Yankees Or Red Sox? Only REAL Baseball Fans Can Get 100%
- by Chris Roberts
- – on
- in Sports
Because of their extensive history, market size, and large fan bases, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are arguably two of the most prominent franchises in Major League Baseball (MLB). While you could make the case that the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and maybe even the Toronto Blue Jays (as the only team in Canada) are just as popular, none of those teams are as beloved by its millions of fans and, likewise, hated by fans of other teams. In fact, a FiveThirtyEight.com survey earlier this year polled 989 baseball fans and 27 percent of them listed the Yankees as their most hated team. Take a guess at which team came second on that list. Yup, the Boston Red Sox.
The two franchises - and their fans - also hate each other, given their intense rivalry within the American League East division, so it's reasonable to expect few players would have played for both teams throughout the course of their career. However, several players have been stars for one team and then went elsewhere before joining the other team. Even worse, there have been a few notable players in the 21st century who were once beloved in Boston but became hated after joining The Evil Empire in New York. Test your knowledge below and see if you can correctly identify those players.
Did Dustin Pedroia play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A native of Woodland, California, Dustin Pedroia is a diminutive second baseman who has won over fans with his intense effort and athleticism in the infield. He's a four-time Gold Glove recipient, four-time MLB All-Star, one-time Silver Slugger recipient, and former American League Most Valuable Player. The 34 year old is currently in his 12th season and has a career batting average of .301 to go along with 140 home runs, 722 runs batted in (RBI), and 138 stolen bases.
Did Jacoby Ellsbury play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A 34 year old outfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury is a two-time World Series winner who has been a relatively average player in all but one of his 11 big league seasons. In 2011, Ellsbury was named to his first and only All-Star Game and won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award for excellence in fielding and hitting. He also finished second in MVP voting that season after notching career-high totals in home runs (32), RBI (105), and batting average (.321). His second-best full-season marks in those stats are 16, 70, and .301 respectively.
Did David Ortiz play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
If you're truly a hardcore baseball fan, you might not even have to think about this one. David Ortiz was a legend with one of these teams, so much so that it's impossible to imagine him wearing the other's jersey. "Big Papi," as he was known throughout the league, was a power-hitting first baseman and designated hitter who won three World Series and was named to 10 All-Star Games throughout his career. A former World Series MVP, he retired in 2016 after a 20-year career in which he accumulated 541 home runs, 1,768 RBI, and an OPS of .931.
Did Chris Sale play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Perhaps the best starting pitcher in all of baseball right now and the front-runner for the American League Cy Young award, Chris Sale is a 6-foot-6, hard-throwing left-hander who was originally drafted in the first round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft by the Chicago White Sox. The six-time All-Star leads the American League in strikeouts in 2017 and has a record of 17-8. He also has the all-time best strikeout to walk ratio at 5.12 as of the end of the 2017 season.
Did David Price play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
The first overall selection in the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft, David Price has pitched for four teams throughout his 10-year MLB career and has been named to five All-Star teams. The Vanderbilt alumnus led the American League in earned run average (ERA) in 2012 and 2015 and led the league in strikeouts in 2014. He won his first and only Cy Young Award in 2012 after posting a 20-5 record and striking out 205 batters in 211 innings, while allowing only 178 hits.
Did Xander Bogaerts play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A 24 year old infielder from Aruba, Xander Bogaerts is only on the cusp of accomplishing what he's capable of in the MLB, although he has already won a World Series as well as two Silver Slugger awards. The infielder made his big league debut in 2013 and has since accumulated 50 home runs, 278 RBI, a .282 batting average, and a .745 OPS. He had a breakthrough 21 home run season in 2016 and was named to the American League All-Star team, but his power numbers dropped significantly in 2017 as he recorded only nine home runs and 57 RBI. Given his talent, he'll bounce back fine in 2018.
Did Babe Ruth play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Despite being dead for nearly 70 years, there might be no other player whose name resonates more with baseball fans and non-baseball fans alike. "The Great Bambino," as he was known, is a Baseball Hall of Fame member who won seven World Series during his career and had equal amounts of success as a hitter and a pitcher, something no player could do in the modern era. The Maryland native played 22 seasons in the league and has the all-time best career slugging percentage (.690) and on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) 1.164.
Did Johnny Damon play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A two-time All-Star and two-time World Series winner, Johnny Damon was originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the first round of the 1992 MLB Amateur Draft and made his big league debut with the team three seasons later. The outfielder played for seven different teams throughout his 18-year career and retired in 2012 with a respectable career batting average of .284 to go along with 235 home runs, 1,139 RBI, and an OPS of .785. He was nicknamed Caveman for his lengthy beard.
