team from 1948 through 1950.

One of the reasons the Red Sox played well in the 1940s was the addition of Ted Williams in 1939. He was a dominant player for the team from 1939 through 1942 and again from 1946 through 1960.

1950-1959

The Red Sox had seven winning seasons in the 1950s (1950, 1951, 1953, 1955-1958). Their best season was 1950, when they had 94 wins and 60 losses. Although they played well, they never made it to the postseason during that decade.

After Joe McCarthy, the Red Sox had four more managers in the 1950s. Steve O'Neill replaced McCarthy in 1950 and continued to manage the team through 1951. Future Hall of Famer Lou Boudreau took over in 1952 and managed through 1954. He was followed by Pinky Higgins (1955-1959, 1960-1962) and Billy Jurges (1959-1960).

1960-1969

The 1960s continued to be losing years for the Red Sox. They didn't have a winning season from 1960 through 1966, a year in which they finished in ninth place in the league. Finally, in 1967, their best season, they had 92 wins and 70 losses and they won the AL pennant. They once again faced the Cardinals in the World Series and again lost the series in the seventh game. They had winning seasons in both 1968 and 1969, but they didn't advance to the postseason.

Johnny Pesky took over the managerial position for the Red Sox in 1963 and he managed the team through part of 1964. He was then replaced by future Hall of Fame player Billy Herman, who managed the team from 1964 through 1966. Their last manager in the 1960s was Dick Williams (1967-1969).

Carl Yastrzemski joined the Red Sox in 1961 and he was a key player for them through 1983. In 1960 and 1962, infielder Pete Runnels led the AL in batting average. A pitcher who made an impact on the team in the 1960s was Dick Radatz, who led the AL in saves in 1962 and 1964.

1970-1979

In the 1970s, the Red Sox finally had winning seasons every year. Their best season came in 1978, when they had 99 wins and 64 losses. Although they had only winning seasons, they went to the postseason just once. In 1975, they won the AL East division title and defeated the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS. They then had to face the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series but they were no match for the "Big Red Machine," and once again, the Red Sox couldn't win a World Series title.

The Red Sox had only three managers from 1970-1979. Eddie Kasko led the team from 1970 through 1973. He was followed by Darrell Johnson (1974-1976), and Don Zimmer (1976-1980).

In addition to Yastrzemski, the Red Sox had two other future Hall of Famers on their roster in the 1970s. Carlton Fisk played with them from 1971 to 1980, and Jim Rice, who joined the team in 1974, played with them through 1989. A star pitcher for them from 1971 through 1978 was Luis Tiant, who led the AL in ERA in 1972. Outfielder Fred Lynn was the Rookie of the Year in 1975 and the AL MVP that same year. In 1979, he led the AL in batting average.

1980-1989

The Red Sox had winning seasons in 1980, 1982, and 1984, but their wins were not good enough to send them to the postseason. In 1986, however, their record of 95-66 led to an AL East division title. They went on to defeat the California Angels in the ALCS, but they again lost the World Series, this time to the New York Mets.

The Red Sox dominated in the Eastern division of the American League in 1988 but they still didn't win the league championship, losing the ALCS to the Athletics. They had a winning season again in 1989, but they didn't get to the postseason.

In 1986, John McNamara was the manager of the Red Sox and he was named the AL Manager of the Year. Other managers in the 1980s were Ralph Houk (1981-1984) and Hall of Fame player Joe Morgan (1988-1991).

Two key players joined the Red Sox in the 1980s. First came Wade Boggs in 1982, followed two years later by Roger Clemens, who would win the AL Cy Young award in 1986, 1987, and 1991, and the AL MVP award in 1986. Clemens would continue to play for the Red Sox through 1996, and Boggs would stay with the team through 1992.

1990-1999

The Red Sox's fortunes changed in the 1990s, and they became a winning team, going to the postseason four times. They had six winning seasons (1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999), with 1999 their best one (94 wins to 68 losses).

The Red Sox won the AL East division title in 1990 and 1995, and they won a Wild Card spot in 1998 and 1999. The lost the ALCS to the Athletics in 1990 and the ALDS to the Cleveland Indians in 1995 and 1998. They defeated the Indians in the ALDS in 1999, but they lost the ALCS to the Yankees.

