Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Jan. 3, 2025.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Jan. 3, 1920, Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold the contract of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees, beginning a championship era for the Yankees and decades of heartache for Red Sox fans.
And thus the “Curse of the Bambino” began. The Red Sox would ultimately break the “curse” in 2004, winning their first World Series in 86 years.
In late 1919, the Red Sox had decided to sell Ruth, the so-called “Bambino” — to the New York Yankees.
Many dim years followed for the Boston ball club.
Prior to the sale, which was finalized in January, the Red Sox had won five of the first 15 World Series titles in major league history, with Ruth a member of three of those championship teams. A proficient pitcher and sometime-slugger, Ruth was the winning pitcher in two of the six games of the 1918 World Series.
So he asked Frazee for a raise. He got a three-year, $27,000 contract, but the BoSox finished sixth in the league. Per historians, Ruth wanted a new contract and a big raise.
Facing money pressures, Frazee agreed to sell the rights to Ruth to the Yankees, who at the time had never even appeared in a World Series, for the then-staggering sum of $100,000.
The rest is history.
Ruth went on to become the greatest baseball legend of all time. The Associated Press named him the top athlete of the 20th century, ahead of Michael Jordan, Jim Thorpe, Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky and the rest.
In his 15 years with the Yankees, Ruth helped the team win seven American League pennants and four World Series championships. He led the American League in home runs 12 times, hit 60 home runs in one season and 714 all time, both records at the time.
Meanwhile, the rival Red Sox struggled, coming close to titles a few times, but never winning it all for 86 seasons.
Here are some fun stories from Deseret News archives about Babe Ruth, the “curse” and the Red Sox victory in the 2004 World Series:
“Babe Ruth — still the king of baseball”
“An icon? Jordan’s bigger, an ‘epic’”
“Divers search pond bottom for the Bambino’s piano”
“Top 10 iconic moments in baseball history”
“The Rangers just won the World Series. Here are 5 memorable World Series moments”
“70 years after Babe Ruth’s death, fans still flock to grave”
“‘Red Sox Nation’ course a hit at Maine college”
“How a Babe Ruth home run illustrates the importance of good data calculation”
“Babe Ruth card a treasure that appeals to many”
