Flashback: From Red Sox to Pinstripes
August, 14, 2012
8/14/12
11:24
AM ET
By
Patrick Dorsey | ESPN.com
The New York Yankees on Monday made a relatively minor move: They signed 39-year-old Derek Lowe to supplement their bullpen.
But one thing that makes it noteworthy is Lowe's past: The right-hander spent seven-plus years with the Boston Red Sox, finishing third in the Cy Young Award voting in 2002, saving 42 games in 2000, and starting (and winning) a game in Boston's breakthrough 2004 World Series.
Now he becomes one of the dozens who have gone from Boston to the Bronx, whether directly or through rather circuitous routes. Here's a photographic look at seven noteworthy names -- many of whom, like Lowe, very quickly earned Yankees fans' affections despite having played for the enemy:
DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ
Al Bello/Getty ImagesRed Sox career: Just part of one year, but one World Series (in 2004) after a midseason trade.
Al Bello/Getty ImagesYankees career: In one year (2007), posted a .277/.349/.440 mark while playing his typically solid D.
SPARKY LYLE
Louis Requena/MLB Photos/Getty ImagesSox career: From 1967 to '71, the reliever posted a 2.85 ERA, 69 saves and one clean look.
Focus on Sport/Getty ImagesYankees career: Mustachioed, he played from '72 to '78 in NYC, leading the league in saves twice.
LUIS TIANT
Focus on Sport/Getty ImagesSox career: El Tiante, the Cuban great, went 122-81 with a 3.36 ERA from '71 to '78.
Rich Pilling/MLB/Getty ImagesYankees career: Another to go straight to NYC, Tiant pitched '79 and '80 there (21-17, 4.31).
WADE BOGGS
US PresswireSox career: 11 years, five batting titles, eight All-Star Games, and yet ...
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty ImagesYankees career: ... Boggs went right to NYC, where he made four more All-Star teams in five years.
JOHNNY DAMON
Bruce Kluckhohn/US PresswireSox career: The scraggly Damon earned two All-Star trips -- and one big Series -- from '02 to '05.
AP Photo/Bill KostrounYankees career: The clean-shaven Damon was hated around Boston but mended fences with the likes of David Ortiz, left. He played well from '06 to '09 and helped New York win the '09 Series.
ROGER CLEMENS
Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty ImagesSox career: Just 192 wins, three Cy Young Awards and one MVP, from 1984 to 1996.
Elizabeth Malby/Baltimore Sun/MCTYankees career: A Cy Young Award, 83 more wins, two Series titles -- and quite the controversy.
BABE RUTH
AP PhotoSox career: Remember this guy? He won 89 games and posted a 2.19 ERA in six seasons with the Sox. He left behind a curse, too, but hey -- not even Ruth is perfect.
AP Photo/National Baseball LibraryYankees career: Case in point that nobody's perfect: Ruth posted a 5.52 ERA with the Yankees. But he did some hitting, too, with 659 home runs mashed in the Bronx. And he built a house.
But one thing that makes it noteworthy is Lowe's past: The right-hander spent seven-plus years with the Boston Red Sox, finishing third in the Cy Young Award voting in 2002, saving 42 games in 2000, and starting (and winning) a game in Boston's breakthrough 2004 World Series.
Now he becomes one of the dozens who have gone from Boston to the Bronx, whether directly or through rather circuitous routes. Here's a photographic look at seven noteworthy names -- many of whom, like Lowe, very quickly earned Yankees fans' affections despite having played for the enemy:
DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ
Al Bello/Getty ImagesRed Sox career: Just part of one year, but one World Series (in 2004) after a midseason trade.Al Bello/Getty ImagesYankees career: In one year (2007), posted a .277/.349/.440 mark while playing his typically solid D.SPARKY LYLE
Louis Requena/MLB Photos/Getty ImagesSox career: From 1967 to '71, the reliever posted a 2.85 ERA, 69 saves and one clean look.Focus on Sport/Getty ImagesYankees career: Mustachioed, he played from '72 to '78 in NYC, leading the league in saves twice.LUIS TIANT
Focus on Sport/Getty ImagesSox career: El Tiante, the Cuban great, went 122-81 with a 3.36 ERA from '71 to '78.Rich Pilling/MLB/Getty ImagesYankees career: Another to go straight to NYC, Tiant pitched '79 and '80 there (21-17, 4.31).WADE BOGGS
US PresswireSox career: 11 years, five batting titles, eight All-Star Games, and yet ...Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty ImagesYankees career: ... Boggs went right to NYC, where he made four more All-Star teams in five years.JOHNNY DAMON
Bruce Kluckhohn/US PresswireSox career: The scraggly Damon earned two All-Star trips -- and one big Series -- from '02 to '05.AP Photo/Bill KostrounYankees career: The clean-shaven Damon was hated around Boston but mended fences with the likes of David Ortiz, left. He played well from '06 to '09 and helped New York win the '09 Series.ROGER CLEMENS
Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty ImagesSox career: Just 192 wins, three Cy Young Awards and one MVP, from 1984 to 1996.Elizabeth Malby/Baltimore Sun/MCTYankees career: A Cy Young Award, 83 more wins, two Series titles -- and quite the controversy.BABE RUTH
AP PhotoSox career: Remember this guy? He won 89 games and posted a 2.19 ERA in six seasons with the Sox. He left behind a curse, too, but hey -- not even Ruth is perfect.AP Photo/National Baseball LibraryYankees career: Case in point that nobody's perfect: Ruth posted a 5.52 ERA with the Yankees. But he did some hitting, too, with 659 home runs mashed in the Bronx. And he built a house.
Patrick Dorsey | email
PlaybookPatrick Dorsey is a Playbook editor. He has worked for the Web and newspapers, had a cup of craft service coffee in film school, and played in one Division III golf tournament (he shot 105).
ABOUT PLAYBOOK VISUALS
• Fandom: Humor, fans and off-beat items
• Trending: Sports lifestyle, culture
• Tech: Sports technology, video games
• Dollars: The world of sports business
• Sounds: The collision of sports, music
• Coordinates: International sports
PHOTO BOOTH
Visit the Weird Web archive right now to see and submit your own favorite viral videos.
You must be signed in to post a comment