Boston Red Sox history full of glorious triumphs and unreal defeats

THE Boston Red Sox are one of the most famous and storied franchises in all of American sports.Their history is littered with tremendous triumphs and devastating defeats, some in the most unbelievable of circumstances.Not unlike Liverpool Football Club, in fact. Their fan base is vast. Indeed, it's known as Red Sox Nation as it extends far beyond the team's geographical home in New England.And the team's greatest rival just happens to be the New York Yankees, themselves linked commercially with Liverpool's biggest foe, Manchester United. An interesting coincidence for fans to ponder.Moreover, in 2002, Red Sox president Larry Lucchino won favour with Boston fans everywhere when he described the Yankees as the 'Evil Empire' after missing out on a deal to sign pitcher Jose Contreras.I wonder if Liverpool fans regard the Red Devils down the other end of the East Lancs Road in the same way? Probably.Over the years, the Red Sox, despite having some of the game's greatest-ever players, have missed out on the biggest of prizes.That infamous era became known as the 'Curse of the Bambino'.Late in 1919, the Red Sox sold their best player, George Herman 'Babe' Ruth, on the orders of the team's owner, Harry Frazee, to the Yankees.The reasons for the trade have been debated over the years, one of them being Frazee needed the funds to help finance a Broadway musical he was producing.What is certain is that between that date and 2004, the Red Sox suffered a catalogue of heartbreaking losses which many people believed was a curse for getting shot of the Babe.

Source: Liverpool_Echo