Changes

'''World Series Titles:''' 7 (1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004, 2007)

'''World Series Titles:''' 7 (1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004, 2007)

==Origins==

 

===Origins===

The Red Sox started play during the 1901 season in the newly formed American League. They built their team by signing players from the Boston National League club such as Jimmy Collins, who served as player/manager. Their home games were played at newly built Huntington Avenue Grounds.<ref name="first">http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/huntin.htm</ref> The team was unofficially named the Americans. Charles W. Somers was the first owner of the team. Their first game was an exhibition victory over the University of Virginia on April 5. After their April 24 season opener in Baltimore was rained out, they got started two days later and were handed an 8-6 defeat. League chief [[Ban Johnson]] tossed out the ceremonial first pitch with Collins recording the team's first hit and run scored.<ref>Barnes Jr., WS. "Collins's Men Lose"; ''Boston Journal'', 27 April 1901</ref> On May 8, the team kicked off it's home schedule with a 12-4 victory over team Philadelphia. They finished their inaugural season at 79-57, good enough for second behind the [[Chicago White Sox]].

The Red Sox started play during the 1901 season in the newly formed American League. They built their team by signing players from the Boston National League club such as Jimmy Collins, who served as player/manager. Their home games were played at newly built Huntington Avenue Grounds.<ref name="first">http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/huntin.htm</ref> The team was unofficially named the Americans. Charles W. Somers was the first owner of the team. Their first game was an exhibition victory over the University of Virginia on April 5. After their April 24 season opener in Baltimore was rained out, they got started two days later and were handed an 8-6 defeat. League chief [[Ban Johnson]] tossed out the ceremonial first pitch with Collins recording the team's first hit and run scored.<ref>Barnes Jr., WS. "Collins's Men Lose"; ''Boston Journal'', 27 April 1901</ref> On May 8, the team kicked off it's home schedule with a 12-4 victory over team Philadelphia. They finished their inaugural season at 79-57, good enough for second behind the [[Chicago White Sox]].

==Champions==

===Champions===

The Americans went 91-47 in 1903 to win the AL by a healthy 14.5 games over second place Philadelphia Athletics. They won the [[World Series]] over the [[Natinal League|National League's]] [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], five games to three.<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1903_WS.shtml</ref> After falling back for a few years, the renamed Red Sox won their second title in 1912 over the New York Giants in what was their first year playing at Fenway Park.<ref>Murnane, TH. "Boston Now Supreme in Baseball World"; ''Boston Globe'', 17 October 1912</ref> They went on to win three more titles from 1913-1918.

The Americans went 91-47 in 1903 to win the AL by a healthy 14.5 games over second place Philadelphia Athletics. They won the [[World Series]] over the [[Natinal League|National League's]] [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], five games to three.<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1903_WS.shtml</ref> After falling back for a few years, the renamed Red Sox won their second title in 1912 over the New York Giants in what was their first year playing at Fenway Park.<ref>Murnane, TH. "Boston Now Supreme in Baseball World"; ''Boston Globe'', 17 October 1912</ref> They went on to win three more titles from 1913-1918.

==Sale of Ruth==

===Sale of Ruth===

Following the 1919 season, both the team and fellow players grew tired of [[Babe Ruth|Babe Ruth's]] antics.<ref>Shannon, Paul. "New York Club gives $125,000 for Battering Babe - Biggest Price Ever Paid for Player"; ''Boston Post'', 6 January 1920</ref> Ruth complained about his pay and refused to play for the team until he got a raise. He also ignored team rules. The Red Sox were concerned his behavior could rub off on other players. With a strong team, they felt they could afford to move Ruth. He was sent to the [[New York Yankees]] for $125,000 after manager [[Ed Barrow]] indicated that none of the New York players was worth acquiring.<ref>Stout, Glenn. (2000), ''Red Sox Century'', Houghton Mifflin, Page 145</ref> Some have suggested that the sale was done to finance team owner [[Harry Frazee|Harry Frazee's]] play, "No, No, Nanette", however the claim is untrue as the play hadn't even been written at the time.

