Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon follows through on his pitching delivery

Boston Red Sox is one of the most famous baseball teams in America, and a charter member of the American league. Their current owner, John Henry, bought the club in 2002 for 380 million dollars, and runs it with Thomas Werner. Before this Henry was the owner of the Florida Marlins for a short time. It is also noteworthy that Henry’s company, the Fenway Sports group also owns 50% of the premier Sprint Cup racing team Roush Fenway racing.

Currently Forbes has the value of this franchise listed at 833 million dollars. They had a 2009 season opening day payroll of 121,795,999 dollars. As of the second week of July 2009 they had a record of 49-31 which places them in first place, one full game ahead of their rival New York Yankees in the East division of the American League. Their current General Manager is Theo Epstein.

Epstein became the Sox’s GM when Henry and his new ownership group took over the team at the end of the 2002 season. After three years on the job, and the successful creation of a World Series championship winner, Epstein stepped down as GM. Even though he had erased the 86 year curse of the Bambino, and remained wildly popular with the Sox nation, Epstein felt he no longer had the desire to continue running the team. He left his office disguised in a gorilla suit on 10-31-2005.

While he still remained under contract with the front office of the club, Epstein took some time to mull over returning to the team, and on 1-19-2006 announced to the pres that he was returning to the team as GM with the additional title of Executive Vice President and had signed a three year deal. One year later in 2007 Epstein crafted the team that won Boston their second title in four years. He has recently announced that he has signed an additional thee year deal that will keep him in the Red Sox’s front office through 2012.

The Current Red Sox have one of the deepest starting rotations in the entire league. It features, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Brad Penny, John Smoltz, and knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield. Smoltz is a certain lock to be elected to the Hall of Fame when his playing days are done.

The Sox bullpen is as strong, but not quite weak either and then feature star pitcher Jonathan Papplebon as their closer.

Their roster also features reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia and Designated hitter David “Big Poppy” Ortiz. Along with Sox captain Catcher Jason Varitek, outfielders Jason Bay and JD Drew.

On the recent 50 greatest current players list compiled by The Sporting News the Sox had four players listed, Beckett at 16, Dustin Pedroia at 18, Kevin Youkilis first baseman at 36, and Bay at 41. Together these men make 25.5 million dollars a year or 20% of the Sox 2009 opening day payroll.

Recently the Sox had four of the players selected to play in the 2009 MLB All Star game. Pedroia, Bay, and Beckett were elected by the fans to start. While Closer Papplebon will represent the team as a reliever.

In more than 100 years of competition that Rod Sox have only called two places home. From 1901 to 1911 they played their home games at the Huntington Avenue Baseball grounds. It is interesting to note that from their inception in 1901 till 1908 the Boston team had no nickname. There were simply called the Bostonians. In 1908 after the National League franchise in Boston gave up their trademark Red Stockings that then owner John Taylor adopted those red stockings and nicknamed his club the Red Sox.

Since 1912 the Red Sox have called Fenway Park home. Currently it is the oldest ballpark still in use in the MLB. It cost just 450,000 to build and now seats 38,805 fans after the current ownership group added seat to the top of the famed Green Monster in left field.

Originally the Sox did not own Fenway Park, and it made ownership of them quite precarious. It was owner Harry Frazee that finally bought the stadium in 1920. It was also Frazee that sold one Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees, and brought about the 86 year long curse involved with that move.

Twelve members of the baseball hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York are wearing Red Sox uniforms most notable Wade Boggs, Ted Williams, Carl Yastremski, and Carlton Fisk. 21 other members of the Hall of Fame also played periods of the career with the Sox including Ricky Henderson and Cy Young.

Through out their history the Red Sox have won 7 world titles, 12 American League pennants, six AL east division titles, and 6 wild card playoff births.

Their minor league operations are as follows:

Triple A- Pawtucket Red Sox

Single A Short Season- Lowell Spinners

Rookie Ball- Gulf Coast League Red Sox