The storied rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees is widely regarded as the fiercest in baseball history. It traces back to a pivotal moment on Dec. 26, 1919, when Red Sox owner Harry Frazee infamously sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees, sparking the so-called “Curse of the Bambino.” This curse led to an 86-year World Series drought for the Red Sox, while the Yankees thrived, amassing 27 World Series titles—the most by any MLB franchise. Meanwhile, the Red Sox have captured nine championships, with their most recent coming in 2018.
Heading into the highly anticipated matchup, the Red Sox stood at 75-74, good for third in the AL East. The Yankees, on the other hand, held a commanding 86-63 record, sitting atop both the AL East and the entire American League. Key Red Sox stars include third baseman Rafael Devers, who continues to solidify himself as one of the league’s premier hitters, and breakout outfielder Jarren Duran, fresh off his first All-Star Game appearance, where he earned MVP honors with a two-run homer in the fifth inning. For the Yankees, Aaron Judge, a five-time All-Star and former AL MVP, is leading MLB in home runs (55) and RBIs (138). Recent acquisition Juan Soto has also bolstered the Yankees’ lineup, hitting .286 with 40 home runs and 103 RBIs.
This particular game was made even more exciting by Fairfield University’s proximity to both fanbases. Located in Connecticut, Fairfield serves as a battleground for fans from neighboring New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The Fairfield University Student Association Programming Board offered tickets to the game, which included transportation to Yankee Stadium, for just $25. Unsurprisingly, these tickets sold out quickly, with both Yankees and Red Sox fans eager to watch their teams in action.
On September 15th, the pitching matchup featured Kutter Crawford for Boston and Carlos Rodon for New York. Early highlights included a Giancarlo Stanton double off Crawford, leading to Jazz Chisolm Jr. using his speed to score from first, putting the Yankees ahead 1-0 after two innings. The Red Sox got Rafela to third with two outs due to his fielder’s choice hit followed by two stolen bases but Rodon got out of the jam with a ground out from Duran. The Yankees capitalized in the third, with a lead-off solo 342 foot home run from Gleyber Torres and a two-run 445 foot home run from Aaron Judge after a Soto single, extending their lead to 4-0. The Red Sox fought back with a two-run 399 foot homer from Tyler O’Neill, but that would be their only scoring. Stanton added to the Yankees’ tally with a sacrifice fly in the seventh bringing Torres home, making it 5-2. The final innings saw no further runs, however the Red Sox did scare the Yankees, bringing the tying run to the plate in the top of the 9th inning with just one out. However the Yankees brought in Tommy Kahnle who forced Duran to round into a double play, leaving the Yankees victorious with a 5-2 final score.
Carlos Rodon earned the win, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, and striking out five. Kutter Crawford took the loss, throwing 4.1 innings, surrendering six hits, four earned runs, but striking out seven. The rivalry lives on, with the Yankees taking this round in another thrilling chapter of one of baseball’s most iconic matchups.
The FUSA Programming Board has a slate of exciting upcoming events for Fairfield students. Tickets for the Phillies vs. Mets game at Citi Field on Saturday, September 21, went on sale recently and, much like the Red Sox vs. Yankees game, sold out quickly. With a large contingent of Mets fans on campus, this game is highly anticipated and promised to be another fun outing for Fairfield students.
Additionally, FUSA is offering tickets to the Broncos vs. Jets game on Sunday, September 29, at MetLife Stadium. This event is generating significant buzz as well, with Fairfield boasting a strong Jets fan base eager to watch their team in action. Both games reflect FUSA’s continued efforts to offer exciting opportunities for students to enjoy top-tier sporting events.