Let the Curse Begon

The Boston Red Sox hope to prove that the legendary curse of Babe Ruth is long gone after continually defeating the New York Yankees this season and beating them in the Championship Series.

Many claim this legendary curse started when the Red Sox rid themselves of the now legendary Babe Ruth and continued ever since that day. Before then, the Red Sox won five World Championships, and since, their number a mere zero while the Yankees have gone on to win 26 after acquiring Ruth.

Ruth, a player of heroic status, left his ex-team with a curse as they have never been able to duplicate the success they had with him on the team. Much of this is speculation, but in the hearts of baseball players and fans, the curse is real.

“This could be the end of the curse as the Red Sox have been hot and continually beaten the Yankees this season” said Matt Biermacher, an ex-college baseball player. “That may just be enough to prove that the curse is no longer present.”

The curse descended on Red Sox nation, January 3, 1920, when the Red Sox cheated themselves of having the legendary Babe Ruth, and instead sold him to the New York Yankees for $125,000 and the Yankees forking over $350,000 on a loan the Red Sox had to build Fenway Park. The Red Sox would continue to fall short and the Yankees would maintain their success and become the best despised team in baseball. Yankee success was maintained in all aspects of victory with 41 American League East Division Titles to the Red Sox measly seven.

“The numbers show that the loss of Ruth has provided for a continual downfall of the Red Sox and evidence that a curse is present and occurred once the Sox lost this legend to the game, Ruth” states Biermacher.

Removing Ruth from the Red Sox was a familiar mistake as it happens to all teams with great players. The difference now is that a team just needs to be one of the top four in the different leagues rather than be the most productive in the division as in the past.

Making the playoffs is one thing, but continually being second in the division is another. The Red Sox may just not have the numbers to match up with the Yankees. They did beat them throughout this year, but once again, found themselves as winners of the Wild Card rather than the division, finishing three games behind the Yankees.

“The Red Sox just need to understand that they are the number two team in the East Division” said Aaron Mullen, a past pitching coach in the Atlanta Braves organization. “It is nothing personal or against their organization as they make the playoffs each year.”

The Yankees’ championships and success in the division proves the point that the Red Sox maybe a good team, but just not good enough to beat the Yankees and have the opportunity to win a World Championship. The lack of playoff success and rich heritage in battling into October can provide jitters to the experienced, but inexperienced playoff team.

Baseball, being a mental sport, can quickly alter the picture of whether a curse is totally present or the Yankees are just the superior team. Individuals’ feeling that a curse prevents them from post-season success establishes a mental block hampering a story tell ending to this organization.

Kevin Makal, a baseball enthusiast feels, “baseball is a superstitious sport and that idea helps keep the thought of a curse in the back of the Red Sox minds each season. They may not be the better team, but the curse provides them with the excuse for another close, but not a successful season.”

Each year baseball fans count on two teams in the playoffs, but the idea of the Red Sox making it to the World Series recollects the Ruth curse continues to have its presence. This curse is another baseball superstition and hoax that players and fans have, but could be real for the Red Sox as a team. The Yankees have had the continuos success in the division and World Series.

“As fans we will have the opportunity to experience the playoffs and just see whether there is a curse that prevents the Sox from success,” states Makal.

For more information about the curse visit FOXSports.com.