The greatest rivalry in sports

This archived article was written by: Nate Davis

I’m starting off my column today talking about some key moments in the rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
January 3, 1920, Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sells Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000. May 30, 1938, Red Sox player-manager Joe Cronin and New York outfielder Jake Powel fought both on the field and below the stands of Yankee Stadium. The entire 1941 season saw Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams post incredible seasons. Williams batted .406, becoming the last player to reach the .400 plateau.
That season DiMaggio also set the greatest record in baseball, going 56 consecutive games getting a hit. October 1, 1961, Yankee slugger Roger Maris hits his record-breaking 61st home run of the year against the Red Sox. October 2, 1978, three words: Bucky Bleeping Dent. Dent who only hit five homeruns the entire 1978 season, hit one out over the Green Monster at Fenway Park, which propelled the Yankees to win the division.
October 17, 2004, David Ortiz hits a walk off home run against the Yankees in game 4 of the American League Championship Series, keeping the Red Sox alive in the playoff series.
October 20th 2004, redemption, the Red Sox fought back from being down three games to none in the best of seven series with the Yankees. The Red Sox would win the series, and go on to become World Series champions for the first time in 86 years.
The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees is the greatest rivalry in all of sports. For years the Yankees were the dominant force in baseball, while the Red Sox dwindled in mediocrity. That all changed last year with the Red Sox winning the World Series.
The playoffs will begin on Tuesday with the Red Sox playing the Chicago White Sox, and the Yankees starting thier playoff campaign against the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim(and no, I did not make that up that is their new name.)
In the National League the San Diego Padres who have the worst record of any playoff team ever will start the playoffs against the Saint Louis Cardinals. The Houstan Astros will take on the Atlana Braves.
One of the greatest things about this rivalry is that the players truly dislike each other. It’s not a rivalry that was created by the media. For proof of the hatred shared by these teams we just have to look back to 2003. On October 11th the Yankees were playing at Fenway Park, when Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez plunked Karim Garcia of the Yankees, the two exchange words, and both benches cleared, with players coming to help there respective players. Later in the inning Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens throws a pitch high and tight to Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez, once again the benches clear, this time with both sides fighting. Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer, rushed onto the field and raised his arm as if he was going to punch Martinez. Martinez threw Zimmer to the ground. And finally as the game drew to a close Yankee Pitcher Jeff Nelson was involved in a fight with a Fenway Park groundskeeper. Karim Garcia came to help Nelson and jumped over the outfield wall into the bullpen.
Some of the greatest games in the history of baseball have been played between these two storied rivals. There is no rivalry in the world that can hold a candle to the Yankees and Red Sox. When these two teams get together it’s good ol’ fashioned hatred.