As we head into the weekend series with the Yankees, let’s have a look at some of the Red Sox best performers vs their dreaded rivals. First stop, slash lines. The most popular hitting statistics: batting average (AVG), on-base percentage (OBP) and slugging (SLG).
Top Red Sox Slash Lines vs Yankees (since 1914, minimum 25 games)
| Player | Years | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earl Johnson | 1940-50 | .414 | .433 | .414 |
| Dick Stuart | 1963-64 | .385 | .425 | .630 |
| Dale Alexander | 1932-33 | .365 | .413 | .469 |
| Wally Schang | 1918-20 | .355 | .477 | .496 |
| Jody Reed | 1987-92 | .350 | .438 | .468 |
| Manny Ramirez | 2001-08 | .346 | .436 | .656 |
| Ted Williams | 1939-60 | .345 | .495 | .608 |
| Bill Wambsganss | 1924-25 | .345 | .401 | .459 |
| Roy Johnson | 1932-35 | .338 | .442 | .516 |
| Babe Ruth | 1914-19 | .337 | .438 | .663 |
Among active Red Sox, David Ortiz is tops vs New York having gone 214-for-673 (.318) with 39 home runs and 110 walks entering this weekend’s series.
Xander has lit things up
Among the youngsters, who can forget Pedro Ciriaco’s torrid pace vs New York in 2012-13? He wracked up a .415 batting average vs the Bombers, going 22-for-53, and good for the all-time best Red Sox AVG vs the Yankees for players in their 20s (minimum 10 games).
Will Middlebrooks is 2nd on that list batting .339 over 15 games also from 2012-13. Current Red Sox batter Xander Bogaerts is 6th on this all-time list, going 12-for-37 (.324) in his 10 games so far vs the Yankees. Mike Carp is 9th at .306 in 14 games to date.
Round-trip power
Both Mo Vaughn and Kevin Millar own the distinction of belting the most home runs in a single game vs New York (3). Vaughn’s came on May 30, 1997 while Millar’s was on July 23, 2004.
There were fireworks on July 4, 2003 when the Red Sox had their most home runs in a single game vs the Yankees (7). Manny hit one that day and Mueller, Ortiz, and Varitek hit two each.
Here are the all-time Boston home run leaders vs New York.
Most Red Sox Home Runs vs Yankees (since 1914)
| Ted Williams | 1939-60 | 62 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | 1961-83 | 52 |
| David Ortiz | 2003-14 | 39 |
| Manny Ramirez | 2001-08 | 36 |
| Jim Rice | 1974-88 | 36 |
| Jimmie Foxx | 1936-42 | 27 |
| Mo Vaughn | 1991-98 | 24 |
| Jackie Jensen | 1954-61 | 24 |
| Joe Cronin | 1935-45 | 20 |
| George Scott | 1966-79 | 18 |
On the bases
No one circled the bases or drove in more RBI vs the Yankees than Red Sox great Ted Williams, who had 229 career RBIs and 629 total bases. Williams also holds the all-time club record for walks (309) and doubles (72). Power, of course, comes with risk. Williams grounded into the most double plays vs the Yankees in club history (39). He’s followed on the list by Carl Yastrzemski (36). Among active players, Ortiz holds the dubious distinction with 22.
Head-to-head
Since 1901 the Red Sox have had all-time, regular season losing records to just 3 American League teams: The Royals (.498), the Indians (.485), and the Yankees (.457). In fact, the Boston record vs New York is the Red Sox worst regular season mark vs all MLB teams except for the Cardinals (though the sample size vs St. Louis is very small at just 3-6 for all-time).
In the history of the rivalry the Red Sox have proven themselves just one game better vs the Yankees when playing at Fenway (536-535). In New York, the Yankees lead the all-time series decisively at 621-438.
Since 1901 the Red Sox have been outscored by New York 10,284 to 9,432.
Better matched lately
Bad as all that sounds, the last five seasons (beginning in 2010) have found the two clubs more closely matched with Boston edging New York 41-39, with a losing record at home but going 23-18 in New York.
On the mound
And a quick look now at Red Sox pitchers with the top win percentages vs New York.
Top Red Sox Win Pecentage vs Yankees (since 1914, minimum 12 starts)
| Player | Years | Wins | Losses | Win % | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babe Ruth | 1914-19 | 17 | 5 | .773 | 2.21 |
| Bill Lee | 1969-78 | 12 | 5 | .706 | 3.86 |
| Al Nipper | 1984-87 | 7 | 3 | .700 | 4.21 |
| Roger Moret | 1970-75 | 9 | 4 | .692 | 2.13 |
| Dave Morehead | 1963-68 | 6 | 3 | .667 | 2.80 |
| Jon Lester | 2006-present | 12 | 6 | .667 | 3.96 |
| Josh Beckett | 2006-12 | 14 | 8 | .636 | 5.53 |
| Ellis Kinder | 1948-55 | 12 | 7 | .632 | 3.92 |
| Jim Lonborg | 1965-71 | 9 | 6 | .600 | 3.20 |
| John Lackey | 2010-present | 6 | 4 | .600 | 5.03 |