In 1901, the only baseball organization that had sustained success in the United States was the National League. Founded in 1876, one of its charter franchises was the Boston Red Stockings from the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, or simply the National Association, which had won four of the league’s five championships. Other leagues, including the American Association and the Player’s League, had attempted to mirror the success but failed to break the monopoly held by the NL. Then Ban Johnson, the owner of a small but successful minor league system from the Midwest, decided to directly compete with the National League and turned his circuit into a major league unit. Originally, one of the eight charter franchises was supposed to be in Buffalo, where the minor league Bisons were already established, but league ownership at the last minute voted in favor of Boston over Buffalo in part to directly compete with its NL counterparts. The rest… is history.

Red Sox Legend - Dwight Evans

Years with Boston: 1972-1990
Position: Right Field

Fun Fact: With Boston, Dewey led the American League three times in outfield assists and won eight Gold Gloves. ...more on Dwight Evans.

Other Red Sox legends: Manny Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez

This Week in Red Sox History

20 May 1919 - Babe Ruth hits a grand slam against the St. Louis Browns in a game in which he also earns the win as the pitcher; he is one of only four Red Sox pitchers to have emptied the bases with a home run.

20 May 1948 - Boston loses 12-4 as Mickey Harris and Mickey McDermott combine to walk 18 batters, tying a major league record for walks issued by a single team in a nine-inning game.

20 May 1976 - In an 8-2 win at Yankee Stadium, Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee is injured when, during a brawl started when Lou Pinella slammed into Carlton Fisk at home plate, Graig Nettles picks him up and slams him to the ground.

20 May 1991 - Closer Jeff Reardon collects his 300th career save by capping a 3-0 Boston win over Milwaukee at Fenway Park.

20 May 2006 - Starter Josh Beckett rips a drive into the left-center seats at Citizens Bank Park for his second career homer in the seventh inning to give the Red Sox a 5-1 lead over Philadelphia. It's the first home run hit by a Boston pitcher since Marty Pattin on 26 September 1972. The Red Sox eventually win 8-4 over the Phillies.

21 May 1940 - One day after hitting a grand slam at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Jimmie Foxx duplicates the feat against the Tigers, the only player in franchise history to hit grand slams in back-to-back games.

21 May 1988 - Boston retires former second baseman Bobby Doerr's number one before the Red Sox go out and defeat the Angels 8-4 at Fenway Park.

22 May 1957 - Boston connects for four home runs in a single inning as the Red Sox shut out the Indians 11-0.

23 May 1996 - Roger Clemens singles in his first-ever regular season at-bat, forced to the plate after designated hitter Jose Canseco is moved to left field in the eighth, as the Red Sox defeat the Mariners 11-5 at Fenway Park.

24 May 1906 - Boston loses 7-5 to Chicago at Huntington Grounds; it marks the 20th consecutive loss for the club. The string ends the next day as Jesse Tannehill blanks the White Sox, 3-0.

25 May 1901 - Ted Lewis throws a complete game shut out, the first in franchise history, as Boston wins 5-0 at Huntington Avenue Grounds in a snowstorm.

25 May 1965 - Backstop Gerry Moses, at the age of 18 years and 289 days, collects his first major league hit, a home run, to become the youngest Boston player to hit a round-tripper, while Boston is pounded by the Twins, 17-5.

25 May 1981 - Carl Yastrzemski plays in his 3,000th career game, all coming with Boston, and scores the winning run in an 8-7 win over Cleveland at Fenway Park.

25 May 1984 - Boston acquires Bill Buckner in a trade that sends Mike Brumley and future Hall-of-Famer Dennis Eckersley to the Chicago Cubs.

26 May 2010 - Third baseman Adrian Beltre goes 4-for-5 with a triple, two home runs, and 6 RBI in an 11-3 Red Sox win over the Rays in Tampa Bay.