Red Sox 1919-2003
Three generations of Red Sox fans went through this era seeing only three American League pennants. They saw no World Series championships. Eventually, fans did watch the Red Sox lose the World Series in 1946, 1967, and 1986, all in seven games. Of course, each series had a “villain.” In 1946 shortstop Johnny Pesky supposedly held the ball too long during a relay from the outfield. Thus, Enos Slaughter of the Cardinals sprinted from first base to home to score the winning run as a result. In 1967 MVP Carl Yastrzemski claimed someone screwed up the pre-game schedule for Game One. So, the Sox got shortchanged on batting practice after a two day layoff and hit poorly. Bill Buckner wore the black top hat and cape to go along with the moustache in 1986. In Game Six he made a walk- off error on a simple grounder to first base. As usual, the Sox lost the Series in seven games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18caPNisP2U
Let’s set the record straight. Watch the film of the ’46 relay. Pesky hardly delayed his throw to the plate. Nobody would even suspect Slaughter of making a such a bold (stupid if he was thrown out) move to score from first on a single to left.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sGlEVMQNFKk
The Sox lost to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson in Game One in ’67. In fact, Gibson won Game Four and Game Seven in dominating fashion. Yet the Red Sox presumably had more BP in those other games. However, Gibson still mowed them down! Bucker was NOT the sole reason the Sox lost the ’86 Series as portrayed by fans and the media. R.I.P. Bill.
.https://fism.tv/a-moment-in-history-the-1986-redsox-tragedy/
The lack of world titles was bad enough. In addition, there could have been more appearances in World Series. In 1948 The Sox tied with the Cleveland Indians at the end of the regular season. They lost a one game playoff at Fenway Park to decide who went to the Series for the American League. Next, in 1949 the Bosox needed only one win in the last two games to take the pennant. However, they lost them both. The 1978 Sox blew a 12 games lead over New York in August. Yet again, they played a one game playoff at Fenway to advance in the post season. They led the dreaded Yankees until Bucky Dent homered off Mike Torrez (ironically signed from the Yankees in the offseason.) The Sox lost again, and sadly Yaz made the final out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tl7xW4Oxo0
The Yankees of 2003 tortured Red Sox Nation again. Tim Wakefield served up a walk off homer to Aaron Boone to send the Yankees to the World Series. The Yankees simply couldn’t lose to Boston after the “Curse of the Bambino.” Babe Ruth was sent to the Yankees in 1920 for a large sum of money. He was already one of the top pitchers in baseball. Soon he came into his own as the most dominant slugger in the game. Then the Yankees started winning pennants and World Series championships. The Bronx Bombers created an invincible aura of baseball supermen. But the times by 2004 would be a changin.’ The Curse would be lifted, even without Iris from The Natural.
https://baseballfireside.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2655&action=elementor