Boston vs. New York: The Top 10

Boston vs. New York, New York vs. Boston. It's the rivalry. Cheers vs. Seinfeld. New England Clam Chowder vs. Manhattan Clam Chowder. "Wicked Cool" vs. "Hey Youse Guys". Boston people hate New York, New York people send their kids to college in Boston. For over 100 years the Hub of the Universe has battled the Big Apple for sports supremacy between almost 20 teams and four professional sports.

In 1903 the Baltimore Orioles moved their offices to New York City to become the New York Highlanders, later re-named the New York Yankoffs. That same year the Boston Americans, led by superstar pitcher Denton True "Cy" Young, would stun the Baseball establishment as the upstart American Leaguers would defeat the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 games to 3 in the first World Series. The Americans later became the Red Sox after the Boston Red Stockings changed their name to the Braves.

Boston fans had pulled for the hometown National League team to defeat the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1800's, but the real roots of the rivalry were planted with the Yankoffs and Red Sox. In 1912 the Red Sox beat New York Highlanders 7-6 in first game at Fenway Park, while 11 years later the then Yankoffs would get opening day revenge by opening Yankoff Stadium with a 4-1 win over the Red Sox as Babe Ruth hits the Stadium's first home run (both Fenway and Yankoffs Stadium still in use). Since then the two cities have battled it out in some of sports most dramatic and devastating moments. At one point Boston and Brooklyn were actually co-owners of a professional football team, the Yanks, which would one day become the Indianapolis Colts. The Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers have locked horns on the gridiron as well as the baseball diamond, as have the Braves and Giants. The list of Hall of Famers who have played for both cities is too long to mention and the question of who had the greatest athletes is a subject for a later post. In an online first (and last), Uncle Buck and Darth Marc have joined forces to bring you the top 10 Boston vs. New York moments. Here is the list from a Boston fan, check out the list from a New York fan on Darth Marc's blog:

10. Bill Parcells, The Giants, Patriots, Jets and Bill Belichick. The NFL career of legendary coach Bill Parcells could, until his signing on with the Dallas Cowboys, could be traced exclusively to New York and Boston. Parcells began his NFL career as a New York Giants assistant in 1979 before moving on as a New England Patriots assistant in 1980. The Tuna, as he was named in New England, became defensive coordinator with the Giants from 1981-82 and was promoted to head coach the following season. During his tenure in New York he lead the Giants to two Super Bowl titles before retiring for the first time in 1990. Parcells came out of retirement in 1993 to lead the dreadful Patriots from revulsion to respectability, finally leading them to an AFC Championship in 1996 after re-uniting with his Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, who became assistant head coach. Following the Super Bowl loss to the Green Bay Packers, The Tuna bolted for New York again, this time to become head coach of the woeful Jets, after a highly publicized divorce with Patriots owner Bob Kraft. Parcells took a large amount of talent with him including star running back Curtis Martin, and led the Jets to the AFC Championship game in 1998.

After a disappointing 8-8 season in 1999, Parcells retried handing the reigns over to Belichick. Belichick turned down the job in stunning fashion and moved back to New England (with a large crop of Jets talent), where he led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title two seasons later. During Parcells years with the Jets the Border War heated up with two intense Tuna Bowls a year, making the Jets-Patriots one of the NFL's top rivalries.

9. 1972 Boston Bruins beat New York Rangers 4 games to 2 in finals to win Stanley Cup.

Bobby Orr scores the Cup-winning goal for the second time in his career leading the Bruins to their second championship in three seasons as they take down the Rangers. The teams met 9 times in the playoffs since 1927, with the Bruins winning two Cups over the Rangers and holding a 22-16-2 edge in playoff games.

8. 1904 NL Champions New York Giants refuse to play AL Champion Boston Americans in the 1904 World Series.

The 1904 Boston Americans (Red Sox)

After the success of a World Series between the American League Champion Boston Americans and National League Champion Pittsburgh Pirates in 1903, the New York Giants (above) refuse an offer to play a series in 1904 calling themselves the Real World Champions. A feud between Giants Manager John McGraw and American League President Ban Johnson is sited as the reason. McGraw and Giants owner John Brush call the American League a Minor League. A year later the Giants defeat the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 World Series.

7. 1916 The Red Sox beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 4 games to 1 to win the World Series.

The defending champion Red Sox received strong pitching performances from Ernie Shore and Babe Ruth to defeat the Brooklyn Robins (later named the Dodgers) in 5 games. After Shore led the Sox to a win in game one 6-5, Ruth made his World Series pitching debut going 14 innings in game two and had one RBI in the Sox 2-1 victory. Shore held the Robins to just 3 hits in game five as the Sox win the title 4-1.

