- 1901
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Boston Americans Team Formation
In 1901, the minor Western League, led by Ban Johnson, declared its equality with the National League, then the only major league in baseball. Johnson changed the name of the league to the American League, leading teams in his league to be christened with the unofficial nickname “Americans”. This was especially true in the case of the new Boston franchise, ...
History of the Americans
The Boston Americans, now known as the Red Sox, were one of the original eight teams to make up Major League Baseball in 1901. The team was founded by John I. Taylor and played their home games at Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. The first season saw them finish with a record of 78-57, good enough for second place behind the Philadelphia Athletics.
The following year they won their first American League pennant and faced off against Pittsburgh Pirates for the World Series championship title - becoming MLB's first-ever world champions! They would win four more championships throughout their existence (1903-07) before being renamed “Red Sox” in 1908 following an ownership change from Taylor to Henry Killilea Jr.
The early years featured some great players, such as Cy Young, who pitched 511 innings that year alone! Other notable names included Jimmy Collins (third baseman), Chick Stahl (outfielder), Bill Dinneen (a pitcher), and Fred Tenney (first baseman). Some lesser-known but still essential contributors were George Winter, who provided depth at catcher; Lou Criger also filled this role when needed; infielders Herman Long & Bobby Lowe rounded out an excellent lineup while pitchers Tom Hughes & Jack Chesbro helped anchor an impressive pitching staff which led them through 4 consecutive league titles between 1903-06 – something only matched by New York Yankees since then!
Despite all these successes, however, it wasn't until 1912 that they finally broke through with another World Series victory – beating cross-town rivals National League Champions New York Giants 4 games to 3 after trailing 2–1 going into Game 6, where pitcher Smoky Joe Wood famously threw ten shutout innings leading his team back from inevitable defeat towards glory instead... A feat is never forgotten by any true fan or historian alike!
Established
1901
City
Boston
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1901 – 1999 / American League
Team History
1908 – Present / Boston Red Sox
1901 – 1907 / Boston Americans
Nickname
Americans – The Boston Americans, now known as the Boston Red Sox, have a long and storied history in Major League Baseball. The team was founded in 1901 and had been playing baseball ever since. But where did their nickname come from?
We must look back at American professional baseball's early days to answer this question. In 1871, the National Association of Professional Baseball Players (NAPBBP) was established as an organized league for professional teams across America. This organization had several nicknames throughout its existence - some were based on geographical locations like “New York Nine” or “Boston Base Ball Club.” In contrast, others were more creative such as “Cincinnati Red Stockings” or just plain old acronyms like NAPBBP!
In 1901 when the American League began to play with eight teams, including one in Boston – it adopted a new name: The Americans! It is believed that this moniker came about because all eight original franchises represented different parts of America, geographically speaking. So they wanted something to represent them collectively under one banner rather than individual cities/teams alone. Plus - what better way to show national pride than by taking on a name that includes everyone? And thus…the "Boston Americans" nickname was born!
Today we know this same team simply by their current name: The Boston Red Sox, which they officially changed over 100 years ago during the 1907 season- but no matter what you call them, there is no denying that these legendary players are still part of our nation's rich sports history today thanks to their original namesake -"The Boston Americans"!
Championship
World Series 1
2018, 2013, 2007, 2004, 1918, 1916, 1915, 1912, 1903
Stadium
1912 – Present / Fenway Park
1901 – 1911 / Huntington Avenue Grounds
Owner
2002 – Present / Fenway Sports Group
1992 – 2002 / JRY Trust
1976 – 1992 / Jean R. Yawkey
1933 – 1976 / Tom Yawkey
1923 – 1933 / Bob Quinn
1916 – 1923 / Harry Frazee
1913 – 1916 / Joseph Lannin
1911 – 1913 / Jimmy McAleer
1904 – 1914 / John I. Taylor
1903 – 1904 / Henry Killilea
1901 – 1903 / Charles Somers
Retired Number
1 / Bobby Doerr
4 / Joe Cronin
6 / Johnny Pesky
8 / Carl Yastrzemski
9 / Ted Williams
14 / Jim Rice
26 / Wade Boggs
27 / Carlton Fisk
34 / David Ortiz
42 / Jackie Robinson
45 / Pedro Martínez
*Blue is this team’s history