Red Sox Nation
Red Sox Nation is a term given to fans of the Boston Red Sox.
Red Sox fans were once described by baseball commentator and Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley as the "ultimate manic-depressive fanbase." For all the excitement over the quality of play by the Red Sox, there is often a twinge of pessimism about the team, as the team's failures are typically blown out of proportion. Conversely, Sox fans are extremely appreciative of and devoted to the team, and almost all successful Red Sox players have at some point expressed their gratitude to the fans for their support. Sox fans could not be described as bandwagon fans, but they could at least be described as being somewhat rattled by the failures the team has experienced for the 86 years between championships. Boston Globe columnist Charles Pierce, among others, have attributed the self-perpetuating fatalism of the Nation to the intellectual legacy of the Puritans who settled Boston and instilled in the region's inhabitants a deep-seated Calvinist determinism.
With the Red Sox victory in the 2004 World Series and the team's heroic comeback from a three games to none deficit in the American League Championship Series against the Sox ancient rivals, the hated New York Yankees, some commentators have speculated that the title would change the nature of the Nation's denizens. A refrain oft-repeated by doubters, especially Yankee fans, is that the Red Sox would become "just another team" now that they have won the World Series. Others have worried that there will be an influx of fair-weather Sox fans.
Because so many New England natives re-locate to other parts of the country, a large number of Red Sox fans can typically be found supporting their team at Red Sox games outside of Fenway Park. These fans keep up with the team by watching the games on satellite television, as well as through various Web sites. Members of the Nation are even known to call the popular WEEI sports-talk radio station in Boston long distance during the season and remain on hold, merely to be able to talk about their beloved Sox.
Red Sox Nation is fed by a large media machine covering the team, including the NESN TV network, WEEI, and the sports pages of the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal. These media outlets, including national outlets such as ESPN, provide Sox fans with in-depth coverage and often highly-opinionated commentary on the current doings of the team.
| Contents |
Topics of Particular Significance to Red Sox Nation
- New York Yankees: The Red Sox/Yankees rivalry is almost certainly the most serious sports rivalry in the United States, and definitely ranks among the most serious in the world. Red Sox Nation is rabidly averse to anything "Yankee," and it is not uncommon to walk through Boston or elsewhere in New England and see someone wearing a t-shirt with an obscene reference to one or more members of the Yankee club, or see a car pass by with a "Yankees Suck" bumper sticker.
- Curse of the Bambino: A purported curse on the team that was the single most important piece of Red Sox lore. Allegedly, the "Curse" originated in a book written by the Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy. The "Curse" was, of course, famously laid to rest with the Sox' victory in the 2004 World Series.
- Bucky (Bleeping) Dent's home run in the 1978 One-Game Playoff.
- Roger Clemens saga: The future Hall of Famer was once the Red Sox pitching ace, but he was purportedly belitted by then general manager Dan Duquette, leading Clemens to leave the Sox in free agency for the Toronto Blue Jays. Clemens subsequently had several successful seasons with the Yankees, including during the 2003 ALCS (see below). As of 2004, Clemens plays for the Houston Astros, and various media and blog rumors have suggested that he might accept a trade back to the Yankees or Red Sox for the 2005 stretch run.
- Alex Rodriguez saga: Between the 2003 and 2004 seasons, the Red Sox sought to acquire Rodriguez, considered one of the greatest shortstops of all time, via a trade with the Texas Rangers. General Manager Theo Epstein and the Red Sox ownership tried desperately to consummate the A-Rod deal; however, problems arose in restructuring Rodriguez's mammoth contract and the trade fell apart after Red Sox Nation had built up massive expectations. Adding insult to injury, on February 14, the Rangers traded A-Rod to the hated Yankees, who spent whatever money was necessary to make the trade to work. Furthermore, the deal, which would have sent Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramírez to different teams, fatally damaged Nomar's relationship with team ownership (see Nomar entry below). A-Rod has subsequently been at the center of the Sox/Yanks rivalry and played a substantial role in the Yankees blowing their 3-0 lead in the 2004 ALCS.
