Yankees and the AL East: 25 years as baseball’s best division

Red Sox/Yankees Vol. III

And the Red Sox? The Boys from Beantown thought they were better in 2003 than the Yankees. When that dream died riding Aaron Boone’s well-struck ball to right field, they were stunned and shocked.

Some teams fall apart after a loss like that. Not the Boys from Boston and not when you play in the Beast. Instead, they spent the winter of 2003 growing their beards, and their collective resolve.

By the time the 2004 season started, those Idiots were dumb enough to think they were better than the Yankees…and they were right.

The Yankees, meanwhile, traded for Alex Rodriguez that off-season, stealing him from the Red Sox and adding to the rivalry. It certainly seemed to steam Ben Affleck.

Both teams were now ready for what everyone who watches baseball could see coming: The Rematch. Like basketball in the mid-80’s, everyone could tell there were only two teams worth watching.

Only This Time Boston had Magic

The Yankees and Red Sox spent 2004 throwing punches at each other all season until the field was cleared and they could finally face off for seven more gut-wrenching games.

The whole season felt like that. This was the year Jeter dived into the stands, trying desperately to keep Boston at Bay, his heart on his sleeve and his blood on his face. The injuries to his face could force him from the game but never quell that man’s indomitable will to win.

Of course these two teams—these two ancient enemies who had stared at each other across the stats sheet all season, jockeying for position, wanting to have any mental edge when they met again—did, of course, meet again, for the third time in six years, in the 2004 American League Championship Series.

The description will be far briefer. If you want to hear more stories about this one, you’ll have to travel to the DR and speak with David Ortiz; I’m sure he would have plenty to say.