Did Derek Jeter play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
While he wasn't the flashiest player of his era, Derek Jeter was one of the most consistent and capable shortstops of all-time. The 43 year old won five Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers, and five World Series throughout his 20-year career. He also finished within the top 10 of American League MVP voting in eight seasons and won both an All-Star Game and World Series MVP. The New Jersey native retired following the 2014 season with a career batting average of .310 and an OPS of .817.
Did Mookie Betts play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Besides having one of the best names in all of baseball, Mookie Betts is one of the league's most talented young players. The 24 year old outfielder finished 19th in American League MVP voting in his first full season and finished second the following year after hitting 31 home runs and recording 113 RBI. He also earned a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award that season. He has shown no signs of slowing down this year as he has 23 home runs and 101 RBI through 150 games.
Did Nomar Garciaparra play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A native of Whittier, California, Nomar Garciaparra was a first-round draft pick in the 1994 MLB Amateur Draft who made his big league debut in 1996 and, the following year, in his first full season, won American League Rookie of the Year after leading the league in hits (209), at bats (684), and triples (11). He finished within the top 10 in MVP voting the following three years and led the league in batting average in the final two of those three years.
Did Tom Gordon play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Tom Gordon was a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals, but played for eight teams throughout his 21-year career, which concluded in 2009 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was a starting pitcher for the first half of his career, but later transitioned to a reliever and spent parts of his career as a closer. He's a three-time All-Star who retired with a career record of 138-126, an ERA of 3.96, and a walks/hits per inning pitched (WHIP) of 1.36.
Did Mariano Rivera play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
While Gordon might have been a fine closer for a few years, Mariano Rivera will be remembered as the greatest closer in the history of baseball, and he has the numbers to back up that claim. The Panama native began closing games full-time in his third season in the league and did so until he retired in 2013; during that time, he amassed 652 saves, which is the current all-time MLB record. Additionally, Rivera has been on the mound for the finish of 952 games, which is also a MLB record.
Did Pedro Martinez play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Pedro Martinez broke into the league as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers before being dealt to the Montreal Expos, where he became a breakthrough star. From 1997 to 2000, Martinez won three Cy Young awards and, in the one year during that period in which he didn't win, he finished second in voting. The Dominican Republic pitcher has led his respective league in ERA in five separate seasons and retired in 2009 with a career ERA of 2.93 to go along with a WHIP of 1.054.
Did Andrew Bailey play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Originally a sixth-round selection of the Oakland Athletics in the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft, Andrew Bailey is a New Jersey native who has played eight seasons in the league as a relief pitcher. He saved 89 games in his first three seasons in the league, but has since been used as middle relief. He won Rookie of the Year in 2009 after allowing only 49 hits and striking out 91 batters through 83 and one-third innings. He's currently a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
Did Aaron Judge play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
All rise for the Judge. That's what fans have been doing this season as the 25 year old outfielder has set a MLB rookie record with 50 home runs, which also happens to lead the American League. He also leads the league in runs (125), walks (122), and strikeouts (204). Although he cooled down significantly after winning the Home Run Derby, he has still posted one of the best offensive seasons in recent memory as he also has 109 RBI, a .283 batting average, and a 1.040 OPS.
Did Andrew Miller play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Andrew Miller was arguably one of the game's best relievers in 2016, especially during the Cleveland Indians postseason run, as he effectively shut down the big bats of the Toronto Blue Jays in helping his team reach the World Series. In the regular season that year, he posted a remarkable 1.45 ERA and finished ninth in Cy Young voting. A first-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers, the 32 year old is a two-time All-Star who has been just as dominant in 2017, allowing only 31 hits and striking out 90 batters through 60 and one-third innings.
Did Alex Rodriguez play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Outside of being a mega celebrity linked to numerous famous women, including his current girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez happens to be a very talented baseball player - or at least he used to be. The three-time MVP and 14-time All-Star retired following the 2016 season with a career batting average of .295 to go along with 696 home runs, 2,086 RBI, and an OPS of .930. He has also won 10 Silver Slugger and two Gold Glove awards throughout his career.
Did Stephen Drew play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A 34 year old shortstop and second baseman, Stephen Drew was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft following a collegiate career at Florida State University. Since making his big league debut in 2006, he has played in 1,268 career games and has a batting average of .252 to go along with 123 home runs, 524 RBI, and an OPS of .741. He has played for five different teams and currently plays for the Washington Nationals.
