The 1985 Boston Red Sox Flash Hope & Then Collapse In August
The 1985 Boston Red Sox showed the flashes of hope that would ultimately manifest themselves into a pennant a year later, but the ’85 team was done in by an August collapse
baseball history
1984 Boston Red Sox: Rocket Launch & A Quiet Winning Season
The first half of the 1980s are generally not seen as a high point in the history of the Boston Red Sox, and that characterization is, for the most part, fair. There were no division titles, nor even a noteworthy near-miss. But there were examples of some overachievement and teams that deserve to be remembered well. The 1984 Boston Red Sox were just such a team.
The 1983 Boston Red Sox: The Farewell For Carl Yastrzemski
It was 1961 that a kid from Long Island who played basketball at Notre Dame made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox. That kid was Carl Yastrzemski and the next 22 years saw become a hero across New England. “Yaz” led the Red Sox to the Impossible Dream pennant of 1967, to another pennant in 1975, won the Triple Crown in 1967 and stayed a productive player into his 40s. Finally, at age 43, he called it quits on what would be a first-ballot Hall of Fame career. The 1983 Boston Red Sox season was Yaz’s last
The 1980 Boston Red Sox: The Last Crash Of Unfulfilled Hope
The late 1970s had been a time of unfulfilled hope for the Boston Red Sox. After reaching Game 7 of the 1975 World Series, the Red Sox seemed to be a rising dynasty in the making. But that was followed with underachievement in 1976, a close pennant race loss in 1977, a devastating loss in 1978, and modest slipback in 1979. The 1980 Boston Red Sox completed the decline, falling to mediocrity and ending a short era in franchise history.
The 1977 Boston Red Sox Return To Contention But Come Up A Bit Short
When the Boston Red Sox reached Game 7 of the 1975 World Series with a core of young players, there was the expectation that great things were underway. Those expectations took a big step back in a disappointment-filled 1976 season. The 1977 Boston Red Sox were able to rekindle the hope, with a strong run at the AL East title, but like so many pre-2004 Red Sox teams, managed to come up just a little bit short.
1976 World Series: The Big Red Machine Rolls Through The Bronx
One team was the powerful defending champions, already one of the dominant teams of the decade and looking to secure the legacy of a dynasty. Another was the team making its first World Series appearance in over a decade. It was the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees.
1976 NLCS: Cincinnati Sweeps Back The Phillie Challenge
The Reds were the Big Red Machine, the defending World Series champions, with three pennants and four NLCS appearances already under their belt from 1970-75. The Phillies were the up-and-comers, who had displaced the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL East. While the Phils would become postseason regulars in the ensuing eight years, they were a fresh face in 1976.
1982 Boston Red Sox: A Legacy Of Overachievment & Hope For The Future
The 1982 Boston Red Sox represented not only an overachieving high point in the first half of the decade, but laid the groundwork for the success that would come in the 1980s latter half.
The Yankees-Royals Rivalry Continues In The Great 1977 ALCS
The New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals had waged a classic battle in the 1976 American League Championship Series, a series not settled until Yankee first baseman Chris Chambliss won the decisive game with a ninth-inning walkoff home run. In 1977, the Yankees and Royals each won 100 games, won their respective divisions and in the era when leagues were simply an East & West with only first-place teams advancing, a rematch was set for the 1977 ALCS.
The 1999 World Series: A Showdown That Turns Into A Sweep
The Yankees had won two of the previous three Fall Classics. The Braves were in their fifth Series of the decade and aiming for their second title. It was all set up to a great World Series Showdown…only it didn’t turn out quite that way.
The 1998 New York Yankees: The Best Team Ever To Wear Pinstripes
The New York Yankees felt like they’d missed an opportunity in the 1997 playoffs when they lost to the Cleveland Indians in the Division Series. The 1998 New York Yankees took it out on the rest of baseball with a display that, even allowing the many great teams this organization has fielded over the years, was the absolute best.
The 1995 Atlanta Braves Avert History’s Harsh Verdict
The Atlanta Braves had come up short in the World Series in 1991 and 1992, then been upset in the National League Championship Series in 1993, before their likely playoff berth of 1994 was ended by the players’ strike. The 1995 Atlanta Braves spared the franchise and the fan base from the ignominy of constant playoff defeat by winning the World Series.