More than 300 ballplayers have spent time with both the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, opposing teams in one of the most intense rivalries ever in sports. This book examines the century long antagonism between the two clubs, their storied pasts and their evolution during the 20th century. Several what-ifs are considered: what if Babe Ruth had never been traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees? What if the clubs had swapped Joe DiMaggio for Ted Williams, as was proposed by the owners of both teams? What if Alex Rodriguez had gone to Boston, as was originally intended, rather than to New York? The debate as to which team has made out better with shared players is explored.

Todd Stanley is a junior high social studies teacher in central Ohio. He has written eleven books on education. He is a lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan and lives in Pickerington, Ohio.

Todd Stanley
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 208
Bibliographic Info: 19 photos, appendix, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9751-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2125-8
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Preface 1

Introduction 11

1. A Friendly Relationship: The Deadball Era (1907–1919) 15

2. The Curse Was About More Than the Bambino: The Live Ball Era (1920–1941) 44

3. The Trade That Almost Happened: The Integration Era (1942–1960) 91

4. Managing for the Enemy: The Expansion Era (1961–1973) 111

5. The Shot Heard Round the Nation: The Free Agency Era (1974–1993) 129

6. The Lightning (A-)Rod: The Steroid Era (1994–2005) 147

7. The Evil Empires: The Present and Future (2006–present) 172

Appendix: Which Team Fared Better? 191

Bibliography 197

Index 199