Did Jonathan Papelbon play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jonathan Papelbon was one of the MLB's most dominant closers for nearly a decade. He made his debut in 2004 and, the following season, began closing games full-time. While he never once led the league in saves, he struck out more than a batter per inning in seven consecutive seasons and often posted a sub 3.00 ERA in those years. In fact, in his first full season, he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting after recording 35 saves and finishing the year with a remarkable 0.92 ERA.
Did Mark Teixiera play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A three-time MLB All-Star, Mark Teixeria began his career in 2003 as a member of the Texas Rangers. A power-hitting, 6-foot-3 first baseman, he finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting that season and hit 26 home runs. The following year, he hit 38 bombs, beginning a streak of eight consecutive seasons in which he recorded at least 30 home runs. He retired following the 2016 season with a career batting average of .268 to go along with 409 home runs, 1,298 RBI, and an OPS of .869.
Did Roger Clemens play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
One of the greatest pitchers of all-time, albeit a controversial one due to his connection to performance-enhancing drugs, Roger Clemens led his respective league in ERA in seven of his 24 MLB seasons and finished with a 3.12 career average. A seven-time Cy Young winner and 11-time All-Star, he is one of the few pitchers to win the MVP award, having done so in 1986 as he posted a 24-4 record to go along with a 2.48 ERA and 238 strikeouts through 254 innings.
Did Chase Headley play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A second-round pick of the San Diego Padres in the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft, Chase Headley is a 6-foot-2, 33 year old third baseman and outfielder who made his big league debut in 2007. He has been a decent player throughout his 11-year career, but had an All-Star caliber year in 2012, when he finished fifth in National League MVP voting and earned a Golden Glove and Silver Slugger award following a season in which he hit 31 home runs and recorded 115 RBI. To date, he has 130 home runs and 592 RBI to go along with a .264 batting average through 1,405 career games.
Did Derek Lowe play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A retired 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher best regarded for his ability to locate his pitches, Derek Lowe is a two-time MLB All-Star who won a World Series in 2004. He made his big league debut in 1997 with the Seattle Mariners and went on to play for seven different teams throughout his 17-year career, during which time he compiled a career win-loss record of 176-157 to go along with a 4.03 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 1,722 strikeouts through 2,671 and one-third innings.
Did David Wells play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A second-round selection of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1982 MLB Amateur Draft, David Wells had a tremendous career as a left-handed starting pitcher, but he's perhaps best regarded for pitching a perfect game with "bloodshot eyes, monster breath, and a raging, skull-rattling hangover." Those are his words. The three-time MLB All-Star and former ALCS MVP recipient played 21 seasons in the league for nine different teams and retired in 2007 at 44 years old with a career record of 239-157.
Did Mickey Mantle play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A Baseball Hall of Fame member, Mickey Mantle is a 20-time All-Star, Triple Crown winner, and three-time MVP winner. Born in 1931, the outfielder and first baseman made his big league debut in 1951 and played 18 seasons, during which time he hit 536 home runs, recorded 1,509 RBI, and had a career batting average of .298. He led the league in runs and walks in five separate seasons; in 1956, he led the league in both home runs and RBI and won his first of three MVP awards.
Did Curt Schilling play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Curt Schilling is a second-round selection in the 1986 MLB Amateur Draft who played 20 seasons and accumulated a career record of 216-146 to go along with an ERA of 3.46 and a WHIP of 1.137. He didn't earn an All-Star appearance in his first nine seasons in the league, but played in six All-Star Games in the next 10 seasons. He won World Series MVP in 2001 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks and retired in 2007.
Did Don Mattingly play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A current manager, Don Mattingly is a former six-time MLB All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger recipient, and nine-time Gold Glove winner. He also won an American League MVP award in 1985, when he had a career-best season in which he led the league in RBI (145) and doubles (44). In fact, Mattingly led the league in doubles for the next two seasons as well. He retired in 1995 following a 14-year career with 222 home runs, 1,099 RBI, and a .307 batting average.
Did Mo Vaughn play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Although he wasn't regarded as one of the most in-shape players during his 12-year career, Mo Vaughn was more than capable of performing at the plate. The first baseman and designated hitter recorded at least 30 home runs in six consecutive seasons from 1995 to 2000 and retired in 2003 with 328 career home runs and 1,064 RBI. He was also a decent contact hitter, which often isn't the case for power hitters; he finished his career with a .293 batting average and .906 OPS.
Did Eduardo Nunez play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A 30 year old infielder from Dominican Republic, Eduardo Nunez was a journeyman player up until the 2016 season, in which he made his first All-Star Game appearance. Nunez hit 16 home runs and recorded 67 RBI that season, but his previous career high in both categories was five and 30 respectively. He has continued his progression in 2017 as, through 114 games, he had 12 home runs and 58 RBI to go along with a career-best .313 batting average and .801 OPS.
