There are many famous rivalries in professional sports, but one of the fiercest is between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. The Yankees are the team that everybody loves to hate, but the Red Sox fans hate them more than most baseball fans. They love to come down to Fenway Park to “boo” the Yankees loudly. This year The Yankees and Red Sox will be competing again in July; any true fans of either team wouldn’t dare miss the chance to outshine the other.

The two teams have maintained their rivalry since the early 1900s. The reasons for the rivalry are pretty obvious.

• The two cities are not far apart.
• They play in the American League East Division.
• Both teams claim to be the best franchise in Major League Baseball.

The Curse of the Bambino

It all started in 1920 when The Yankee’s acquired the most popular athlete in sports from the Red Sox; the infamous Babe Ruth. Ruth donned the famous Yankee uniform on January 5, 1920 and left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Red Sox and their fans. This trade was considered a serious loss for the team and would end their era of success for the time being. Both teams had always been competitive; however, the Ruth sale added fuel to the fire and initiated a deep-seated resentment that still lingers to this day, and for good reasons too. Before dealing Ruth to the Yanks, the Red Sox had won five World Series titles. After the sale, they went without a World Series championship for 86 years. During that same period, the Yankees had won 26 World Series titles.

The Curse is Broken, but the Rivalry Continues

The Red Sox finally overcame the curse by defeating the Yankees in the most amazing way during the 2004 American League Championship Series. The Sox rallied from a three-game deficit to beat the Yanks 4-3. Then, they swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first World Series in nearly nine decades. The defeat infuriated the Yankees and initiated a long term battle of the fittest. Baseball fans near and wide rally to witness the intense match-ups whenever The Yankees come to Fenway Park. These games are so highly anticipated that fans purchase their Red Sox tickets months ahead of time to ensure their attendance.

The Rivalry Continues

The Red Sox and Yankees have already battled twice this season. The Yankees won both of the exciting, competitive games. The next series between the two teams is scheduled for the first week in July. The Red Sox want to dominate their division and completely bury the Curse of The Bambino. The Yankees want to prove that they’re the best team in baseball by beating the Sox and winning the World Series again. Whatever the outcome, the New York/Boston rivalry will continue to heat up the stadium whenever these two teams play.

Mercedes Potter is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow her @CedesPotter.