Following the 1919 season, both the team and fellow players grew tired of [[Babe Ruth|Babe Ruth's]] antics.<ref>Shannon, Paul. "New York Club gives $125,000 for Battering Babe - Biggest Price Ever Paid for Player"; ''Boston Post'', 6 January 1920</ref> Ruth complained about his pay and refused to play for the team until he got a raise. He also ignored team rules. The Red Sox were concerned his behavior could rub off on other players. With a strong team, they felt they could afford to move Ruth. He was sent to the [[New York Yankees]] for $125,000 after manager [[Ed Barrow]] indicated that none of the New York players was worth acquiring.<ref>Stout, Glenn. (2000), ''Red Sox Century'', Houghton Mifflin, Page 145</ref> Some have suggested that the sale was done to finance team owner [[Harry Frazee|Harry Frazee's]] play, "No, No, Nanette", however the claim is untrue as the play hadn't even been written at the time.

After inheriting a large sum of money, [[Tom Yawkee]] looked into buying a baseball team. Yawkee ultimately chose the Red Sox and bought the team in 1933. He immediately opened his checkbook in an effort to turn the team around following fourteen consecutive losing seasons. Unfortunately, he lacked a strong baseball acumen<ref>Stout, Glenn. (2000), ''Red Sox Century'', Houghton Miffin, Page 178</ref> and spent a lot of money on past their prime players. While the team did improve they still finished way out of the running. Some in the media criticized his wild spending ways, arguing for a wiser spending of finances.<ref>Daniel, Daniel. "You Cannot Buy a Pennant!"; ''Baseball Magazine'', 1936</ref> However, Yawkee continued his spending spree, including a major upgrade of Fenway Park. Despite his spending, the team recorded only three first place finishes during his 45 years owning the team.

After inheriting a large sum of money, [[Tom Yawkee]] looked into buying a baseball team. Yawkee ultimately chose the Red Sox and bought the team in 1933. He immediately opened his checkbook in an effort to turn the team around following fourteen consecutive losing seasons. Unfortunately, he lacked a strong baseball acumen<ref>Stout, Glenn. (2000), ''Red Sox Century'', Houghton Miffin, Page 178</ref> and spent a lot of money on past their prime players. While the team did improve they still finished way out of the running. Some in the media criticized his wild spending ways, arguing for a wiser spending of finances.<ref>Daniel, Daniel. "You Cannot Buy a Pennant!"; ''Baseball Magazine'', 1936</ref> However, Yawkee continued his spending spree, including a major upgrade of Fenway Park. Despite his spending, the team recorded only three first place finishes during his 45 years owning the team.

==Jackie Robinson==

===Jackie Robinson===

In 1945, Boston politician Isadore Mushnick pressured the Red Sox to open their team to black players. The team consented and offered tryouts to [[Negro League]] players [[Jackie Robinson]], [[Sam Jethroe]] and [[Marvin Williams]].<ref>Kountze, Doc. "Three Race Baseball Canidates Impress Red Sox Coach Hugh Duffy"; ''Boston Guardian'', 21 April 1945</ref> Coach Hugh Duffey oversaw the tryout with manager [[Joe Cronin]] watching from the stands. Said Duffy, "We were glad to give them a tryout...(They) (d)eserve the same chance as anybody". During the tryout, a sportswriter claimed to have heard a voice in the stands, possibly GM Eddie Collins, yell, "Get those (people) off the field!" After a delay due to Collins' suffering a broken leg, the team decided not to sign the players. When asked about Boston's chances during the 1967 season, Robinson said, "I'd like to see them lose because (Tom Yawkey) is probably one of the most bigoted guys in baseball."<ref> Stout, Glenn. (2000). ''Red Sox Century'', Houghton Miffin, Page 242</ref>

In 1945, Boston politician Isadore Mushnick pressured the Red Sox to open their team to black players. The team consented and offered tryouts to [[Negro League]] players [[Jackie Robinson]], [[Sam Jethroe]] and [[Marvin Williams]].<ref>Kountze, Doc. "Three Race Baseball Canidates Impress Red Sox Coach Hugh Duffy"; ''Boston Guardian'', 21 April 1945</ref> Coach Hugh Duffey oversaw the tryout with manager [[Joe Cronin]] watching from the stands. Said Duffy, "We were glad to give them a tryout...(They) (d)eserve the same chance as anybody". During the tryout, a sportswriter claimed to have heard a voice in the stands, possibly GM Eddie Collins, yell, "Get those (people) off the field!" After a delay due to Collins' suffering a broken leg, the team decided not to sign the players. When asked about Boston's chances during the 1967 season, Robinson said, "I'd like to see them lose because (Tom Yawkey) is probably one of the most bigoted guys in baseball."<ref> Stout, Glenn. (2000). ''Red Sox Century'', Houghton Miffin, Page 242</ref>

