Red Sox: 5 potential opponents for a future Field of Dreams game

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BOSTON, MA – JULY 25: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox is congratulated by Rafael Devers after scoring the go ahead run during the eighth inning of their 5-4 win over the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on July 25, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /

The Red Sox have plenty of options for the Field of Dreams game

The 2021 MLB at the Field of Dreams game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees was such a success that Commissioner Rob Manfred has already confirmed a sequel for 2022. Yet, the Boston Red Sox will not be participating in it. Instead, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will be going head-to-head.

A Red Sox-Cubs matchup could have been quite interesting, as the two teams are both known for their previous championship droughts. The Cubs of course took 108 years to win, while the Red Sox took 86.

However, it is understandable that these two NL Central teams are up next. The Reds were founded in 1881 and were originally referred to as the Red Stockings. The Cubs are also the oldest team in the entire league, as they began playing in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings. They officially became the Cubs in 1903.

Although the Red Sox will be sitting this one out, there is hope for the future. If the MLB makes the Field of Dreams game yearly, like the NHL does with the Winter Classic, the Red Sox will absolutely have their turn somewhere down the line. They are one of the most popular teams in the entire sport, as well as among the oldest.

In this piece, let’s take a look at five potential teams who could make an entertaining opponent for the Red Sox. Keep in mind, they are in no particular order and are based on personal opinion.

Jul 25, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres (25) is congratulated by right fielder Greg Allen (22) after scoring a run during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Option #1: Red Sox vs. Yankees

Although some baseball fans would be upset seeing the Yankees play in another one, they are certainly a possible opponent for the Red Sox. The Red Sox and Yankees have arguably the biggest rivalry in the entire sport, so it would be criminal to not include them.

These two teams have faced one another in 2,276 regular season games. In them, the Yankees currently hold the better record, as they are 1,229-1,033-14. There have also been plenty of heated moments between these teams in the process, including the infamous Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez scuffle.

When it comes to the postseason, they have actually only played each other on four different occasions. This is due to the fact that the wild card was not instituted in MLB until 1994. The Yankees would win their first two playoff series, both in 1999 and 2003.

Then in 2004, the Red Sox notoriously came back from a 3-0 deficit to reverse sweep the Yankees and later broke the Curse of the Bambino. In their most recent series in 2018, Boston won 3-1 and went on to win their fourth World Series of the 2000s.

This amazing rivalry is currently going strong, as the Yankees have a 2.5 game lead over the Sox for second in the division. They could even see one another in this year’s Wild Card game as they are the top teams of the WC standings.

Adding a Field of Dreams game between these two rivals would be fantastic to witness. From a marketing standpoint, it would surely bring in a lot of attention from viewers. These are easily two of the most popular teams in the league.

Aug 1, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Mookie Betts (50) celebrates his solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Option #2: Red Sox vs. Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers would certainly be a great opponent for the Red Sox. The reigning World Series champions have been one of the best teams in the league for multiple seasons now. From 2017-2020, they made the World Series three different times. Although they did lose two of them, including one to the Red Sox in 2018, it’s clear that they have had a lot of success and fans will always watch their games.

Another notable element in a Red Sox-Dodgers matchup is the huge trade they made last off-season. The Red Sox of course traded former franchise player Mookie Betts to LA, along with David Price. Although the latter’s contract expires with LA after next season, Betts signed a 12-year, $365 million extension that started this season. Therefore, he would surely be present in a hypothetical Field of Dreams game between the two.

This would also be intriguing for Dodger fans, too, as Alex Verdugo has emerged into a strong talent for the Red Sox. He was one of the main pieces who came back in the Betts deal. Furthermore, prospect Jeter Downs, who also was a part of the trade, should be able to make the MLB roster in the near future. He is currently playing in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox, so it’s not far-fetched to state that he could make the club by then.

Lastly, the Dodgers have a very rich history. They began their journey as the Brooklyn Grays all the way back in 1883. They became the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1913 for a season, then changed to the Robins. However, they then brought back the Dodgers name in 1932 and officially moved to Los Angeles in 1958. They also have seven World Series championships under their belt, too. That’s not too shabby.

PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 11: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates with teammates after scoring during the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 11, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Option #3: Red Sox vs. Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals would certainly be a team to consider as well. Although the Red Sox and Cardinals are in different leagues, they have had their fair share of notable battles. The Red Sox have played the Cardinals in the World Series on three separate occasions. In 1967, they had a thrilling series that went to seven games. The Cardinals of course were victorious. The Red Sox then famously swept them in 2004 to break the curse. Their most recent series came in 2013, where David Ortiz led the team to a 4-2 series win. In the series, he had a .688 batting average.

It is not very often to see two teams face one another in the World Series on so many occasions. What is also fascinating about this is the fact that they were spread out over different decades. Although one could argue that the time difference between 2004 and 2013 was not that long, it is important to note that each team had significant changes to their rosters.

The 2004 Red Sox team was gone besides Ortiz. From the Cardinals, all who remained was Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright and an injured Chris Carpenter. Molina and Wainright are still on the team at this time, and the former just signed a one-year extension for the 2022 season.

In terms of history, the Cardinals also have an intriguing one. They were originally founded in 1882 as a Triple-A club called the St. Louis Brown Stockings. They then became an MLB team in 1892 as the St. Louis Browns and changed their name to the Cardinals in 1900. This is surely a ballclub who warrants a chance at a Field of Dreams game. They are one of the oldest teams in the league, as well as most popular. It also does not hurt that they have an outstanding logo and 11 total World Series titles.

BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 22: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a win after a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 22, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Option #4: Red Sox vs. Braves

Another National League team, yes, but the Atlanta Braves deserve consideration. Founded in 1871, the Braves were actually originally known as the Boston Red Stockings. Sounds extremely similar to the Red Sox, right? They would go through a series of different names before committing to the Braves back in 1941. They stayed in Boston throughout this entire part of their franchise, before moving to Milwaukee after the 1952 season.

A significant part of their franchise was spent in the same city as the Red Sox, which honestly makes them an alluring option. Although the eventual move to Atlanta has definitely worked out for the team, it is interesting to think of Boston having two MLB teams like New York and Los Angeles. Alas, that part of history is now gone.

Besides this cool element about the Braves, they also have a very entertaining roster of young players. From a marketing standpoint, this helps their case. They have rising stars in Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies. Dansby Swanson also seems to be reaching his potential this season. He already has 25 home runs, which is far more than his previous five seasons in the league. If the Braves also extend Freddie Freeman, they would be even more of a fun team to watch in a big game like this.

ST LOUIS, MO – AUGUST 24: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on August 24, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images) /

Option #5: Red Sox vs. Tigers

To conclude this list, let’s focus on the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers currently sport a 61-66 record at this said juncture. Therefore, they are the worst team out of the five. Yet, they are slowly heading in the right direction. They are far better than their 2019 team, as they had an atrocious 47-114 record. Furthermore, they are another central team who possesses a very deep history.

Unlike the other teams on this list, the Tigers have had the same name throughout the entirety of their franchise history. Founded in 1901, the Tigers have since won four World Series titles and 11 AL Pennants. They also had one of the best talents to ever play the game in the legendary Ty Cobb. Two other iconic names they had are “Mr. Tiger” Al Kaline and Hank Greenberg.