Did Jorge Posada play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A right-handed hitting catcher from Puerto Rico, Jorge Posada played 17 big league seasons, during which time he accumulated 1,664 hits, 275 home runs, 1,065 RBI, a .273 batting average, and a .848 OPS. A 24th-round pick in the 1990 MLB Amateur Draft, he overcame all odds to become a dominant, offensive-minded catcher at the big league level. He won four World Series throughout his career and appeared in five All-Star Games. He also won five Silver Slugger awards. He retired in 2011.
Did Chris Young play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
There are two Chris Youngs in the MLB, but we're speaking of the outfielder who was drafted in the 16th round of the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft by the Chicago White Sox. The speedy 34 year old finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2007 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks and earned his first and only All-Star nod in 2010, finishing that season with 27 home runs and a career-high 91 RBI. He has been used in a reserve role in the past two seasons, but has been quite effective coming off the bench.
Did Robinson Cano play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A 34 year old second baseman currently playing for the Seattle Mariners, Robinson Cano is likely destined for the Baseball Hall of Fame given his credentials. The Dominican Republic native won a World Series in 2009, is an eight-time All-Star, a two-time Gold Glove winner, five-time Silver Slugger recipient, and just recently hit his 300th career home run. Ignoring a down season in 2014 in which he only hit 14 home runs, he has recorded at least 20 home runs in seven of the past eight seasons.
Did Josh Beckett play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
One player who could have potentially made the Hall of Fame had injuries not derailed his career is Josh Beckett. The right-handed pitcher was the second overall pick in the 1999 MLB Amateur Draft and went on to win two World Series (and was named World Series MVP in one of those championship wins), and play in three All-Star Games. He had the best season of his career in 2007, when he won a career-high 20 games and finished second in Cy Young voting.
Did Wade Boggs play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Seemingly everyone knows the story, or legend, of Wade Boggs drinking 107 beers in one 24-hour sitting. While it's hard to believe without evidence, there is at least proper evidence to back up the fact he is one of the game's best third basemen of all-time. Voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, the Nebraska native is a 12-time All-Star, eight-time Silver Slugger, and five-time Batting Champion for posting the highest average throughout the course of a season. He also won two Gold Gloves for his defensive play.
Did Kevin Youkilis play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
Known for his signature goatee and bald head, Kevin Youkilis is a former first and third baseman who was originally drafted in the eighth round of the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Cincinnati. He made his big league debut in 2004 and went on to post six consecutive 15-plus home run seasons, while providing excellent defensive play (he won a Gold Glove in 2007). Youkilis also played in three All-Star Games and finished in the top six in MVP voting in both 2008 and 2009.
Did Alfonso Soriano play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A native of Dominican Republic, Alfonso Soriano was a power-hitting outfielder and second baseman who played 16 seasons with four different teams. A perennial MVP candidate, he finished in the top 20 in voting in five separate seasons, including in 2002, when he finished third in voting after leading the American League in runs (128), hits (209) and stolen bases (41). He retired in 2014 with a career batting average of .270 to go along with 412 home runs, 1,159 RBI, and a .819 OPS.
Did Jon Lester play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A second-round pick in the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft, Jon Lester has the privilege of being part of three World Series-winning teams. However, it's not as if he was simply along for the ride; instead, Lester is regarded as a dominant postseason performer and even won the 2016 National League Championship Series MVP as a member of the Chicago Cubs. He's also a four-time MLB All-Star who has a career record of 158-92 to go along with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.243 WHIP.
Did Curtis Granderson play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
An alumnus of the University of Illinois, Curtis Granderson is a 36 year old outfielder who currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers after being dealt from the New York Mets prior to the 2017 MLB trade deadline. The veteran is a three-time All-Star who experienced the best season of his career in 2011, when he led the American League in RBI (119) and runs (136) and finished fourth in MVP voting. To date, he has a career batting average of .252 to go along with 318 home runs and 864 RBI.
Did Rickey Henderson play for the Yankees, Red Sox, or both?
A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and veteran of 25 big league seasons, Rickey Henderson was a very good hitter, finishing his career with 297 home runs, 1,115 RBI, and a .279 batting average. However, he was best known for his speed on the base paths, and for good reason. Henderson is the MLB's all-time leader in stolen bases with 1,406 and led the league in the stat for seven consecutive seasons from 1980 to 1986. In fact, he again led the league in stolen bases with 66 in 1998, while he was 39 years old.