Top 10 Reasons to Love the Red Sox
This Boston Team Has Given its Blood, Sweat, and Tears to Baseball
Boston has the best ballpark, the best hitter ever, and the greatest player who ever lived. But there are many more reasons to love the Red Sox.
They've been known the Americans, the Bostons and perhaps even the Pilgrims. But for almost 100 years, their fans have called them the Red Sox, and they are a team that has given the game of baseball more joy, more heartbreak, more great players, and more ups and downs and ins and outs than any other Major League franchise. Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, you should know them, because the Boston Red Sox are one hell of a franchise.
And here are just ten of the many reasons to love them.
1. Fenway Park. Anyone who knows the game, knows that Fenway Park is the best place in the world to watch a ballgame. This cozy little stadium was first constructed in 1912, and was the Red Sox home field when they won the World Series in 1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918. Over the years, the franchise has added a number of seats throughout the stadium to add revenue, but the park has never lost its charm. Long Live Fenway Park!
2. Ted Williams. He may have been the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived. He was also a genuine American War Hero. While "Teddy Ballgame" and the fans never really got along, the Kid remains the best hitter to ever wear a Red Sox uniform.
3. Manny Ramirez. He's just Manny being Manny, and whether you love him or hate him, you should appreciate Ramirez, because he is every bit as good a hitter as Alex Rodriguez. And he is a monster in the post season.
4. Babe Ruth. Before he became a New York Yankee home run legend, Ruth was the best left-handed pitcher in the American League, and he did that as a member of the Boston Red Sox. Ruth's career pitching record was 94-46 with a 2.28 ERA, and he was a key member of the teams that won three World Series from 1914 through 1918. Even though he became the first great Bronx Bomber, Boston fans should be thankful that he was once a great hurler for the Red Sox.
5. The 1975 World Series. Sure, they lost it. But the 1975 Boston Red Sox team that featured Yaz, Freddy Lynn, Jim Rice and Luis Tiant took the Big Red Machine to a full seven games in what was perhaps the greatest World Series ever played. Oh yeah, and Carlton Fisk whacked that timeless home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to win Game 6.
6. The 1986 World Series. This one is for Met fans (ugh). They should love the Red Sox for handing them the 1986 World Series, highlighted by poor old Bill Buckner's through-the-wickets error on a Mookie Wilson grounder to end Game 6.
7. "Tessie." This song was a popular Broadway hit that was adopted by Boston's Royal Rooters, who re-worked the lyrics to fit their beloved 1903 team and often sang it as a rallying cry to help their boys win the first modern World Series. During their memorable 2004 World Series run, it was re-recorded by the Irish Folk-Punk band the Dropkick Murphys, and it f***ing rocks. If you've never heard the song, go to iTunes and download it right now.
8. Theo Epstein. He is one of the the best general managers in baseball. Since Epstein took the role, the Sox have reached the playoffs in four out of five seasons, won their first World Series in 86 years and finally broke the Curse of the Babe. For those reasons, Theo Epstein should get a lifetime contract from John Henry and Larry Lucchino.
9. The Teammates. This book by the late, great David Halberstam chronicles the wonderful friendship among four of the greatest Red Sox players of all time: Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky and Dom DiMaggio. Read it.
10. The 2004 Postseason. What more can be said about the 2004 Boston Red Sox? The self-proclaimed band of "Idiots," who were led by Manny, Curt Schilling, David Ortiz and Johnny Damon, were down three games to none against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series. But just when all seemed to be lost, the Idiots beat New York in four straight games to become the first team in baseball history to recover from such a deficit in the postseason. They also went on to avenge their 1946 and 1967 World Series losses by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals to win the franchise's first title since 1918.
That's 10 reasons. There are many, many more reasons to love (and hate) the Boston Red Sox. But just like Manny, no matter how you may feel about the Sawx, you better appreciate them, because they are one of the true treasures of our National Pastime.
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If you liked this article, check out these other Red Sox-centric entries.
Game 7 of the 1946 World Series
Curt Schilling is a Hall of Famer
Was Ted Williams the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived?
