Editing Boston Red Sox (section)

===Sale of Babe Ruth and Aftermath (1920–1938)===
Prior to the sale of Babe Ruth, multiple trades occurred between the Red Sox and the Yankees. On December 18, 1918, outfielder [[Duffy Lewis]], pitcher [[Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher)|Dutch Leonard]] and pitcher [[Ernie Shore]] were traded to the Yankees for pitcher [[Ray Caldwell]], [[Slim Love]], [[Roxy Walters]], [[Frank Gilhooley]] and $15,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1918-12-19 |title=Ray Caldwell, One Of The Pitchers In The Red Sox Trade |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-ray-caldwell-one-of-th/164254999/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Boston Globe |page=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lieb |first=Frederick G. |date=1918-12-19 |title=Lewis, Shore and Leonard Come to Yankees in Exchange for Caldwell, Love, Walters, Gilhooley and $15,000 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-lewis-shore-and-leonard/164255102/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=New York Herald |page=15 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In July 1919, pitcher [[Carl Mays]] quit the team and then was traded to the Yankees for Bob McGraw, Allan Russell and $40,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1919-07-31 |title=Sox May Get Pratt In Trade For Perry |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-sox-may-get-pratt-in-trade/164255150/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=Evening star |page=26 |publication-place=Washington, District of Columbia |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

After Mays was traded, league president Ban Johnson suspended him due to his breaking of his contract with the Red Sox.<ref name=":12">{{cite web |last=Stout |first=Glenn |date=2002-07-18 |title=MLB — When the Yankees nearly moved to Boston |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/s/2002/0718/1407265.html |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1919-08-01 |title=Johnson Suspends Mays |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-johnson-suspends/164255291/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |page=8 |publication-place=Richmond, Virginia |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The Yankees went to court after Johnson suspended Mays.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1919-08-04 |title=Yankees' Owners Enjoy Ban Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-yankees-owners-enjoy-ban-t/164255370/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=Evening star |page=18 |publication-place=Washington, District of Columbia |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> After the Yankees were able to play Mays,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lieb |first=Frederick G. |date=1919-08-07 |title=Owners of Yankees Obtain Injunction |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-herald-owners-of-yankees-obtain/164255443/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=New York Herald |page=15 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> the American League split into two factions: the Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox, known as the "Insurrectos", versus Johnson and the remaining five clubs, a.k.a. the "Loyal Five".<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1919-08-10 |title=American League Split Over May's Suspension Case. Ball Declines |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-american-league-split-over-may/164255528/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Times |page=9 |publication-place=Shreveport, Louisiana |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>[[File:1915 Babe Ruth.jpeg|thumb|right|upright|[[Babe Ruth]] in 1915]]
On December 26, 1919, the team sold Babe Ruth, who had played the previous six seasons for the Red Sox, to the rival New York Yankees.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Malley |first=Nick |date=December 26, 2019 |title=Babe Ruth was sold by Red Sox to Yankees 100 years ago this day |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2019/12/babe-ruth-was-sold-by-red-sox-to-yankees-100-years-ago-this-day.html |access-date=April 23, 2021 |website=masslive |language=en}}</ref> The sale was announced on January 6, 1920.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1920-01-06 |title=Red Sox Sell Ruth For $100,000 Cash |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/140684539/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Boston Globe |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In 1919, Ruth had broken the single-season home run record, hitting 29 home runs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Year-by-Year League Leaders & Records for Home Runs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_leagues.shtml |access-date=October 31, 2013 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1919-12-28 |title=Leading Events of the World of Sports in 1919 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat-leading-events/164255624/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |page=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> It was believed that Frazee sold Ruth to finance the [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] musical ''[[No, No, Nanette]]''.<ref name=":02">{{cite book|last=Montville|first=Leigh|title=The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth|publisher=Random House|year=2006|pages=161–64|author-link=Leigh Montville}}</ref> While No, No, Nanette did not open on Broadway until 1925, Leigh Montville's book, ''The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth'',<ref name=":02" /> reports that ''No, No, Nanette'' had originated as a non-musical stage play called ''My Lady Friends'', which opened on Broadway in December 1919.<ref name=":02" /> According to the book, ''My Lady Friends'' had been financed by Ruth's sale to the Yankees.<ref name=":02" /> The sale of Babe Ruth came to be viewed as the beginning of the [[Yankees–Red Sox rivalry]], considered the "best rivalry" by American sports journalists.{{sfn|Shaughnessy|2005|p=21}}

In the December 1920, [[Wally Schang]], [[Waite Hoyt]], [[Harry Harper]] and Mike McNally were traded to the Yankees for [[Del Pratt]], [[Muddy Ruel]], Hank Thormahlen, Sammy Vick.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1920-12-16 |title=Yankees Get For Red Sox in Trade |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/boston-post-yankees-get-for-red-sox-in-t/164255673/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=Boston Post |page=22 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The following winter, [[shortstop]] [[Everett Scott]], and pitchers [[Bullet Joe Bush]] and [[Sad Sam Jones]] were traded to the Yankees for [[Roger Peckinpaugh]], who was immediately traded to the [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=1921-12-31 |title=Former Yankee Captain Traded To Washington |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oklahoma-city-times-former-yankee-ca/164255700/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Oklahoma City Times |page=8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> [[Jack Quinn (baseball)|Jack Quinn]], [[Rip Collins (pitcher)|Rip Collins]], Bill Piercy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Leary |first=James C. |date=1921-12-21 |title=Red Sox Trade Scott, Jones, Bush, McInnis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-red-sox-trade-scott-jo/164255754/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Boston Globe |page=11 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

