Remembering memorable Boston-New York playoff battles
1972 Stanley Cup Finals
Before the advent of the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Bruins and Rangers met in the Stanley Cup Finals twice. The 1972 matchup was the final time the two Original Six franchises met to play for Lord Stanley, with the Bruins winning in six games thanks to their dramatic wins in Games 1 and 4. In the clinching Game 6 win, Bobby Orr scored the first goal while Gary Cheevers blanked the Rangers for a 3-0 victory.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Bobby Orr and Jean Ratelle got to hold the Stanley Cup before the 1972 matchup between the Bruins and Rangers.
ASSOCIATED PRESS/Associated Press
Advertisement
1973 and 1974 NBA Eastern Conference finals
The Celtics and Knicks battled it out for the Eastern Conference crown in back-to-back seasons in the early-to-mid 1970s. In 1973, New York took a 3-1 series lead before Boston won two straight games to force a Game 7 at Boston Garden. But the Knicks picked up a decisive 94-78 win, handing the Celtics their first ever Game 7 loss.
A year later, the Celtics got their revenge by finishing the Knicks in five games. John Havlicek put up 30-plus point performances in the final two games of the series, helping Boston advance to the NBA Finals.
Advertisement
1984 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals
Thanks to Bernard King, the Knicks pushed the Celtics' and Larry Bird to seven games in 1984. King scored 44 points in Game 6, outdueling Larry Legend's 35-point performance to force a Game 7. But, Bird showed up in the series' deciding game, putting up a 39-point triple-double to help the Celtics win, 121-104, en route to their second title of the Bird era.
1986 World Series
Of course, the Fall Classic between the Red Sox and Mets is remembered for what happened in Game 6. After taking a 5-3 lead in the top of the 10th inning, Boston was an out away from winning its first World Series title in 68 years. But, New York recorded three straight hits before Bob Stanley threw a wild pitch that allowed the Mets to tie the game at five. In the same at-bat that he saw the wild pitch, Mookie Wilson hit a groundball to first that between the legs of Bill Buckner and allowed Ray Knight to score from second base to win the game.
The New York Mets won Game 6 of the 1986 World Series when Bill Buckner was unable to field a grounder.
STAN GROSSFELD
In Game 7, the Red Sox took a 3-0 lead in the second inning before the Mets evened the score in he sixth. Knight's homer in the seventh helped the Mets take a 6-3 lead in the seventh as they added a couple more runs in the eighth to hold off the Red Sox' rally and win Game 7, 8-5.
1999 ALCS
The first Red Sox-Yankees postseason battle didn't feature the dramatics of their other playoff matchups. As New York was in the midst of its dynasty run (four World Series wins in five years), the Yankees were able to take down the Red Sox in five games.
Advertisement
Game 3, though, featured a pitching duel between two of the generation's top aces, with Roger Clemens taking the bump for the Yankees and Pedro Martinez on the mound for the Red Sox. Martinez pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out 12 hitters. Clemens's first postseason start at Fenway since leaving the Red Sox, meanwhile, went south pretty quickly. He only pitched two-plus innings, getting pulled in the third as he allowed five runs. As the Red Sox won Game 3 13-1, the Fenway Faithful began a chant of 'Where is Roger?' that was followed by 'In the shower.'
Red Sox fans heckled Roger Clemens as he departed Game 3 of the 1999 ALCS early, but the Yankees got the last laugh.
Globe Staff Photo
2003 ALCS
Four years after their first playoff battle, the Red Sox and Yankees met again for the AL pennant in 2003. This time, there was plenty of drama. With the series tied 1-1 in Game 3, Martinez and Clemens went head-to-head in another highly anticipated matchup at Fenway.
The rivalry heated up when Martinez plunked Karim Garcia with a pitch, with words being exchanged between the two while Martinez also stared down Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. In the next inning, Manny Ramirez thought Clemens tried to hit him with a pitch high and inside, strolling toward the mound. As the benches cleared, Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer made his way over to Martinez, who tossed the 72-year-old to the ground.
The Yankees went on to win Game 3, but the Red Sox were able to even the series in Game 6 to force a Game 7. It appeared that the Red Sox were set to go back to the World Series for the first time in 17 years, taking a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning as they chased Clemens out of the game early on.
