The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox resume their heated rivalry in a three-game series this weekend.
What were the names of the teams when they met for the first time in the early 1900s?
Pictured: Babe Ruth card from the 2009 Topps Legends of the Game Career Best set. Ruth is the most famous player to don the uniform of each team. But he isn't the only HOF'er to play for both the Yankees and the Red Sox. Six others can claim that distinction. Any guesses? (Roger Clemens may be a correct answer in the future, but not today.)
The Americans and the Highlanders
Posted by: David | May 08, 2010 at 11:24 AM
Wade Boggs is the only player I can think of off the top of my head. The Yankees, I found out just the other day, started life as the Baltimore Orioles, before moving to New York after 2 years. They probably played Boston, who was an original AL team, in those years. After moving to NY the Yankees were officially the "Highlanders" for a while. It seems the Red Soxs didn't have an official nick-name until 1907 or so, but had several unofficial ones, my favorite being the "bean-eaters". Many jokes about "wind assisted" home runs are possible with that one.
Posted by: Matt | May 08, 2010 at 11:28 AM
In addition to Boggs, Red Ruffing is another. And I think Joe McCarthy managed the Red Sox as well as the Yankees.
Posted by: David | May 08, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Jack Chesbro, the Highlanders pitcher who lost the pennant to the Red Sox at the end of the season after winning 41 games in 1904. Played for NY much longer than Boston but was on both.
Posted by: Marc Blitz | May 08, 2010 at 02:51 PM
The link below states that the two teams first met on May 7, 1907, when the "Pilgrims" beat the "Highlanders" by a score of 6-2.
http://www.nationalpastime.com/site/index.php?fact_day=07&fact_month=05
Boggs, Ruffing, and Chesbro are correct answers. The missing three include two pitchers and one non-pitcher (the most recent addition to the Hall of the three --- by 40 years over one pitcher and over 50 years over the other pitcher).
Posted by: Tim Zinnecker | May 08, 2010 at 04:33 PM
Herb Pennock? (I suppose, technically, the question was "play for" and I guess McCarthy didn't PLAY for both--but am I mistaken that he managed both?)
Posted by: David | May 08, 2010 at 05:14 PM
Herb Pennock is correct.
After managing the NL Chicago franchise for a few years, Joe McCarthy jumped to the AL, where he managed the Yankees for several years before concluding his career with Boston.
Posted by: Tim Zinnecker | May 08, 2010 at 05:28 PM
Rickey Henderson
Posted by: Cbacca | May 16, 2010 at 01:15 AM
Waite Hoyt
Posted by: Cbacca | May 16, 2010 at 01:23 AM
Henderson and Hoyt were the last two answers we were looking for!
Posted by: Tim Zinnecker | May 16, 2010 at 08:20 AM