BOSTON — The Dodgers and Red Sox play in game one of the World Series in Boston on Tuesday and you might say it's a rematch.
It was 102 years ago with the Brooklyn Robins played the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. Brooklyn's team had been called the Dodgers for years because of the Trolley Dodgers (people avoiding being hit by trolleys) in the New York area. But when Wilbert Robinson became manager in 1914, they started calling the team the "Robins." It was a common practice in the early 1900s.
The Cleveland Indians were called the "Naps" after manager Nap Lajoie. Can you imagine the current Yankees changing to the "Boonies" or the Astros being the "Hinchmen"? Things were different a decade ago.
Brooklyn's team lost to Babe Ruth and the Red Sox in 1916. And now the Dodgers, who moved to Los Angeles in 1958, look for revenge.
Dallas native Clayton Kershaw starts for Los Angeles. Kershaw has had some bad postseason luck in his career but says, "I think it's good that we've been there. For our team to come back after last year and getting a taste of it, what it was like last year and going to seven games and coming that close. I think the experience can help a little bit."
Kershaw and the Dodgers lost to Houston last season. Nothing unusual since the Dodgers have a terrible World Series record in this history (as either Dodgers or Robins). They've won six World Series titles, but they've lost the series 14 times. Only the Cubs have a worse winning percentage with at least ten trips to the World Series.
The Red Sox had a similar record until they finally broke their Fall Classic losing streak in 2004. World Championships in 2004, 2007 and 2013 has given Boston eight titles in 13 trips. And now they're ready for their fourth title in 15 years.
"You don't know when you're going to come back again. Obviously you want to do it every year. But some teams are just that good and you don't make it," said Xander Bogaerts with the Red Sox. "Just enjoy it and understand the importance of winning each and every game."
This Boston team was once called the Pilgrims and it suffered through the "Curse of the Bambino" for years after sending Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Now, with the best record in baseball and a chance for another title, Boston has a chance to go down in the history books as one of the greatest teams of all time.