On July 23, 1922, [[Joe Dugan]] and [[Elmer Smith (baseball outfielder, born 1892)|Elmer Smith]] were traded to the Yankees for Elmer Miller, Chick Fewster, [[Johnny Mitchell (baseball)|Johnny Mitchell]], and [[Lefty O'Doul]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1922-07-24 |title=Red Sox Trade Dugan and Smith to New York Yanks For Pitcher and 3 Fielders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-red-sox-trade-dugan-and-smith/164255814/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Times |page=9 |publication-place=Shreveport, Louisiana |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1922-08-06 |title=Fans Furious Over Loss Of Star Players |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anaconda-standard-fans-furious-over/164255914/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Anaconda Standard |page=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1922-10-19 |title=O'Doul Sent To Frazee To Finish Dugan Deal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/altoona-tribune-odoul-sent-to-frazee-to/164255946/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=Altoona Tribune |page=8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Acquiring Dugan helped the Yankees edge the [[1922 St. Louis Browns season|St. Louis Browns]] in a tight pennant race.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1922-10-04 |title=Frazee Saved Day For Friend Huggins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-kansan-frazee-saved-day/164255980/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Kansas City Kansan |page=8 |publication-place=Kansas City, Kansas |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> After late trades in 1922, a June 15 trading deadline went into effect.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kieran |first=John |date=1922-12-15 |title=Major Leagues in Joint Meeting Make Drastic Move in Draft Issue and Hand Jolt to Johnson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-major-leagues-in-joint/164256093/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=New-York Tribune |page=14 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In 1923, [[Herb Pennock]] was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees for Camp Skinner, Norm McMillan, and [[George Murray (baseball)|George Murray]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cummiskey |first=Thomas L. |date=1923-01-31 |title=Herb Pennock Goes To Yanks In Trade For Three Players |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-herb-pennock-goes-to-yanks-i/164256158/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Gazette |page=9 |publication-place=Cedar Rapids, Iowa |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

The loss of several top players sent the Red Sox into free fall.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |date=1923-07-12 |title=Red Sox Bring Over Million |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fall-river-globe-red-sox-bring-over-mill/164256192/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=Fall River Globe |page=16 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> During the 1920s and early 1930s, the Red Sox were fixtures in the second division, never finishing closer than 20 games out of first.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lamb |first=Al |date=1931-10-15 |title=Spinning the Sports Top |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-and-sun-bulletin-spinning-the-spor/164256219/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=Press and Sun-Bulletin |page=28 |publication-place=Binghamton, New York |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Ballou |first=Bill |date=2021-03-05 |title=Worcester Red Sox roots run deep in minor league baseball history |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/mlb/woosox/2021/03/05/worcester-red-sox-roots-run-deep-minor-league-history/6918706002/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127020827/https://eu.telegram.com/story/sports/mlb/woosox/2021/03/05/worcester-red-sox-roots-run-deep-minor-league-history/6918706002/ |archive-date=2024-11-27 |access-date=April 27, 2021 |website=Worcester Telegram |language=en-US}}</ref> The losses increased after Frazee sold the team to [[Bob Quinn (baseball, born 1870)|Bob Quinn]] in 1923.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":32" /> The team bottomed out in 1932 with a record of 43–111, still the worst record in franchise history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shaughnessy |first=Dan |date=2020-08-18 |title=Two out of three ain't bad (but Sox are) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-two-out-of-three-aint/164256351/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Boston Globe |page=C4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> However, in 1931, [[Earl Webb]] set the all-time mark for most doubles in a season with 67.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1931-10-03 |title=Simmons Wins Crown Second Year Straight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/stevens-point-journal-simmons-wins-crown/164256427/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=Stevens Point Journal |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In 1933, [[Tom Yawkey]] bought the team.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=February 26, 1933 |title=Yawkey, Collins Buy the Red Sox |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/02/26/archives/yawkey-collins-buy-the-red-sox-wealthy-new-yorker-becomes-club.html |access-date=April 27, 2021 |work=The New York Times |page=S-1 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Yawkey acquired pitchers [[Wes Ferrell]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=1933-05-10 |title=Red Sox Buy Brown, A Pitcher And Catcher Ferrell From Browns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-red-sox-buy-br/164256534/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Burlington Free Press |page=11 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and [[Lefty Grove]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weekes |first=William |date=1933-12-13 |title=Mickey Selected Detroit Manager |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-times-mickey-selected-detroit/164256643/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Tampa Times |page=9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> [[Joe Cronin]], a shortstop and manager,<ref name=":4" /> and [[first baseman]] [[Jimmie Foxx]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1936-01-09 |title=Jimmy Foxx, Slugging First Sacker Of Red Sox, To Get About $25,000 For Season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-jimmy-foxx-slugging/164256698/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Greenville News |page=11 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 1938, Foxx hit 50 home runs, which stood as a club record for 68 years.<ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Leary|first=James|date=October 2, 1938|title=Jimmie Foxx reaches 50 homers at Fenway |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/1938/10/02/jimmie-foxx-reaches-homers-fenway/NT5UfIqsJzhxYfiokXYWxO/story.html|access-date=April 27, 2021|work=The Boston Globe|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Christensen |first=Joe |date=2006-09-22 |title=Twins remain half-game back |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-twins-remain-half-game-back/164256746/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=Argus-Leader |page=C1 |publication-place=Sioux Falls, South Dakota |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> That year Foxx also set a club-record of 175 runs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1938-12-31 |title=Foxx, Greenberg Drive In Most Runs In League |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-foxx-greenberg-driv/164256788/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Courier-Journal |page=13 |publication-place=Louisville, Kentucky |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=United Press}}</ref>