- Pedro Martínez free agency: After being a key part of the 2004 World Series championship team, Pedro became a free agent. There was much speculation that he would end up signing with the hated Yankees, one of the few teams with the financial means to do so, and he did eventually end up in New York—as a member of the Mets. Pedro immediately went on to verbally bash many members of the Red Sox organization, ranging from Theo Epstein to Terry Francona to Curt Schilling, damaging his reputation in Boston and its ferocious sports media.
Dates and Games of Significance to Red Sox Nation
- 1918 World Series: The last World Series won by the Red Sox prior to October 27, 2004, in which the Red Sox, led by pitcher Babe Ruth, defeated the Chicago Cubs.
- 1967 "Impossible Dream" Season: Arguably, this season marks the beginning of the current fascination with the Red Sox and the birth of the modern Red Sox Nation. After numerous abysmal years, the '67 Sox, led by Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski, stunned observers by winning the American League pennant. Ultimately, these Sox lost the 1967 World Series to a St. Louis Cardinals team anchored by Hall-of-Famer Bob Gibson.
- 1975 World Series: In one of the most thrilling and closely-contested of contemporary professional baseball championship events, the Red Sox lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, a powerhouse team known as the Big Red Machine and featuring future Hall of Fame players Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan. As so often in their storied history, the Red Sox provided the iconic moment of the Series in a losing effort when their own future Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk hit an extra-innings home run in Game Six. The Red Sox lost the Series in Game Seven after Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee gave up a home run on his trademark Eephus pitch.
- 1986 World Series: A heartbreaking moment for Boston fans, the Red Sox lost Game Six of the World Series following an error by Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner. Prior to Buckner's error, the Red Sox had come within one out of winning the game and, thus, the World Championship. Following Buckner's error, the Red Sox lost the 1986 World Series to the New York Mets in seven games, four games to three. Buckner subsequently became the local scapegoat for all the woes of the Red Sox since 1918, to the extent that his career was ruined, his family suffered some verbal and psychological harassment, and he was essentially run out of town.
- 2003 ALCS: The Red Sox came within five outs of advancing to the 2003 World Series, but questionable managerial decisions led to the Yankees tying the game and eventually winning the series in extra innings.
- 2004 ALCS: The Yankees won the first three games of the series, but then the Red Sox followed with four straight victories, thereby becoming the first Major League Baseball team ever to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first three. The series is most remembered for David Ortiz's clutch hitting to win games four and five in extra innings, Curt Schilling's gutsy pitching performance in the sixth game, with his injured ankle bleeding through his sock, and Derek Lowe shutting down the Yankees in Yankee Stadium on two days' rest to win the deciding game.
- 2004 World Series: The Red Sox won the World Series sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in four games and causing raucous celebration in New England and the Nation at large. Significantly, this victory represents the end of the alleged "Curse of the Bambino." (see above)
Players of Significance to Red Sox Nation
- Ted Williams: a Hall of Famer remembered by many as one of the greatest hitters of all time. His career lasted from 1939 to 1960, and he was, as of 2004, the last player to hit over .400, hitting .406 in 1941. Williams was known as Teddy Ballgame and The Kid. After Williams passed away in 2002, his son John Henry Williams made the decision to cryogenically freeze his remains, despite the fact that it was known that the great hitter's desire was to be cremated. This led John Henry Williams to be a much-hated figure in Red Sox Nation until his own death from leukemia in March 2004.
- Dom DiMaggio: Sox centerfielder during the 1940's and 1950's. Known as the Little Professor and spectacular defensively.
- Johnny Pesky
- Pumpsie Green: Became the first African American player on the Red Sox in 1959, making the Sox the last team in MLB to integrate.
