While the Boston Red Sox fell short of the World Series, they gave their fans plenty to cheer about this season with 92 wins, one of the best offenses in baseball, and a roster full of likable guys who seemed to be having as much fun playing as we were watching them.
- Kyle Franzoni
FanSided Recruiting Director
Why we needed this fandom this year
Red Sox Nation reaches peak fanhood when the BoSox are a team filled with lovable overachievers. From the Idiots in 2004 to the bearded cavemen of 2013, this team captures fans when they are overcoming odds and having fun on the field. Nothing better describes the current team either. A team without its ace (Chris Sale) for much of the year, question marks surrounding their number two starter (Eduardo Rodriguez) and how he would bounce back from missing all of the 2020 season due to COVID complications, and a reset in full swing, expectations for the 2021 season were decidedly low. However, this team of role players embraced their opportunities and proved that they had a bright future. With Tom Brady winning Super Bowls in another city, the Sox gave their fans hope that the championship window isn't closed, but rather just opening.
What was the icon or totem for this fandom this year?
Without question, the defining totem of the 2021 season for the Boston Red Sox was the laundry cart. A quick ride in the cart greeted any Red Sox hitter after a home run hit at Fenway Park, and the Sox sluggers obliged by knocking 108 balls out of Fenway Park in 2021. While it may have given the team's insurance carriers heart palpitations, it brought fun back to Boston and winning came along for the ride.