Boston Red Sox Team History

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 - Babe Ruth

Years with Boston: 1914-1919
Position: Pitcher
Elected to Red Sox Hall of Fame: 1995

Fun Fact: In his last season with Boston, after being used almost exclusively as a pitcher during his career with the Red Sox, Ruth spent most of the season as an outfielder and responded with a then-record 29 home runs, shattering the old record by 13. ...more on Babe Ruth.

Other Red Sox legends: Ted Williams, Nomar Garciaparra, Carl Yastrzemski

This Week in Red Sox History

30 January 2009 - Veteran catcher Jason Varitek signs a one-year deal with Boston with club and player options for a second season. The Red Sox captain is unable to find another team interested in his services, while the team is unable to find a suitable replacement for its Gold Glove catcher.

1 February 1984 - Lou Gorman is hired as the general manager of the Red Sox, replacing Haywood Sullivan.

5 February 2004 - Returning home to where he started his career, free agent designated hitter Ellis Burks signs a one-year deal with Boston.