What is the ‘Curse of the Bambino’? The history behind the Red Sox jinx

The “Curse of the Bambino” is one of the most famous superstitions in sports history, often cited as the reason behind the Boston Red Sox’s long championship drought in Major League Baseball history. This so called curse began in the aftermath of a controversial decision involving one of baseball’s greatest legends, Babe Ruth, whose nickname was “The Bambino.”

Origins of the curse of the Bambino

The curse’s roots trace back to December 26, 1919, when the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000 and a $300,000 loan to finance a Broadway musical produced by then Red Sox owner Harry Frazee.

Ruth was a dominant force in baseball, known for his prodigious hitting and larger-than-life personality. His departure marked a turning point in the fortunes of both the Red Sox and the Yankees.

Before Ruth’s sale, the Red Sox were one of the most successful teams in baseball, having won five World Series titles from 1903 to 1918. However, after Ruth joined the Yankees, New York quickly became the most successful franchise in baseball history, while the Red Sox entered the twilight zone. The guys from Boston were unable to win the World Series for another 86 years, despite reaching the postseason multiple times.

Over the decades, the Red Sox experienced numerous near-misses and heartbreaking losses that seemed to affirm the existence of the curse:

1946 World Series: The Red Sox lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, with Enos Slaughter’s “Mad Dash” in Game 7 becoming a legendary moment.

1967 “Impossible Dream” Season: Led by Carl Yastrzemski, the Red Sox captured the American League pennant but fell to the Cardinals again in the World Series.

1975 World Series: Despite Carlton Fisk’s dramatic home run in Game 6, the Red Sox lost to the Cincinnati Reds in seven games.

1986 World Series: In one of the most painful moments for Red Sox fans, first baseman Bill Buckner’s error in Game 6 allowed the New York Mets to stage a comeback and eventually win the series in seven games.

The curse was famously “broken” in 2004. That year, the Red Sox staged an incredible comeback in the American League Championship Series against their archrivals, the New York Yankees. Trailing 3-0 in the series, the Red Sox won four consecutive games to clinch the pennant—a feat never before accomplished in MLB postseason history. They went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, capturing their first championship since 1918.