Boston Red Sox MLB Fleece: Tossed

The Boston Red Sox have enjoyed a long and storied history, remembered equally for their failures as for their successes. The history of the Red Sox begins in 1901, when the team was founded as one of the eight charter members of the American League. Then called the Americans, the team quickly became one of the best in baseball. In its first twenty years of existence, the franchise captured five World Series titles and six pennants. The stars of those early years included eventual Hall of Famers Jimmy Collins, Cy Young, Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper, Waite Hoyt, Herb Pennock and Babe Ruth.

During a stretch from the mid-1920s to the early 1930s the Red Sox suffered through some difficult seasons. Nevertheless, by the early 1930s the foundation for future success hade been laid. Lefty Grove, Joe Cronin and Jimmie Foxx were Boston's stars from the 1930s through early 1940s.

In 1939, the Red Sox acquired Ted Williams, the player who would lead the team to its first World Series appearance since 1918. This appearance resulted in a 4 games to 3 defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals. After Williams returned from the Korean War he continued to add to his legend even up to his final career at bat, in which he hit a home run.

The Red Sox got the 1960s off to a rocky start. In 1961, the next great Boston player debuted with the team: Carl "Yaz" Yastrzemski. Following Yaz's Triple Crown season (leading the league in home runs, runs batted in and batting average), the Red Sox advanced to the 1967 World Series. Once again the Sox faced off against the Cardinals and once again lost in seven games, due in part to the remarkable pitching of Bob Gibson who won three games in the series.

The 1970s saw the Red Sox make another appearance in the World Series, this time in 1975 against the "Big Red Machine" Cincinnati Reds. The Red Sox had a strong team with such players as Carlton Fisk, Yaz, Jime Rice, Dwight Evans, Fred Lynn and Luis Tiant. Game 6 featured one of the most famous plays in baseball history, when Carlton Fisk hit the game-winning home run to send the series to a seventh game. Despite the momentum, the Red Sox lost the next game 7-6.

Boston's next World Series appearance would not come until 1986. Led by a strong core of Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Don Baylor, Dave Henderson, Jim Rice and Dwight Evans.

Boston's next two trips to the World Series would finally result in a resolution to the 80-plus year championship drought. In 2004, the Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals in four games to win the franchise's first championship in 86 years. Boston's next appearance in the World Series - in 2007 - resulted in another sweep, this time against the Colorado Rockies. The Red Sox stars of these years included Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar, Mike Lowell, Curt Schilling, Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia.

World Series Titles:

• 1903

• 1912

• 1915

• 1916

• 1918

• 2004

• 2007

American League Pennants:

• 1903

• 1904

• 1912

• 1915

• 1916

• 1918

• 1946

• 1967

• 1975

• 1986

• 2004

• 2007

The Boston Red Sox Hall of Famers:

1. Luis Aparicio

2. Wade Boggs

3. Lou Boudreau

4. Jesse Burkett

5. Orlando Cepeda

6. Jack Chesbro

7. Jimmy Collins

8. Joe Cronin

9. Bobby Doerr

10. Dennis Eckersley

11. Rick Ferrell

12. Carlton Fisk

13. Jimmie Foxx

14. Lefty Grove

15. Harry Hooper

16. Waite Hoyt

17. Ferguson Jenkins

18. George Kell

19. Heinie Manush

20. Juan Marichal

21. Herb Pennock

22. Tony Pérez

23. Red Ruffing

24. Babe Ruth

25. Tom Seaver

26. Al Simmons

27. Tris Speaker

28. Dick Williams

29. Ted Williams

30. Carl Yastrzemski

31. Cy Young

The design of the Boston Red Sox MLB Fleece: Allover consists of the team's name, logos and baseballs in an allover design over a midnight background.