When it comes to storied sports rivalries, few are as explosive as the one between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. For over a century, these teams have clashed, not just on the diamond, but in a battle of legacies, curses, and historic moments. Yet, in this year’s World Series, the Yankees found themselves in an unprecedented twist: taking a page straight out of their rivals’ playbook.
Trailing the Dodgers, the Bronx Bombers latched onto a mantra familiar to any Red Sox fan: “Don’t let us win tonight.” First coined by Boston’s Kevin Millar during the legendary 2004 ALCS comeback against the Yankees, this rallying cry has long represented one of baseball’s greatest underdog stories—a story that saw the Sox claw back from a 3-0 deficit to make history and ultimately shatter the “Curse of the Bambino.”
But as the Yankees tried to channel Boston’s historic 2004 energy, it was clear they couldn’t quite capture the magic. The comeback never came, and as the final out was recorded, one former Red Sox player couldn’t resist reminding everyone why Boston’s triumph remains unmatched. Pedro Martinez, a pivotal figure from that 2004 Red Sox squad, mocked the Yankees’ failed attempt with a dose of Boston pride, saying, “They had the same opportunity we had 20 years ago to make a comeback and make history. They didn’t. I’m taking David’s words; they’re not us!”
Martinez’s words cut deep, striking at the core of this rivalry. The Netflix docuseries The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox has reignited conversations about that iconic moment when Boston rose from a decades-long drought and lifted their first World Series trophy since 1918. This wasn’t just a title win; it was a long-awaited break from a so-called “curse” that began when Babe Ruth was traded from the Red Sox to the Yankees in 1919. What followed was an 86-year drought filled with heartbreak for Boston fans, as the Yankees amassed championships and cemented their dominance.
But 2004 turned the tables, and the Red Sox finally vanquished the curse that haunted them for generations. The Yankees, in their effort to channel a bit of that Boston comeback spirit, fell short—cementing the notion that there’s only one 2004 Red Sox story.
With Martinez’s recent comments and the Yankees’ painful defeat, it’s clear that Boston’s triumph still echoes through the Bronx. The Red Sox legacy may not just live on in Boston fans’ hearts but might be sitting permanently rent-free in the Yankees’ minds as well.