- Carl Yastrzemski
- Jim Rice
- Roger Clemens
- Nomar Garciaparra: Drafted out of Georgia Tech in 1994, Nomar quickly won the hearts of the Nation with his acrobatic play at shortstop, his superior hitting, and his collection of tics and quirks. Nomar, generally thought to have been a franchise player whose number (No. 5) would be retired between those of Joe Cronin (No. 4) and Yaz (No. 8), was sent to the Chicago Cubs in July 2004, resulting in the acquisition of Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz. Whispers around the clubhouse indicated that Nomar was negatively impacting the team with a poor attitude that was incompatible with his teammates. This belief can also be correlated to the team's remarkably better play down the stretch after the trade was completed.
- Pedro Martínez: One of the most dominating pitchers of all-time, Pedro has often been compared to Sandy Koufax and possesses one of the highest career winning percentages of all-times at .705 (182-76). Pedro helped lead the Sox to the title in 2004 after years as the Sox ace. He left the team in the very next postseason (see Pedro free agency above).
- Curt Schilling
Cult Figures
- Tony Conigliaro
- Rich Garces: Known as El Guapo in joking reference to his girth, a Sox relief pitcher in the 1990's revered by the Nation.
- Sam Horn: Once a prized prospect in the Sox farm system, Horn never really made it in "The Show". Now is a NESN commentator and has lent his name to an influential Sox fan website (see external links below).
Songs, Phrases, and Hair of Significance to Red Sox Nation
- Cowboy Up: Coined by Sox first baseman Kevin Millar during the 2003 regular season, "Cowboy Up" became the rallying cry of the team and Nation in their run through the playoffs. Oddly for the decidedly un-Western region, the phrase is taken from song by Ryan Reynolds, a Country music singer.
- Still, We Believe: 2004 documentary of the 2003 Red Sox season. Terms like "Believe" and "Faith" would be the mantra of the fanbase during the 2004 season.
- Faith Rewarded: The NESN documentary chronicling the Sox's march to a championship in 2004. Features silly bonus extras, including Big Papi cooking Dominican cuisine for Sam Horn at his Boston apartment.
- Dirty Water, by The Standells: played after every victory at Fenway Park, it is one of the theme songs that the Red Sox Nation is known by.
- Tessie: Theme song performed in 2004 by the Dropkick Murphys, with proceeds going to charity. Red Sox Nation has proven to be an incredible source of philanthropy. Tessie is of historical significance in Red Sox lore as it became the theme song of the Royal Rooters ('Nuff Said McGreavy, Hi-Hi Dixwell, and friends) beginning perhaps at the first World Series in 1903. The Royal Rooters supplied (were) their own band, marched into home and away ball parks as a group with the band playing, and supplied their own lyrics, topically connected to opponent's players and quirks.
- Sweet Caroline: The sing-along song played in the middle of the 8th inning at every Red Sox home game.
- Hair: The 2004 Red Sox were known as the "hairiest team in baseball," due to their unconventional hairstyles. This is in marked opposition to the Yankees, who have a very rigid grooming policy. President George W. Bush even commented on the Sox' hirsute nature at a Rose Garden ceremony honoring the team in March 2005. A list of Red Sox and their follicular exploits:
- Kevin Millar: Started the trend by shaving his head during the 2003 postseason. Many of his teammates joined him.
- Bill Mueller: During the bald-head phase, grew a unique handlebar moustache.
- Johnny Damon: Arrived at 2004 spring training with a full beard and long hair, prompting comparisons to cavemen, Jesus, Chewbacca, and even Jim Morrison of The Doors.
- Manny Ramírez: Grew his hair out, wearing it in dreadlocks.
- Bronson Arroyo: Styled his hair into cornrows, somewhat unique for a Caucasian.
- Pokey Reese: Sighted with an afro while on the disabled list.
- Pedro Martínez: Wore his hair in a jheri curl style.
External Links Significant to Red Sox Nation
- Official Boston Red Sox Website
- Unofficial Red Sox Nation Website
- Sons of Sam Horn, a Red Sox Discussion Website
- The Remy Report a Red Sox Discussion Website/fan page for Jerry Remy, former Red Sox player, current Red Sox TV Colorman on NESN and WSBK, and Red Sox Nation icon.
- The Soxaholix, a profane and hilarious daily comic strip on the Sox
- Talksox Red Sox discussion forum