2006 Boston Red Sox

After a focused performance in the 2005 MLB season, the Boston Red Sox are poised to make a strong showing in 2006. The Red Sox finished the 2005 regular season with a .586 win average, tied at the top of the American League East with their perennial rivals, the New York Yankees. Many Boston baseball fans were stunned at the trade of their star center fielder Johnny Damon—to the hated Yankees, no less—but are hoping to see good things from his replacement, Coco Crisp, acquired from the Cleveland Indians.

Even more improvements in the Red Sox' game this season are possible with a beefed-up defense and the addition of pitcher Josh Beckett. Tickets to Fenway Park are always a hot item - don't miss your chance to catch the Boston Red Sox in action in 2006!

The Boston Americans became charter members of the American League in 1901. Player-manager Jimmy Collins guided the team to two AL pennants and, in 1903, a World Series victory. Pitcher Cy Young, whose 511 career victories are an all-time record, led Boston in wins seven times from 1901 to 1908. Outfielder Tris Speaker batted .300 or better seven seasons in a row from 1909 to 1915, powering the Red Sox to World Series titles in 1912 and 1915.

In 1914 a 19-year-old pitcher from Baltimore named Babe Ruth joined the Red Sox. By 1916 the left-hander was one of the AL's premier starters. He helped Boston to World Series titles in 1916 and 1918. It was clear that he was also an outstanding hitter. Ruth stunned the baseball world in 1919 when he led the league with 29 home runs and 114 RBI while posting an 8-5 pitching record and a 2.98 ERA. He hit more home runs than the team totals of ten of the other 15 Major League teams. After that season Ruth's contract was sold to the New York Yankees, with whom he became the greatest power hitter the game has ever known.

After Ruth's departure, the Red Sox finished last in the AL nine times from 1922 to 1932. The team's fortunes changed in 1939 when outfielder Ted Williams arrived. The 20-year-old rookie led the major leagues with 145 RBIs as Boston compiled its best record (89-62) in 32 years. In 1941 Williams hit .406, and in 1942 he won his first of two Triple Crowns, while also leading the league in slugging percentage, runs, and walks. After three years of military service in World War II, Williams returned in 1946 to power Boston to its first pennant since 1918.

In 1975 the Red Sox participated in one of the most thrilling World Series in league history. A home run by catcher Carlton Fisk in the bottom of the 12th inning of game six gave Boston a series-tying victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The next night Cincinnati erased a 3-0 lead by the Red Sox to win game seven, 4-3. That year Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn became the first player to be named rookie of the year and most valuable player (MVP) in the same season.

The Red Sox returned to the postseason in 1986 with a lineup starring Rice, third baseman Wade Boggs, first baseman Bill Buckner, pitcher Roger Clemens, and right fielder Dwight Evans. After defeating the California Angels in the AL Championship Series (ALCS), Boston lost to the New York Mets in a heartbreaking 7-game World Series. In 2003, the Red Sox clinched the wild-card spot for the postseason playoffs, beat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 but fell to New York in an exciting American League Championship Series, 4-3.

Then at last came the 100th World Series in 2004. First the Red Sox had to put together four straight wins over the dreaded New York Yankees to capture the American League pennant. After that, their sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals almost seemed like destiny, as the Boston Red Sox finally lifted the Curse of the Bambino, which supposedly had kept them from victory in the Series for 86 years.