In the 1990s, the Red Sox again had an AL Manager of the Year winner, with Jimy Williams in 1999. Other managers were Joe Morgan (1990-1991), Butch Hobson (1992-1994), and Kevin Kennedy (1995-1996).

Future Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez joined the Red Sox in 1998 and he played a significant role in their wins through 2004. They had a shortstop Rookie of the Year in 1997 in Nomar Garciaparra, who would go on to lead the AL in batting average in 1999 and 2000.

2000-2009

The Red Sox had their best decade from 2000 to 2009. Manny Ramirez signed an eight year contract at the end of the 2000 season and David Ortiz became a Red Sox in 2003. The needed finishing touch occurred at the end of the 2003 season when Boston hired Terry Francona to manage the team.

The Red Sox had winning seasons each year in the first decade of the new century. They won 95 games in 2003 and went to the playoffs with a Wild Card spot. They defeated the Athletics in the ALDS, but lost the ALCS to the Yankees.

The best season for the Red Sox was 2004, with 98 wins and 64 losses. That year, they finally won the World Series, defeating the Cardinals and breaking the curse of the Babe.

The Red Sox won their third consecutive Wild Card spot in 2005, but they lost the ALDS to the Chicago White Sox. Two years later, in 2007, they went to the playoffs again, this time with an AL East division title. They defeated the Angels in the ALDS, the Indians in the ALCS, and the Colorado Rockies in the World Series.

The decade ended with the Red Sox winning two more Wild Card spots. In 2008, they won the ALDS over the Los Angeles Angels but they lost the ALCS to the Tampa Bay Rays. The following year, they lost the ALDS to the Angels.

In 2001, Jimy Williams and Joe Kerrigan managed the Red Sox. Grady Little managed in 2002 and 2003. The manager who helped the Red Sox get rid of the "Curse of the Bambino" was Terry Francona, who took over in 2004, and led the team to two World Series titles.

Josh Beckett was a key part of the Red Sox starting rotation from 2006 through 2012. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was added in 2006. Jacoby Ellsbury brought speed on the bases to the team in 2007.

2010-2018

The Red Sox had up and down years from 2010 through 2018. They had winning seasons in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2016 through 2018, but they had fifth place finishes in the AL East division in 2012, 2014, and 2015. They had their best season in 2018, when they were unbeatable with 108 wins and 54 losses.

Terry Francona continued to manage the team through the 2011 season. He was followed for just one year by Bobby Valentine. John Farrell took over in 2013 and he managed the team through 2017.

In 2013, Farrell led the team to a tie with the Cardinals for the best record in major league baseball with 97 wins and 65 losses. They defeated the Rays in the ALDS, the Tigers in the ALCS, and the Cardinals in the World Series.

The Red Sox had losing seasons in 2014 and 2015, but they rebounded in 2016, finishing with 93 wins and 69 losses. They won the AL East division title but lost the ALDS to the Indians. David Ortiz retired at the end of the season.

In 2017, the Red Sox again finished in first place in the AL East division. The year, however, belonged to the Houston Astros and the Red Sox lost to them in the ALDS.

No teams were able to come even close to the Red Sox in 2018. Under the leadership of new manager Alex Cora, the Red Sox had the best record in major league baseball with 108 wins and 54 losses. They won the ALDS over the Yankees and then defeated the Astros in five games in the ALCS. They played in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and they had to fight through a tough Game 3. The game was the longest ever in postseason history, lasting 18 innings and 7 hours and 20 minutes. The Red Sox lost that game but they bounced back to win the series.

The Red Sox had a combination of top veteran players and talented rookies that led them to their wins from 2016 through 2018. The first young players to come up were Xander Bogaerts in 2013 and Mookie Betts in 2014. Veteran pitcher David Price was added to the starting rotation in 2016, and he was followed the next year by Chris Sale. In 2016, another rookie, Andrew Benintendi helped further improve an already strong roster.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Boston Red Sox
Baseball Reference - Boston Red Sox