Advertisement
Martinez remained on the mound, giving up a string of hits as his pitch total went over 100, allowing the Yankees to tie the game. A few innings after Grady Little's controversial decision to leave Martinez on the mound, Aaron Boone hit a walk-off home run off Tim Wakefield in the 11th to send the Yankees to the World Series.
2004 ALCS
Somehow, the ALCS sequel between the Red Sox and Yankees outdid the original. You likely know the story by now, but in case you forgot, New York took a 3-0 series lead after its 19-8 win in Game 3. Trailing 4-3 in Game 4, Kevin Millar drew a four-pitch walk from Mariano Rivera. Dave Roberts pinch ran for him, stealing second before scoring on Bill Mueller's base hit to tie the game. David Ortiz hit a walk-off home run in the 12th to keep the Red Sox' hopes alive.
Ortiz played hero again in Game 5, hitting a home run in the eighth that cut the Yankees' lead to 4-3 before hitting a walk-off single in the 14th in a marathon of a game. Game 6 featured Mark Bellhorn's three-run homer and Alex Rodriguez's glove slap of Bronson Arroyo, with Boston winning that one, 4-2. Game 7 wasn't anywhere near as dramatic, with Ortiz and Johnny Damon hitting home runs in the early innings that gave the Red Sox an 8-1 lead before winning, 10-3.
The Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to comeback from a 3-0 deficit and win a series when they defeated the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.
Davis, Jim Globe Staff
Super Bowl XLII
After the Red Sox delivered the Yankees arguably the most painful loss in postseason history, the Giants gave the Patriots a similar defeat a few years later. On the precipice of history, New England was only 2:45 away from becoming the first team in NFL history to go 19-0 after Tom Brady threw a touchdown pass to Randy Moss that gave the Patriots a 14-10 lead in Super Bowl XLII.
Advertisement
It appeared that the Patriots' defense had one more stop in them. But after Asante Samuel's dropped interception, Eli Manning somehow avoided a sack and threw a deep ball that was caught by Giants wide receiver David Tyree, who stuck the ball to his helmet for a 32-yard reception. The 'Helmet Catch' got New York into New England territory, but the Giants also converted a third-and-11 three plays later before Manning threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress to take a 17-14 lead with 35 seconds remaining.
Brady tried a couple of Hail Mary attempts on the ensuing possession, but the Patriots weren't able to come up with their version of the 'Helmet Catch,' allowing the Giants to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.
2010 AFC Divisional Round
In the heat of the Patriots-Jets rivalry, Rex Ryan was able to lead Gang Green into Foxborough and upset New England just a month after losing a game to its AFC East foe 45-3. The Jets' defense made life difficult for Brady, snapping his months-long streak of not throwing an interception early on.
The Patriots were able to keep the game relatively close through most of it, but Shonn Greene's 16-yard touchdown run with just under two minutes remaining essentially served as the knockout blow as the Jets took a 28-14 lead. After their 28-21 win, Jets linebacker Bart Scott gave a memorable interview to ESPN, leading Jets fans to remember their team's upset win over the Patriots as the 'Can't Wait' game.
Advertisement
Super Bowl XLVI
The Giants' second Super Bowl win over the Patriots was eerily similar to their first championship win over New England. Following Wes Welker's critical drop with four minutes left, the Giants got another miraculous grab when they had the ball while trailing in the game's final minutes. Mario Manningham was somehow able to keep his feet inbounds to come up with a 38-yard reception to move the Giants to midfield with just over 3:30 remaining while trailing 17-15.
As New York reached the red zone, New England allowed Ahmad Bradshaw to rush for a six-yard touchdown that gave the Giants a 21-17 lead with 59 seconds left. Brady nearly connected with Rob Gronkowski on a Hail Mary on the game's final play.
2018 ALDS
Meeting in the ALDS for the first time, the Red Sox and Yankees split the first two games at Fenway, setting the stage for a pivotal Game 3. But, the Red Sox quickly put the Yankees away in a historic defeat, beating their rival 16-1 as they recorded 18 hits. Brock Holt became the first player in postseason history to have ever hit for the cycle in that game.