6. 1912 Red Sox beat the New York Giants 4-3-1 to win the World Series in eight games.

In the 10th inning of the final game of the World Series Giants center fielder Fred Snodgrass dropped a fly ball that opened the door for a two-run Boston rally that gave the Red Sox the title. The Sox win the series in 8 games 4-3-1. The error (along with the New York Giants first baseman Fred Merkle's "Boner" in 1908) becomes the most infamous baseball misplay until 1986.

5. 2003 The New York Yankoffs beat the Boston Red Sox 4 games to 3 to win the American League Championship Series.

The Red Sox come in as the Wild Card after winning 3 strait in the ALDS and take Game 1 at Yankoff Stadium. In Game 3, with the series tied 1-1, Pedro Martinez throws at Karim Garcia. Umpire rules Garcia was hit and Garcia takes 1st base. On a steal he plows into Todd Walker trying to start a fight.

When the Red Sox come to the plate Roger Clemens throws over Manny Ramiriz's head starting a bench clearing brawl in which Don Zimmer charges Pedro, who pushes him to the ground. Later in the game a Red Sox groundskeeper gets into a fight with Yankoff pitcher Jeff Nelson and Karim Garcia in the Yankoff bullpen. Yankoffs win the game to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Red Sox extend the series to 7 games with Game 6 win.

In Game 7, the Red Sox lead 5-3 in the eighth and Bernie Williams on first base, left-hander Alan Embree was warmed up and ready to come in the game to face the lefty-swinging Hideki Matsui. Boston manager Grady Little decides instead to stick with Pedro, who was clearly laboring. Matsui followed with a run-scoring double. Jorge Posada then hit a bloop double to center to tie the game. Little then gave Martinez the hook. The game goes to the 11th where Aaron Boone hits a lead off home run off Tim Wakefield for the 6-5 win.

4. 1978 The New York Yankoffs beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 in only the second one game playoff in AL History.

Ask anyone from Boston about 1978 and they'll say Bucky **bleeping** Dent. The Yankoffs Shortstop only had 5 home runs during the season, but ended up hitting the most devastating homer in the history of Baseball's greatest rivalry. The Yankoffs, 14 games behind Boston at one point, defeat the Red Sox, 5-4, at Fenway Park in only the second playoff game in AL history, keyed by Dent's three-run homer.

3. 1986 New York Mets beat the Boston Red Sox 4 games to 3 to win the World Series.

Forget the Snodgrass error and Merkle's base running "Boner," Bill Buckner's error was seen nationally on television and caught on tape. After 5 games the Red Sox had a 3-2 series lead and appeared to be wrapping up their 68-year championship drought and game 6 with a 5-3 lead in the 10th and two outs. Three hits later it was 5-4. A pass ball later, it was 5-5. A dribbler down the first baseline and, well you know the rest.

2. 2004 The Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankoffs 4 games to 3 to win the American League Championship Series.

The Red Sox trailed the Yanoffs 3 games to 0 going into Game 4 at Fenway Park. With Mariano Rivera on the mound in the 9th inning Kevin Millar walks, Dave Roberts gets a pinch-run stolen base and Bill Mueller singles him in to tie the game. David Ortiz wins the game with a walk off home run in the 12th inning.

In game 5, which is the longest game in post-season history (until last weekend), Ortiz muscles a single up the middle to score Johnny Damon for the 14 inning win. Again the win comes at the expense of Yankee closer Mariano Rivera.

The Red Sox go on to win game 6 with 3 RBI from Mark Bellhorn and an epic pitching performance from Curt Schilling and take game 7 10-3 with 6 RBI (including a grand slam) from Johnny Damon.

1. 1920 The Yankoffs purchase the contract of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000.

After 5 world titles between 1903 and 1918 Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sells superstar pitcher and power hitting outfielder George Herman "Babe" Ruth to the New York Yankoffs for $125 thousand dollars and a $350 thousand dollar loan against the mortgage on Fenway Park.

Ruth becomes the biggest icon in sports after the Dead Ball era ends with the tragic death of Ray Chapman in 1920 (Chapman is killed when hit in the head by a pitch). Chapman's death forces Major League Baseball to replace the ball every time it gets dirty or marked up. Home run numbers skyrocketed, especially for Ruth. Ruth and a host of other Red Sox castaways lead the Yankoffs to three world titles in the 20s.