BREAKING – Red Sox Extend Postseason Mastery Over Yankees, Winning 9 of Their Last 10 October Meetings Since 2004
BOSTON — Rivalries never die, but sometimes they change shape. For over a century, the New York Yankees have defined themselves as baseball’s most decorated powerhouse, while the Boston Red Sox have carried the weight of heartbreak and redemption. Yet in October, the tides have shifted. Since 2004, Boston has won nine of the last ten postseason games against their fiercest rival, turning what was once New York’s stage into a canvas for Red Sox triumphs.
The Turning Point: 2004
The story always begins there. Down 0-3 in the ALCS, the Red Sox pulled off the most improbable comeback in baseball history. Dave Roberts’ stolen base, David Ortiz’s heroics, Curt Schilling’s bloody sock — all etched into lore as Boston erased 86 years of frustration. That comeback didn’t just lead to a championship; it flipped the balance of power in the rivalry. The Yankees, who had so often crushed Boston’s dreams, suddenly found themselves haunted.
A Different Era of October Baseball
Since that historic collapse, the numbers tell a clear story: Boston has become the dominant October force in the rivalry. They swept New York out of the 2018 Division Series en route to a World Series crown. They handled them again in the 2021 Wild Card Game, riding the roars of Fenway Park to another elimination of their rivals. In each matchup, the Red Sox not only won — they dictated the emotion, the intensity, the very narrative of October baseball.
“Boston has owned us when it matters,” one anonymous Yankees executive admitted. “We’ve been the better team in regular seasons, but they’ve been the better team in October. That’s hard to swallow.”
Boston Pride, New York Frustration
For Red Sox fans, this stretch has become a point of identity. Chants of “Yankees suck” have always been part of the culture, but now they carry the weight of postseason receipts. In New England bars and living rooms, the rivalry is no longer about fear of failure, but about reliving triumphs.
For Yankees fans, it has been a bitter pill. The ghosts of 2004 linger, and every October meeting since has felt like a continuation of the same nightmare. “It’s not the curse anymore,” said longtime fan Michael Caruso from the Bronx. “Now it’s just Boston beating us when it counts most. That’s worse.”
What It Means Moving Forward
The rivalry remains alive, but Boston’s edge in postseason meetings is undeniable. It speaks not only to roster construction and talent but to a psychological edge that has carried across generations. Players change, managers rotate, but the weight of history remains.
As the Red Sox continue to add to their October résumé, the question grows louder: Can the Yankees flip the script, or has the rivalry’s postseason balance shifted for good?
One thing is certain: every October clash between these two giants is more than a baseball game. It is a battle of identity, memory, and pride. And for now, Boston owns the stage.
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