Brock Holt became the first player in MLB postseason history to hit for the cycle when he did so in Game 3 of the 2018 ALDS.
Jim Davis
In Game 4, it appeared the Red Sox were set to comfortably clinch their ticket to the ALCS. Chris Sale pitched a scoreless eighth, but Craig Kimbrel was shaky as Boston held a 4-1 lead entering the ninth. The closer loaded the bases, hitting a batter that allowed a run to score, while Gary Sanchez's fly ball to left seemed like it was going into the bleachers off the bat. But it fell short of the fence, resulting in a sac fly before Kimbrel was able to induce a ground out to win the game and series.
2021 AL Wild Card Game
While the Red Sox and Yankees met for Game 163 in the 1978 season, that game didn't count as a playoff matchup. So, the 2021 AL Wild Card Game was the first time the two teams faced off in a one-game playoff.
Xander Bogaerts and Kyle Schwarber's early home runs chased Gerrit Cole out of the game in the third inning. The Red Sox needed some defensive help, though. Holding a 3-1 lead in the sixth, they were able to execute a perfect relay off Giancarlo Stanton's double to throw Aaron Judge out at home, proving to be a pivotal play in
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
41 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Braintree team falls in first game of Little League World Series
Advertisement Every television screen was tuned to the ESPN broadcast, the game commentary barely audible over the chants and excited chatter. In the days leading up to the game, SouthSide Tavern had introduced Every table at the tavern had been reserved in advance, with placards marking spots for families and friends. 'We've been getting calls nonstop since last week,' said Stephen Dedalonis, 20, a Braintree native and host and food runner at the tavern. At one table, Emily Antonowicz and her 10-year-old son, Andrew, watched intently. Andrew, a player for another Braintree American team, clutched his cap to his head as he sat among friends. Advertisement 'A bit nervous,' he admitted when asked how he was feeling, adding that he hopes to be on a World Series team one day. 'This is amazing that they've made it this far, and we're so proud of them no matter what happens,' his mom said. Nearby, Chrissy Joseph was cheering on the team, but also one person in particular — her brother, Frank Fasoli, the team's general manager. Joseph had just talked to her brother the day before. 'He said, 'Chrissy, the boys are just having the time of their life,'' she said, adding that in their downtime they were playing pickup basketball with other teams and living in the moment. When she asked him how he was feeling, he replied 'We're underdogs, but we've always come through,' he told her. 'These boys are really good and they love what they do,' she said. 'They're playing because it's their passion, not because they're forced to.' Joseph's daughter, 14-year-old, Brooke Costelo, said, 'It's really cool to have a personal connection with the team that everyone knows about. I can't wait to see how much more they accomplish.' But as the game came to a close, the mood grew more somber. Braintree American fell to South Carolina in a shutout that shortened the game to just four innings under the mercy rule. The loss puts the team in the tournament's elimination bracket, where they'll have another chance to keep their run alive in a redemption game on Saturday. For fans like Antonowicz, the loss was just a setback. Advertisement 'In the words of Bill Belichick, we're on to Saturday,' she said with a tight smile after the final out. Joseph said she's confident the players can rebound. 'Keep your head up,' she urged the boys. 'Be proud of what you're doing and what you've accomplished — not many 12-year-olds can say that they've been in the World Series.' Sadaf Tokhi can be reached at
New York Post
41 minutes ago
- New York Post
Brandon Nimmo opens up on much Pete Alonso's Mets milestone
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free The second half of the 2025 season hasn't gone the Mets' way, but Pete Alonso becoming the franchise's all-time leading home run hitter earlier this week was a welcome reprieve from the past couple of months. Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo might not get what all the hubbub is about, which he made clear in an on-air rant that stemmed from his displeasure with the enthusiastic call from SNY play-by-play voice Gary Cohen. In the Mets clubhouse and in a special pregame celebration Thursday night, however, there was recognition of what it means to surpass four-time World Series winner Darryl Strawberry. 4 New York Mets' Pete Alonso (20) waves to fans during a ceremony to honor his 253rd home run before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. AP And there was immense appreciation for Alonso, who has so naturally endeared himself to New York and Mets fans since the day he put on the blue and orange. 4 Brandon Nimmo celebrates a hit on Thursday. AP 'Definitely important [to celebrate]. I mean, anytime somebody accomplishes something like that you want to celebrate it because it's taken a lot of years of hard work to get to that point,' Brandon Nimmo told The Post before the Mets took on the Braves. 