Curse of the Bambino

The Curse of the Bambino (1918 – 2004) was an urban myth or scapegoat cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series for 86 years after they sold Babe Ruth, sometimes called The Bambino, to the New York Yankees. The flip side of the "curse" was New York's success—after the sale, the once-lackluster Yankees became one of the most successful franchises in North American professional sports. While some fans took the superstition of the Curse seriously, many others used the expression in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

"Cursed" results

The "curse" did not always wait for the World Series. In 1949, the Red Sox needed to win just one of the last two games of the season to win the pennant, but lost both games to the Yankees. Ironically, the Red Sox were managed by Joe McCarthy, who had previously steered the Yankees to 7 World Series titles.

Related Topics:
1949 - Joe McCarthy

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In 1978, the Red Sox had a 14-game lead over the Yankees on July 18, but by season's end, the teams were tied. A one-game playoff took place at Fenway Park on October 2. In the 7th inning, Boston led 2-0, but Bucky Dent, a .240 hitter (although he had been hitting only .140 for the previous 20 games) with only 4 home runs all season, hit the ball over the Green Monster with two runners on base to secure the Yankee win.

Related Topics:
1978 - July 18 - Fenway Park - October 2 - Bucky Dent - Home run - Green Monster

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The most dramatic defeat for the Red Sox, the one which seemed to have "confirmed" that there truly was a "curse", came in 1986, when Boston squandered three leads in what would have been the deciding sixth game before losing in the 10th inning to the New York Mets after a fielding error by first baseman Bill Buckner. The Red Sox then lost the 7th game of the series, blowing a 3-run lead. The collapses in the last two games prompted Vecsey's articles.

Related Topics:
1986 - New York Mets - Bill Buckner

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In 2003, a similar scenario to the 1978 series occurred. Tied with the Yankees at three games apiece in the American League Championship Series, Boston had a 5-2 lead going into the 8th inning. Two Yankee doubles and a single later, the game was tied. The game - and series - was decided in the 11th by a first-pitch lead-off home run by light-hitting Aaron Boone.

Related Topics:
2003 - 1978 - American League Championship Series - Aaron Boone

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Other popular instances include Pedro Martinez remarking, "I don't believe in them curses," before a game. He followed by noting that if Ruth were to show up, perhaps he would "drill him in the ass." Martinez injured himself in that game, not winning another start all year, leading some to believe he shouldn't have taunted the curse.

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