==Duquette Years==

==Recent Years==

 

===Dan Duquette===

In 1994, team CEO John Harrington hired [[Montreal Expos]] GM [[Dan Duquette]] to the same position. His stated goal was to build the team through a revitalized farm system. He got off to a solid start by selecting [[Georgia Tech]] shortstop [[Nomar Garciaparra]] with his first draft pick. Duquette also had a skill for finding talent in players other teams had no use for, such as [[Tim Wakefield]] and [[Troy O'Leary]]. However when the team surprisingly won the AL East in 1995, he abandoned the farm system and signed several past their prime players in a Yawkey-esque attempt to win a championship. Although he was able to acquire Expos ace [[Pedro Martinez]] and future All-Stars [[Derek Lowe]] and [[Jason Varitek]] in a trade with the [[Seattle Mariners]], he was never able to bring in complementary players. His allegedly pompous style in dealing with the media, players and other executives was said to have hurt the team's reputation.<ref>Mnookin, Seth. (2006). ''Feeding the Monster: How Money, Smarts, and Nerve Took a Team to the Top'', Simon & Schuster, Pages 138-139</ref>

In 1994, team CEO John Harrington hired [[Montreal Expos]] GM [[Dan Duquette]] to the same position. His stated goal was to build the team through a revitalized farm system. He got off to a solid start by selecting [[Georgia Tech]] shortstop [[Nomar Garciaparra]] with his first draft pick. Duquette also had a skill for finding talent in players other teams had no use for, such as [[Tim Wakefield]] and [[Troy O'Leary]]. However when the team surprisingly won the AL East in 1995, he abandoned the farm system and signed several past their prime players in a Yawkey-esque attempt to win a championship. Although he was able to acquire Expos ace [[Pedro Martinez]] and future All-Stars [[Derek Lowe]] and [[Jason Varitek]] in a trade with the [[Seattle Mariners]], he was never able to bring in complementary players. His allegedly pompous style in dealing with the media, players and other executives was said to have hurt the team's reputation.<ref>Mnookin, Seth. (2006). ''Feeding the Monster: How Money, Smarts, and Nerve Took a Team to the Top'', Simon & Schuster, Pages 138-139</ref>

==Sale of the Team and Henry Years==

===Sale of the Team===

In late 2001, a year after Harrington announced the team was up for sale, three bidders emerged as the finalists; New York lawyer Miles Prentice, Cablevision's Charles Dolan, and a group made up of former [[Florida Marlins]] owner John Henry and former [[San Diego Padres]] owner Tom Werner. Prentice entered a bid of $740 million. Dolan bid $700 million. Henry, known as "Investor 11" due to his still technically owning the Marlins<ref>Mnookin, Seth. (2006). ''Feeding the Monster: How Money, Smarts, and Nerve Took a Team to the Top'', Simon & Schuster, Page 108</ref>, and Werner also bid $700 million. Due to Prentice's questionable financing, he was eliminated from consideration.<ref name="buy">Mnookin, Seth. (2006). ''Feeding the Monster: How Money, Smarts, and Nerve Took a Team to the Top'', Simon & Schuster, Pages 122-124</ref> With the other two bids being similar, and the Henry group likely to receive a quick approval from the other baseball owners<ref name="buy"/>, their bid was chosen.

In late 2001, a year after Harrington announced the team was up for sale, three bidders emerged as the finalists; New York lawyer Miles Prentice, Cablevision's Charles Dolan, and a group made up of former [[Florida Marlins]] owner John Henry and former [[San Diego Padres]] owner Tom Werner. Prentice entered a bid of $740 million. Dolan bid $700 million. Henry, known as "Investor 11" due to his still technically owning the Marlins<ref>Mnookin, Seth. (2006). ''Feeding the Monster: How Money, Smarts, and Nerve Took a Team to the Top'', Simon & Schuster, Page 108</ref>, and Werner also bid $700 million. Due to Prentice's questionable financing, he was eliminated from consideration.<ref name="buy">Mnookin, Seth. (2006). ''Feeding the Monster: How Money, Smarts, and Nerve Took a Team to the Top'', Simon & Schuster, Pages 122-124</ref> With the other two bids being similar, and the Henry group likely to receive a quick approval from the other baseball owners<ref name="buy"/>, their bid was chosen.