Originally the Red Sox were identified as the Americans and emerged as the Toledo, Ohio franchise in the minor Western League. But after the minor league dissolved to become the American League in 1900, the Sox s competed in the first World Series in 1903 against the winning team of the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates. The following season, the Boston once again won the AL flag but John McGraw of Giants due to a feud with the founder of AL refused to contend against them in a post-season playoff. In 1907, the proprietor of the club, John I. Taylor gave the team the moniker, Red Sox based on the red footwear worn by the team. The team shifted to their classic brand new Fenway Park in 1912, which still holds the recognition of their authorized home arena. From 1903 to 1918, the team won seven Fall Classic titles in the duration of six years. Babe Ruth, Tris Speaker, Cy Young, Harry Hooper, and Duffy Lewis formed the core of the team and delivered outstanding scores from time to time. Babe Ruth, who is often looked upon as the star player in the history of baseball was acquired under the ownership of Joseph Lenin. In 1919, the club s new proprietor, Harry Frazee deported Ruth to the New York Yankees with no players in return, since he was a real trouble for the club. Before sending him to exile, Frazee would not have ever assumed that he would become the player he did. Other Frazee era players went to New York as part of Frazee's fiscal policy. Sad Sam Jones and Waite Hoyt became the focus of the team in 1920 s. The trade of Ruth is also known as the Curse of the Bambino since his departure is considered to be the cause of the drought that Sox suffered from for 86 years. Other reasons were the team s bad luck and flaws in pitching and defense. With the acquisition of Tom Yawkey as their new owner in 1933 and outfielder Ted Williams in 1939, the team underwent a revival. Remodeling of the Fenway Park was also a part of the renaissance. Williams proved his caliber to play the game and became one of the finest hitters in the history of baseball. In 1941, he became the last major league player to hit over .400 or greater in a full season. 2B Johnny Pesky, 3B Bobby Doerr, and centerfielder Dom DiMaggio were the other preeminent players of the 1940 s. From 1938 to 1951, Boston finished in third place or higher ten times. With Williams as their key player, the Red Sox appeared in the 1946 World Series but lost the title by seven games from the Cardinals. Some critics assumed that, Williams was too haughty to hit to the other side of the field. He compiled only five singles in 25 at-bats, for a .200 average. In 1959, the Sox became the integrated team after signing African American infielder Pumpsie Green. Williams after hitting a home run in his final at-bat in 1960 retired from the team. In 1961, Carl Yastrzemski ("Yaz"), who became one of the affluent hitters of the pitching-rich decade rejuvenated the team. He was became an outstanding post-season player in the 1967 season when he hit .400 with 3 homers and 5 RBI. The same season is also remembered as the Impossible Dream due to Yaz contribution and his incredible American League Triple Crown achievement. But the Red Sox were knocked by the Cardinals. In 1975, the Red Sox won the AL flag. The potent line-up featured Yaz, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, catcher Carlton Fisk, Luis Tiant and Bill Jee. Yaz won three batting titles and a triple crown in his 23 seasons with Boston. The 1975 post-season playoff became one of the most exciting match in the history of major league particularly games 6 and 7. In game 6, Carlton Fisk hit a home run and rolled on to a series tying triumph. But the Reds retaliated in game 7 and maintained their impetus. Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn earned the rookie of the year award and was also named MVP of the game. The Sox s biggest rivals are the New York Yankees, who after acquiring Babe Ruth became the most dominant team of the major league and won 26 World Series championships. The Red Sox-Yankees animosity was further infuriated in 1978 when both the teams after winning their regular season playoffs vied for the American League East division title. The Yankees victory once again made the Red Sox fans reminiscent of the Curse of the Bambino. Boston outfielder Jim Rice was named the league s MVP that year. Rice, third baseman Wade Boggs, first baseman Bill Buckner, pitcher Roger Clemens, and Dwight Evans consolidated the line up of Sox s in 1986. Roger Clemens led the club to the AL East title after defeating the California Angels. But since the curse was following the Red Sox year by year, they lost the coveted World Series title in the hands of New York Mets. The Sox often seized the East Division title but were not fortunate enough to win the ALCS. In the early 1990 s the club seemed to be in an utter chaos due to the deputation of four different managers. Moreover, the team helplessly watched their star player, Jeff Bagwell blossom into a superstar in the jersey of Houston Astros. In 1998 with the Red Sox acquired right-hander Pedro Martinez from the Montreal Expos, whose playing skills were spectacular. He did wonders for the pitching staff, and brought two accomplishments, wild card berths in 1998 and 1999. In 1999, the Sox created history by competing against the hated New York Yankees in post-season play. But the Yankees were strong enough to retain their command over the game and dispatched the Red Sox in five games in the LCS. In 2001, manager Williams and star outfielder Carl Everett were rusticated from the club due to several humiliating incidents. In 2002, the syndicate comprising of John Henry, Tom Werner, Les Otten, and Larry Lucchino took the hold of the team. The same season Theo Epstein took over the managerial duties of the club and became the youngest GM in the history of the Major Leagues at 28. in 2003, the Sox captured the wild-card title finishing second to the Yankees. Though they were the underdogs, but still several incidents exaggerated the rivalry between the Sox and Yanks. To add more to the rivalry, the Red Sox acquired pitcher Curt Schilling from the Diamonducks, who had shut down the Yankees in the 2001 World Series. In return, the Yankees acquired Alex Rodriguez. The season 2004 was perhaps the most outstanding season for the Red Sox players, since the Curse of Bambino ended with a cherished note. Though they failed to procure Alex Rodriguez, they started off well. The Red Sox after defeating the Anaheim Angels in the Division title swept the Yankees to win the ALCS, eventually to win the coveted 2004 Fall Classic against the St. Louis Cardinals.