Yankees v. Red Sox

Fans anticipate October, continuing face-off

by Hilary Hughes

Thursday September 29, 2005

Around this time last year, New England natives everywhere were elated when the Red Sox pulled an underdog move and qualified for the playoffs as the Wildcard Entry in the American League Championship Series for holding the fourth highest standing in the league. The joy and tension experienced by Red Sox fans up to this point multiplied exponentially when the Sox actually won the ALCS, with the most dramatic turn around and biggest upset in baseball history at the expense of their nemesis, the New York Yankees.

As a native of the Greater-Boston area, and as a Red Sox fan by blood and preference, I was feeling nothing short of euphoric when the Sox brought home an obscenely large trophy for winning the 2004 World Series. Winning the World Series is something Red Sox fans have dreamed of for their beloved team since 1918, which was the last time Boston was able to brag about their champions. It was the destruction of the Yankee Dynasty, however, that made the end of 2004’s baseball season even more enjoyable for Sox fans all over the country and here at Sarah Lawrence.

The fact that Sarah Lawrence geographically falls under the jurisdiction of "enemy territory" may explain the lack of merchandise promoting a more negative spin on Red Sox team spirit. You may not see a "YANKEES SUCK" or "JETER SWALLOWS" bumper sticker on the back of a car with plates from one of New England’s states driving down the parkways, but I would not be surprised if the driver supports the rivalry that garners these sentiments. The high contingency of Sox fans is almost, if not equal to, that of those rooting for the Yanks on our campus, which makes for heated discussion when the current baseball season comes up.

It is always the Sox fan to engage, and the Yankees fan to fuel the conversation: we start by boasting about our current record or previous victory, reminiscing about the slow start the Yankees had at the start of the season, maybe even throw in an A-Rod joke or two. Their response usually includes a witty remark about the Curse of the Bambino ("Babe’s just taking a long vacation") or the previous reputation of the Red Sox ("they just sucked for 86 years"). It’s always an agree to disagree scenario, and neither party can claim the last word when it comes down to one of the most sacred rivalries to take the field.

The 2005 baseball season is coming to a close, though, and an opportunity to settle the power struggle between the fans may present itself before next season. Oct. 2 officially marks the end of the 2005 season for the Red Sox, with their final game appropriately against the Yankees on their home turf at Fenway Park. According to MLB.com, the Boston Red Sox are leading the Eastern division with 87 wins and 62 losses. As of press time, the New York Yankees are a game and half behind the Sox with 85 wins and 63 losses. If the Red Sox stay at the top of the American League standings, the Yankees may meet them once again in the playoffs if they bump Cleveland out of the running for the Wildcard race. The beginning of October may leave Yankee fans reeling from defeat for the second year in a row or Red Sox fans struggling to hold on to the title they so deservingly won last year.

Whatever the outcome, devoted Yankees and Red Sox fans at Sarah Lawrence are anxiously anticipating the coming weeks with a grudge to hold and a tradition to proudly continue.