“It Still Hurts” – When Alex Rodriguez Remembered One of the Most Painful Times of His Baseball Career and Learnt the True Meaning of Yankees & Red Sox Rivalry

MLB great Alex Rodriguez, although controversial at times, had a lengthy and storied career in baseball. During the 22-year tenure of his baseball career, Rodriguez won almost every possible accolade for showing immense hitting skills in the ballparks. Be it being an All-Star 14 times, winning MVP titles, or winning the ultimate award, the World Series, Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez, has done it all. 

However, despite having this decorated career in baseball, there have been some moments that still hurts the former slugger, even though it was decades ago. Hence, back in 2020, sometime in May, A-Rod remembered one of the most painful memories of his career. While doing so, he also reflected on the moment at which he first learned about the true meaning of the fiercest rivalry in MLB history, the New York Yankees v/s Red Sox. 

No matter that the time had passed, Alex Rodriguez will probably be hurt looking back at this memory!

Back in 2003, if not for MLB intervening, Alex Rodriguez would have signed with the American League’s Boston Red Sox. However, when that deal failed, he got the chance to wear pinstripes and come to the Bronx. Hence, 2004 was the first year that the MLB icon Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez played with the New York Yankees. 

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2004 was the year when the Yankees reached the World Series and were given the chance to win the Fall Classic against none other than their fiercest rival, the Red Sox. Notably, the series was an intense one, and it was heartbreaking when the Yankees couldn’t win. Hence, while posting a clip of 2004’s Fall Classic, and recording himself, Alex looked back at how the Yanks being 3-0, fell off the wagon, and lost the last four games of the series. Eventually, they lost. The Red Sox won and broke their Curse of Bambino. 

While posting the clip on his Instagram, Alex had written, “How many of you remember this game from 2004? It still hurts to watch. I will NEVER get over this one. Not now. Not ever. We were three outs away from the World Series, up 3 games to zero! 😤⚾️. And we lost. And then we lost Game 5. And Game 6. And Game 7. That was the end of my first year with the Yankees, and the beginning of my true understanding of how great the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry was.” 

How did the Yankees v/s Red Sox rivalry start?

After MLB’s 1919 season, the Red Sox traded the legendary Babe Ruth to the Yankees. From the moment this happened, a bad omen was placed on the Red Sox, which then became the Curse of Bambino. The curse prevented the Red Sox from winning a World Series for 86 years until 2004 happened. 

Till the year 2004, the rivalry between both the AL teams remained the fiercest one. After that, the Red Sox nation, as Derek Jeter said, “went soft”.

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Which side of the Yankees v/s Red Sox rivalry are you on? Let us know in the comments below!