Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Boston, Massachusetts. They are in the Eastern Division of the American League. They are the defending World Series champions. The New York Yankees are their traditional rival.

Related Topics:
Major League Baseball - Boston, Massachusetts - Eastern Division - American League - World Series - New York Yankees

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:Founded: 1899, as the Buffalo franchise in the minor Western League. Moved to Boston when that league became the major American League in 1901.

Related Topics:
1899 - Buffalo

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:Team Name: Boston Red Sox, see Nicknames before "Red Sox" below

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:Current ownership: John Henry and Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino, who paid $660 million and assumed $400 million in debt, in February 2002. The purchase includes Fenway Park and 82 percent of New England Sports Network. The purchase price set a record for a major league baseball franchise.

Related Topics:
John Henry - Tom Werner - 2002 - New England Sports Network

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:Current payroll: About $123.5 million, more than $80 million less than that of the New York Yankees. Last year, in 2004, their payroll was $127 million, $57 million shy of the New York Yankees. In both of the last two years they have been the second-highest paid team in MLB.http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/default.aspx

Related Topics:
New York Yankees - 2004

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:Home ballpark: Fenway Park (April 20, 1912 - Present), Braves Field (1929 - 1932 Sundays, 1915 - 1916 World Series), Huntington Avenue Grounds (1901-1911). Fenway is the oldest ballpark in baseball. The Red Sox ownership group has recently committed to keeping the team at Fenway for years to come. Plans are already under way for the first ballpark centennial celebration in MLB history in 2012.

Related Topics:
Fenway Park - Braves Field - Huntington Avenue Grounds

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:Mascot: "Wally the Green Monster," named after both the left field Green Monster and the one-time Red Sox pitcher Wally Masterson.

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:Uniform colors: Navy blue, red, gray, and white

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:Logo design: Two hanging red socks with white heels and toes, over a white baseball surrounded by the words Boston and Red Sox. The word "Boston" is in navy blue outlined in red, the words "Red Sox" are in red outlined in navy blue, and the entire logo is surrounded by a thick red circle. Recently the team has begun phasing in a new logo that removes the outline, text and baseball, leaving only the pair of red socks.

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:Theme Song: None officially, but several "unofficial" theme songs exist:

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:* played in the middle of the eighth inning at Fenway Park: Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" performed with raucous audience participation.

Related Topics:
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

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:* played after each victory at Fenway Park: "Dirty Water" by The Standells.

Related Topics:
Dirty Water - The Standells

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:* played after "Dirty Water" and for rallies during a game: The Dropkick Murphys' rewrite of "Tessie." The original "Tessie" was a Broadway tune, which Boston fans adopted during the 1903 World Series and sung regularly until 1916.

Related Topics:
Dropkick Murphys - Tessie - 1903 World Series

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:* played during David Ortiz's at-bats: "Who's Your Papi?" "Big Papi" is Ortiz's nickname.

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:Championships and Pennants:

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::Playoff appearances (18): 1903, 1904, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1946, 1967, 1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005

Related Topics:
1903 - 1904 - 1912 - 1915 - 1916 - 1918 - 1946 - 1967 - 1975 - 1986 - 1988 - 1990 - 1995 - 1998 - 1999 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005

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::World Series championships won (6): 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 2004

Related Topics:
World Series - 1903 - 1912 - 1915 - 1916 - 1918 - 2004

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::American League pennants won (11): 1903, 1904, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1946, 1967, 1975, 1986, 2004

Related Topics:
American League - 1903 - 1904 - 1912 - 1915 - 1916 - 1918 - 1946 - 1967 - 1975 - 1986 - 2004

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::Division Championships won (5): 1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995

Related Topics:
1975 - 1986 - 1988 - 1990 - 1995

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::Wild Card titles won (5): 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005

Related Topics:
Wild Card - 1998 - 1999 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005

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::Division Series won (3): 1999, 2003, 2004

Related Topics:
1999 - 2003 - 2004

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:Official television stations: New England Sports Network (NESN), WSBK

Related Topics:
New England Sports Network - WSBK

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:Official radio stations: WEEI (flagship)

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