From Spray Painting To Exorcism- Crazy Things Boston Red Sox Fans Did To Lift Babe Ruth’s “Curse”

Sports and superstition go together like bread and jam. It may not be the most common combination out there, but it sure is a preferred option for many. Sports franchises will swear by the ill-luck caused by curses. But perhaps the most notorious curse in US sports history was the Boston Red Sox and the ‘Curse of the Bambino’.

The ‘Curse of the Bambino’ has its roots in the infamous Babe Ruth trade to the New York Yankees on Dec. 26th, 1919. The curse had grown to become close to legacy in the hallowed ballpark and the scourge of Fenway Park.

The history of the Curse of the Bambino

Many might still be unaware, that the man that went on to make history in the pinstripes, Babe Ruth, was originally a part of the Red Sox. Not to mention, Red Sox, who in the early 20th century were no team to be dismissed.

Up to that point, they had won 5 of the 15 World Series in Major League Baseball history. Babe Ruth himself had been a part of 3 of those winning rosters. However, prior to his trade, Babe Ruth was probably enjoying a two-way season, with pitching being his primary skill.

Read More: 106-Year-Old New York Yankees Fan Who Saw Babe Ruth Live Recalls His Most Iconic Moment

Having been on the mound for two world series titles till 1918, he had assumed his place on the roster was assured. He turned in to the 1918 spring training camp and made the demand for being the highest-paid player in the league. The Red Sox, aware of the star power of Ruth, obliged with a 3-year $27,000 dollar contract.

The Red Sox, however, underperformed the following year only delivering a 6th place finish in the American League. Despite the team’s failure, Babe Ruth’s star power only seemed on the rise and as a result, he walked into owner Harry Frazee’s office demanding a renegotiation. Ruth wanted to double his salary.

Unable to financially match his demands, Harry Frazee dealt Ruth to the New York Yankees for a staggering $100,000. The Yankees at the time had never even been to the World Series.

Red Sox fans try to change the curse

What followed was almost eerie. A complete reversal of fortunes saw the Yankees go on to win 4 World Series back to back, and 22 in the next century. The Boston Red Sox, on the other hand, fell into a languid underperformance. Managing only 4 World Series appearances and failing to clinch even one of them.

To say that Red Sox fans tried everything they could to break the curse would be an understatement.

Red Sox fans spray-painted a “Reverse Curve” street sign on an overpass to change the wording to “Reverse the Curse.” Fans went to the lengths of trying to unearth a piano Ruth had allegedly tossed into a pond outside of Boston after a rowdy party in 1918. But what takes the cake is staging an exorcism outside of their home stadium, Fenway Park.

While nobody can say which of those really worked, the Red Sox did break the curse in 2004 when they won the World Series and finally laid rest to superstition.