The most storied rivalry in all sports is back.

New York Yankees. Boston Red Sox. Two of the most historic baseball teams of all time just so happen to hate each other with a passion. This hatred all started back in 1919, when then Red Sox owner Harry Frazee traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees, starting the “Curse of the Bambino,” an 86-year stretch where the Red Sox did not win a World Series.

During this time frame, which ended in 2004 when the Red Sox topped the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, the Yankees would win 26 of their 27 World Series games, the most all time. The success of the Yankees, coupled with the geographic locations of the ball clubs and the fact that they play in the same division, created tension between the supporters of the teams.

The Red Sox have had more success since they broke the curse in 2004, winning championships in 2007 and 2013. In the past two years, they have won back-to-back AL East titles. In contrast to this, the Yankees have only won one world series since 2004, which came in 2009.

“It’s just Boston sports,” senior Connor Power, from Woburn Mass, said, “The most dominant and best sports teams in the world. There is no competition.”

The rivalry has been tame since 2010, with the Yankees rebuilding and the Red Sox dominating. However, things appear to be heating up, with the Yankees making a surprise run to the ALCS last year, taking the eventual champions in the Houston Astros to game seven. The Red Sox lost in the first round that year after winning the AL East.

Senior Connor Power said, “It’s heating up, I may be proud, but I’m not an idiot. The Yankees, as much as it pains me to say, are a decent baseball team.”

This year both teams are powerhouses and playoff favorites. Both teams are tied for not only the AL East, but also for the best record in Baseball. Each team stands at 26-11.

“The Yankees started out the year at 9-9, the Red Sox were 17-1,” senior Brendan Hansen said, “The Sox blew there 7.5 game lead, and now they’re tied. This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years of baseball in a long time, which is good because I haven’t followed baseball in about 16 years.”

Earlier in the year, in the first series of the year between the two clubs at Fenway, the benches cleared twice. One of these clearances resulted in a brawl, when Red Sox relief pitcher Joe Kelly took exception for a hard slide into second base by Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin. Kelly hit Austin with a fastball high and in, and Austin charged the mound. Both players were suspended.

The bad blood between not only the fans, but the players, seems to be back. While the two teams might not face each other in the playoffs due to their outstanding records, the battle for the AL East will be a rough one.