(You might also be intersted in our look at the team with the most wins in National League history.)

Throughout nearly their entire history, these two storied franchises have been bitter rivals, engendering generations of diehard fans on both sides of the aisle.

The Yankees began American League play as the New York Highlanders in 1903, adopting the nickname “Yankees” in 1913. Nearly seven years later, in December of 1919, the Yanks bought Babe Ruth from the Red Sox, a deal that would change the course of baseball history.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox began A.L. life as the Boston Americans in 1901, becoming the Red Sox in 1908. They won five World Series between 1903 and 1918, the year before they sold Ruth to their rivals. Infamously, they wouldn’t win again until 2004 as the so-called “Curse of the Bambino” led them to the brink of glory only to dash their dreams again and again … and again.

Overall, the Yankees have won 40 American League pennants and 27 World Series championships, while the Sawx have claimed 14 American League flags and 9 world titles.

Besides the Sultan of Swat, other notable men who have played for both the Yankees and Red Sox include (amont others):

• Rickey Henderson
• Elston Howard
• Wade Boggs
• Johnny Damon
• Ben Chapman
• Mike Stanley
• Don Baylor
• Jacoby Ellsbury
• Everett Scott
• George Scott

(You might also be intersted in our look at the team with the most wins in American League history.)

These days, the Giants and Dodgers are bitter rivals in the National League West division, carrying on a tradition that saw them slug it out for N.L. pennants during the first 70+ years of their existence.

The Giants began life in New York in 1883, playing through 1884 without a team nickname. They became the New York Giants for the 1885 season and never looked back.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, sprang to life in Brooklyn for the 1884 season, again unnamed. They became the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1889 and 1890, went nameless again from 1891 through 1894, then spent 1895 through 1898 as simply the “Grooms.” From 1899 through 1910, they were the Superbas, with “Dodgers” first showing up from 1911 through 1915. After playing as the Robins from 1916 through 1931, the Brooklyn team became the Dodgers for good in 1932.

Before the 1958 season, the Giants and Dodgers both left New York to land in their present cities.

Along the way to all those regular-season wins, the Giants have won 23 National League pennants and 8 World Series.

The Dodgers have also captured 25 National League pennants, winning 7 World Series.

Did you know? Hall of Famer John McGraw has the most wins as Giants manager, leading the New York squad to a 2583-1790 record from 1902 through 1932.