'And by no means do you want to minimize that by the team going through a tough stretch. 'Obviously, with him accomplishing this feat of breaking the home run record, you want to celebrate that and make sure it's as special as it can possibly be for him.' The rain delay Wednesday night postponed the ceremony, but the Mets made sure the Polar Bear got his moment. Radio broadcaster Howie Rose read a heartfelt speech, highlighting Alonso's 53 first-year home runs and postseason heroics. 4 Pete Alonso of the New York Mets hitting a double. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect A special video tribute — narrated by Strawberry — then played on the jumbotron as fans around the stadium gave the 30-year-old a standing ovation. And when Rose asked Alonso what it would mean to continue his career with the Mets, the roar of applause from the crowd drowned out his answer. 'He's someone who does it on an everyday basis and makes it look easy,' said Nimmo, who is Alonso's longest-tenured Mets teammate. 4 Pete Alonso acknowledges the fans at Citi Field ahead of Thursday's game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Alonso, who was tied with Kyle Schwarber at 254 for the second-most homers in the majors since 2019 entering the game, has a player option for $24 million in 2026 that he likely won't take. It would make him a free agent for a second straight year. Only this time, the Mets can't give him a qualifying offer after doing so during last offseason's negotiations. 'I've just seen him continue to make adjustments year after year,' Nimmo said, 'to the point where I feel like this year is the best I've ever seen him. Since 2019, obviously, 2019 was amazing. To be able to do what he's done this year — with everybody knowing the power that he has and everything — he's been a very consistent hitter. 'He's been a very good hitter all-around, too, not just power. He's driven in almost 100 runs already. Obviously, his OPS is in a great position, close to that .900. To be able to do that in Citi Field has been amazing. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS 'To be able to watch that evolution, it's been really special for me. I'm really, really proud of him because to make those adjustments has taken a lot of hard work on his end, and he's definitely been working to get the most out of himself.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tigers' Tarik Skubal calls out multiple teams for stealing signs during games
Tigers' Tarik Skubal calls out multiple teams for stealing signs during games originally appeared on The Sporting News Sign stealing has always been a part of baseball, but negative feelings stemming from that strategy have peaked in recent seasons. The Houston Astros have drawn the most ire from the baseball world for sign-stealing, as it allegedly contributed to their 2017 World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Boston Red Sox were also punished in 2020 for a sign-stealing scandal in which they were implicated over the previous two years, the first of which was also a championship-winning campaign. History tends to repeat itself, as it did in this case. But the concept of sign-stealing has reared its ugly head once more in 2025, a year that the Red Sox have again been accused of implementing the maneuver. This season alone, the Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres have all been involved in incidents that, at one point or another, have been tied to suspicious behavior from the Red Sox's dugout, whether that activity proved to be illegal or not. In an Aug. 11 appearance on Foul Territory TV, Skubal said sign-stealing from hitters on second base is "fair game" but that he particularly doesn't like sign-stealing from first- and third-base coaches who fail to remain in their designated boxes along each foul line. He also mentioned the Red Sox as one of two teams, the other being the Cleveland Guardians, he has previously dealt with when it comes to sign-stealing strategies involving his pitches. "I don't know why they have a box if they can't just be in it. Because, sometimes, they go way up the line and way up the other line to see things that you shouldn't be able to see when you're playing the game of baseball. So that's the one I have a problem with," Skubal said. "And there's teams that do it. Boston's coach [Jose Flores], they've had me before in Boston. Cleveland has had me before, Sandy Alomar at first base." As far as how he approaches games personally, Skubal remains diligent when it comes to making sure other teams aren't picking up on what he's about to throw. "I'm very much on it, as far as not tipping my pitches in my bullpen work. One of our video guys watches every single throw I make in a bullpen, watches every throw I make in a game, and we're very back-and-forth on tipping stuff or making sure I'm not tipping pitches," Skubal said. "It's part of the game. If you don't want to do it, don't tip your pitches. I think that that's pretty simple."
