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Red Sox Nation

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Red Sox Nation is a term given to fans of the Boston Red Sox. The phrase "Red Sox Nation" was first used by Boston Globe feature writer Nathan Cobb in an October 20, 1986 article about split allegiances among fans in Connecticut during the 1986 World Series. The phrase was popularized by the 1996 book At Fenway: Dispatches From Red Sox Nation (ISBN 0-5177-0104-9) by Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy. The term has since been become a commercial trademark 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 Charlie Pierce, among others, has 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.[1]

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. Fans in California have created a Red Sox Nation West.

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 The 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. The mantra is "Yankees Suck."

Topics of particular significance to Red Sox Nation

  • The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry: 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. The idea of a "Curse" was popularized in a book written by the Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy. The "Curse" was laid to rest with the Sox' victory in the 2004 World Series.
  • Bucky Dent's home run that won a 1978 one-game playoff for the Yankees.
  • Bill Buckner's famous error in the 1986 World Series
  • 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 2005, Clemens plays for the Houston Astros.
  • 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 to consummate the Rodriguez deal; however, problems arose in restructuring Rodriguez's mammoth contract and the trade fell apart after Red Sox Nation had built up massive expectations. On February 14, the Rangers traded Rodriguez to the Yankees, who spent whatever money was necessary to make the trade work. Furthermore, the deal, which would have sent Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramírez to different teams, fatally damaged Garciaparra's relationship with team ownership (see Nomar Garciaparra entry below). Rodriguez 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, Martínez 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. Martínez 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.
  • Johnny Damon free agency: In December 2005, Johnny Damon signed a $52 million deal with the rival New York Yankees.

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.
  • 1946 World Series: The only Red Sox pennant won between 1918 and 1967, and the only World Series appearance by Ted Williams. The Series went to a Game 7 in St. Louis, and the Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals were tied in the bottom of the seventh, with Enos Slaughter on first base. Slaughter tried to steal second when Harry Walker hit the ball to center field. Slaughter believed he could score, and when the ball got to Red Sox shortstop Johnny Pesky, he appeared to hesitate briefly before throwing the ball to home plate, and Slaughter scored what turned out to be the Series-winning run. The play became known as the Mad Dash, and "Pesky held the ball" became a familiar New England blame game.
  • 1967 "The Impossible Dream": 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 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.
  • 1978 AL East Playoff: After squandering the 14 game lead they held over the Yankees on July 18 and falling behind New York in the standings, Boston rallied down the stretch and tied New York on the final day of the season to force a one-game playoff at Fenway Park for the AL East crown on October 2. Boston took a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning when Bucky Dent, a career .240 hitter with just 4 home runs all season, hit a three-run home run over the Green Monster off Sox pitcher Mike Torrez to give the Yankees a lead they would not relinquish. The Yankees won the game, 5-4, to advance to the American League Championship Series, where they defeated the Kansas City Royals, and ultimately the World Series, where the Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, capping one of the greatest comebacks in baseball history and another heartbreaking chapter in the Red Sox saga.
  • 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 on Aaron Boone's home run 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)
  • 2005 Final Series of the Season vs. the Yankees: The Red Sox played the Yankees on the final weekend of the season to decide the winner of the AL East title. The Red Sox won the Friday and Sunday games, but the Yankees won the Saturday game, clinching the division but failing to win home-field advantage in the Division Series. Both the Yankees and the Red Sox lost their respective Division Series, the Red Sox to the Chicago White Sox and the Yankees to the Anaheim Angels.

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: Former shortstop for the Sox, he has been with the organization in various capacities for 63 years.
  • 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: Hall of Famer remembered for leading the team during the 1967 "Impossible Dream" season and for his longevity - he holds the record for longest career with only one team.
  • Jim Rice: Leftfielder renowned for his hitting ability.
  • Roger Clemens: Considered to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time, he was a three-time Cy Young award winner with the Sox, and won the American League MVP once. He also struck out 20 players in one game on two separate occasions. After the 1996 season, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and was eventually traded to the Yankees, causing much consternation among Red Sox fans.
  • 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 following off-season (see Pedro free agency above).
  • Manny Ramírez: Outfielder noted for his dominance at the plate and occasional lapses in concentration. Was named MVP of the 2004 World Series. He signed an eight-year, $160 million contract with the Sox after the 2000 season, and is currently the third-highest paid player in all of MLB.
  • Curt Schilling: Pitcher who was initially in the Sox' minor league system before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles. He eventually returned to the Sox from the Arizona Diamondbacks before the 2004 season, and went 21-6 with a 3.26 ERA and 203 strikeouts. During the playoffs, he won Game 6 of the ALCS and Game 2 of the World Series while pitching on an injured ankle (his tendon had to be stabilized surgically), helping the Sox win their first championship in 86 years. He is also noted for his outspokenness and his calling of local sports radio stations.
  • Tim Wakefield: one of the most reliable pitchers in Red Sox, he has been playing for the team almost his entire career, more than 10 years, and during that time he has filled every role a pitcher can, depending on where the team needed him, such as relief pitcher, closer and starter. He also possesses a unique kind of pitch, the knuckleball, which has been thrown by only a few pitchers in MLB history.
  • Jason Varitek: The current captain of the Red Sox, Varitek also known as a dirt dog by the fans. Well-liked for his loyalty and leadership, and known as one of the best catchers in baseball today.
  • Trot Nixon

Cult figures

  • Tony Conigliaro: An outfielder who showed great promise (winning American League Rookie of the Year in 1964), but whose career was ultimately derailed by injuries, most notably a broken cheekbone and severe damage to his left retina after being hit by a pitch in 1967. After his death, the team created the "Tony Conigliaro Award", which is given to the MLB player who who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage.
  • Rich Garces: Known as El Guapo in joking reference to his girth, a Sox relief pitcher in the 1990's revered by the Nation. The nickname comes from the movie Three Amigos.
  • 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).
  • Wendell Kim: Served as the Sox third base coach in the mid to late 1990's. Nicknamed Send 'Em In Kim or Wind 'Em In Wendell for his proclivity for sending players home even when they had little chance of scoring. Also known for sprinting full out from the home dugout (on the first base side) to his third base coaching position.

Songs, phrases, and hair of significance to Red Sox Nation

  • Cowboy Up: Coined by former 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 originally a rodeo term refering to a cowboy who falls off the bull and has to quickly get up to avoid further injury.** Globe article on the "Cowboy Up" phenomenon
  • 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 Neil Diamond song that's played in the middle of the 8th inning at every Red Sox home game and that fans enthusiastically sing-along with.
  • 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:

"Official" Red Sox Nation

In 2005 the Red Sox began offering "Official Citizenship" in Red Sox Nation. For a fee of $9.95(USD), fans receive a membership card with the words "Official Red Sox Nation Citizen," and access to additional Red Sox merchandise offers, newsletters, etc. Some fans, such as SNL's Jimmy Fallon have embraced the promotion, while critics have charged it as a shameless commercial ploy. On march 15, 2006 the Red Sox opened up member ship for the 2006 Red Sox Nation the Red Sox have expanded the program their are now two levels of membership their is the "red sox nation fan pack" the membership fee for that program is $9.95 and for the 2006 season they added a new level of member ship called " ULTIMATE Fan Pack" with a membership fee of $ 59.95 if includes all of the above plus

See also

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