The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will face off for the first time in the 2025 MLB season in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium from June 6th to 8th. The second game of the series will be broadcast on Fox and the Fox Sports apps on Saturday at 7:35 pm ET.
These two American League rivals have built one of the most legendary rivalries in baseball, known for intense competition, playoff battles, and iconic moments. Their history includes playoff clashes, on-field fights, and superstar players, with Fox MLB Studio Analysts Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and Alex Rodriguez having been key figures in this rivalry.
Here’s a numerical breakdown of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry:
– 2: Both teams originally had different names; the Boston Red Sox were called the Boston Americans (1901-1907), and the Yankees were known as the New York Highlanders (1903-1912).
– 3a: In the 2004 AL Championship Series, the Yankees led 3-0 before the Red Sox made a historic comeback to win the series and eventually the World Series, their first since 1918.
– 3b: The Red Sox’s final three postseason meetings with the Yankees were the 2004 ALCS, 2018 ALDS, and 2021 AL Wild-Card games.
– 3c: For three consecutive seasons (2008-2010), both teams split their regular-season games evenly at 9-9 each year.
– 5a: They’ve met five times in the postseason, with the Yankees winning in 1999 and 2003, and the Red Sox taking the next three series in 2004, 2018, and 2021.
– 5b: Red Sox manager Alex Cora played four seasons with the franchise (2005-08), while Yankees manager Aaron Boone played for a season in 2003; both played during times significant to their teams’ histories.
– 11: Boone famously hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning of Game 7 in the 2003 ALCS, sending the Yankees to the World Series.
– 163: In 1978, a tiebreaker Game 163 was needed to decide the AL East division between these teams, with Yankees’ Bucky Dent hitting a crucial three-run homer to secure the win.
– 251: A total of 251 players have played for both franchises, including Hall of Famers like Wade Boggs and Roger Clemens, who won championships with the Yankees after their time with the Red Sox.
– 500: Across 24 playoff games between the two teams, the record is perfectly split at 12 wins each.
– 1919: Babe Ruth, the legendary player traded from Boston to New York in 1919, won three World Series with the Red Sox and four more with the Yankees, becoming one of the greatest in franchise history.
– 2,311: The Yankees and Red Sox have faced each other 2,311 times in both regular season and postseason games, with the Yankees holding a lead of 1,245 wins to 1,028, with 14 ties.
Fan Take: This upcoming series is more than just regular-season games—it’s a continuation of one of baseball’s richest rivalries filled with history and drama. For fans, it represents the timeless passion and competitive spirit that make baseball such a beloved sport, promising thrilling moments that honor the legacy while shaping future chapters.
