The Early Years of the Boston Red Sox

As told by fenwayfanatics.com.

Up until 1901, the only game in town was the the National League, which had started in 1876. The league consisted of twelve teams, and Boston was home to the Beaneaters. 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. Original plans did not call for a franchise in Boston, but to the good fortune of generations of New Englanders, he moved a team originally meant to play in Buffalo, NY to Boston...

1901 - 1911: Humble Beginnings

Founded in 1901, the franchise was not known originally as the Red Sox; in fact, research from well-known author Bill Nowlin shows that several names were used by local sportswriters to identify the team. None of these names included the Boston Pilgrims, which has often been cited erroneously as the team's name before owner John Taylor christened the popular moniker known and loved today in December of 1907.

In 1903, in just its third season of existence, Boston not only won its first pennant, but challenged and defeated the National League champion Pittsburgh Pirates in the inaugural World Series. One year later, Boston finished the season as the 1904 American League champions, but the 1904 National League champion New York Giants refused to play against an "inferior" league, so Boston had no opportunity to defend its world championship title.

During these seasons, the team took residence at the Huntington Avenue Grounds, a ballpark hastily built not long after the city was awarded the franchise. Besides being the predecessor to Fenway Park, it witnessed the first perfect game thrown in the American League in 1904 by none other than the legendary Cy Young.

1912 - 1919: Baseball Dynasty

With the opening of Fenway Park in 1912 came a string of success in terms of championship teams in Boston. With star players like Smoky Joe Wood, Dutch Leonard, Tris Speaker, Duffy Lewis, Harry Hooper, and the infamous Babe Ruth, the team won World Series titles in 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918. Oddly enough, for financial reasons, the franchise played its home games during the 1915 and 1916 World Series at Braves Field, this after the Braves used Fenway for its home field in the 1914 World Series since Braves Field was undergoing renovations at the time.

Probably the biggest star to come out of that span was Ruth, who began his career with Boston as a pitcher before ownership realized that it was his hitting prowess that brought the crowds to the park. Unfortunately, despite Ruth's popularity and box office appeal, the relationship between the club and Ruth went sour, so much that Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold the disgruntled player to New York for $125,000 and a loan of $300,000, secured by Fenway Park itself.

1920 - 1932: Boston Hits The Skids

With the departure of Ruth after the 1919 season, the Red Sox went to a tailspin for several seasons as, year after year, ownership with little eye for talent would pay huge sums to hopefuls that would not only disappoint but continue to lead the team to sub-.500 records. The low point probably came in 1932 when Boston could manage just 43 wins against 111 losses. In contrast, the New York Yankees, Ruth's new team, found a formula for success, winning seven pennants and four World Series titles during his tenure with the club, the last coming in 1932 with a team that won 107 games.

But maybe things can change...