THE RIVALRY

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees. One of the best rivalries in baseball, and, in my opinion, all of sports. Even if you are not a fan of the game, if you live in either city, surely you have heard about these two teams battling each other on the diamond for more than 100 years. 

Both teams have a long, rich history and fans are raised to love one team while hating the other, or simply hating both. I know of NO ONE that likes both teams. Perhaps there are baseball unicorns out there, but that would alter the balance of the universe. Like the first big story of the rivalry way back after the 1919 season.

You see, the Red Sox had this amazing player that you may have heard of. His name was Babe Ruth. He could hit AND pitch. He did this with ease season after season, and sometimes while hung over, so I’ve read. The man was also a great ambassador for the sport, signing autographs and eating hot dogs with fans, especially the kids. Wonderful. Seems like quite the slugger.

In 1918, the Sox were owned by a man named Harry Frazee. They were good. Really good. They won the World Series that year. Unfortunately, Harry also had money problems and Fenway Park, the new home of the team since 1912, needed to be paid for with mortgage payments. Mr. Frazee was tired of listening to the Babe make outrageous money demands (he wanted $20,000 for the 1920 season…twice his usual salary), so Harry sold him. To the New. York. Yankees. 

Almost instantly, the Red Sox went into the toilet, and the Yankees flourished. For the ENTIRE CENTURY. The story of the two teams is rich with history that has been written about for years. Instead of writing about what has already been written, I would like to add my own small chapter to the rivalry.

I am a diehard Sox fan. Too young to remember Bucky bleeping Dent, but old enough to remember 20 years ago. Ahh yes. The biggest comeback in the history of baseball, as the Red Sox beat the Evil Empire Yankees 4 games to 3 in October of 2004 to advance to the World Series and then capture their first championship since…..1918, breaking the so called “Curse of the Bambino” (a Babe Ruth reference). During that season, like every summer, the Sox and Yankees played many games and the teams were evenly matched. The games were sold out in both cities when these two teams clashed, and made for great TV viewing if you are a fan of the game.

On a warm summer evening that summer, I was watching the Sox get crushed by the Yankees. It was something like 11-1 when my phone rang. My landline. It was an old  student who had looked up my number in the phone book. We used to have those (Google it kids….you had to look up people’s numbers and then write them down to remember them. It also snowed everyday and we had no shoes)….Anyway, teaching in the town where I lived was usually safe from kids prank calling me, but on this night, I heard the voice of a young man.

“Hello Moeschen. Are you watching this game? What a great game!”

“Who is this?” I replied. “How did you get my number?”

(Laughter) “Moeschen, this is Dan. Dan Covey.” 

Dan was a great kid, and a huge Yankees fan. In class we used to go back and forth constantly and whatever day Dan had music class, he would be wearing a Yankees jersey, or baseball cap. Naturally I applied the NO HATS IN CLASS rule and would have him put his hat on my desk. Dan would also draw the Yankees logo on his quizzes and papers and frequently write his name as Mantle or Jeter when he turned in projects. I loved it.

Well, on this summer night, he really had me. I laughed and told him that I was watching this terrible game, and as Dan was now in high school (or maybe graduated already??) We caught up for a few minutes and then I reminded him that it’s not important who wins in July…but in late October when the World Series is played. Typical Yankee fan that Dan is, he informed me that New York owned Boston and I was dreaming if I thought any differently. 

Dan, being a youngster, was calling me from his cell phone. I wrote down his number and silently vowed revenge. I waited months.

In mid October, the Sox met the Yankees in the playoffs and were breaking Boston hearts in the usual fashion: in a best of 7-game-series, my beloved Sox were down 3 games to 0. It was over. We were finished. Again. The ghost of Babe Ruth really did live in Yankee Stadium. Why do I even watch these bums?

Then, the impossible happened. The Boston Red Sox won 4 straight games in marvelous fashion to eliminate the Yankees from postseason play. The New York Post headline read “The choke’s on us.” I bought a copy….because HAHAHAHAHA.

Wait for it. Here’s the best part. I waited for game 7 to be over, and I thought about my old student Dan. Where was his number? Oh yes….I found it and called him about 5 minutes after the game ended in New York where thousands of Yankees fans were in stunned silence. I figured that Dan was at home, crying on his couch and now I would have my moment in the sun…..but it was SO much sweeter than that.

“Hello.”

“Hi Dan. Mr. Covey, are you watching this game? What a great game. Good time to be a Yankee fan, no? HAHAHAHAHA!”

“Who is this? I have no idea who this is.”

“Dan….DAAAANNNN. Danny boy. Are you crying into your Yankee cap on your couch?”

“Wait…MOESCHEN?? You son of a bitch! Dammit. Did I give you my number? Moeschen I am AT YANKEE STADIUM. I came down to New York for this game. Oh….you suck. This sucks. I can’t believe we lost. This is the worst night ever. I’m actually leaving now and it’s so quiet here. It’s awful.”

“Oh Dan. I feel so bad for you, even though I don’t. You called me a few months ago when the Sox had the hearses all shined up waiting for the inevitable Boston choke. Not so much Dan-O. Will you be watching the World Series? Red Sox vs. Cardinals? Should be great.”

(Laughter) “Moeschen, I hate you, but this is a great call. Go St. Louis Cardinals. Bye Moeschen.”

We beat the Cardinals in 4 straight games to win our first World Series in 86 years. We also won the whole enchilada in 2007, 2013 and 2018. Sweet. 

I am still in touch with Dan, who is now married and living nearby with his daughter. She is a  Yankee fan. Too bad.

Stay safe, stay awesome and stay tuned. This one’s for you Dan Covey. Wishing you health, happiness and a 10-game losing streak at some point this year pal.