First Pitch: What makes Yankees-Red Sox the best rivalry in baseball?

Rivalry preview: Which modern-day Yankees players do Red Sox fans hate the most?

Red Sox fans have plenty of content to choose from when picking their most-hated Yankees. To the folks over at BoSox Injection, including site expert Sean Penney, three players stand out the most in the modern rivalry.

Alex Rodriguez: “It’s hard to imagine that A-Rod was nearly traded to the Red Sox before he eventually landed in the Bronx instead. Part of our animosity toward Rodriguez stems from missing our chance to acquire the former MVP, but the distaste for this player goes far deeper. A-Rod was a prima donna with an arrogance that rubbed many the wrong way. His legacy being tainted by steroids obviously works against him but there were plenty of moments prior to those allegations that branded him as a player who didn’t play the game the right way. From trying to slap the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove to shouting “Mine!” in an attempt to confuse the infielders on a pop-up. His talent was undeniable but his personality made him an easy target to vilify.”

Roger Clemens: “Our history with The Rocket dates back to the first half of his career spent in Boston. He was our hero for over a decade and despite a pitstop in Toronto, there was a sense of betrayal that we felt when he donned the iconic pinstripes. By that stage of his career, Clemens was viewed as a mercenary being paid by a team with seemingly limitless resources. The Yankees didn’t need to acquire Clemens in the midst of their dynasty but they did it anyway, as if to spite the Red Sox. His alleged PED use clearly being a factor in extending a career that some believed he was in the “twilight” of when he left Boston gave us another reason to hate him. We thought Clemens had given his best to us but he ultimately cheated his way into a second act to his career that benefited our enemy.”

Johnny Damon: “He was one of the faces of the bunch of “idiots” who reversed the curse in 2004 but he turned out to be two-faced when he betrayed us. Johnny became Judas when he spurned the Red Sox to sign a more lucrative offer with the Yankees. While he claimed that Boston wasn’t willing to match the offer, the team denied that they were ever given the chance. We’ll forever be grateful to Damon for his role in helping the Red Sox win their first World Series title in 86 years but there’s still some bitterness over the way he left and the title he helped bring the Yankees a few years later.”