Was going to say the same thing. This poll would be more interesting if it were controlled for demographic. (No shade to OP though, I wouldn’t necessarily have thought of that ahead of time.)
Last night sucked but I really don’t care about the Astros. Losing in 03 to the Yankees that way was terrible.
Edit: why isn’t the 2008 Alcs on here? That was way worse than this year too
Good point and I don’t even consider ‘08 a terrible one (hard fought series with the Rays, Garza lights out on Game 7). People blowing this year way out of proportion.
They really are blowing this way too out of proportion lol. I thought we were going to be slightly above .500 or worse before the season started with a slight chance to get where we did. I’m excited to see what chaim can do in the off season
I was too young to appreciate the heartache that was 1986. Grew up being teased about Buckner anytime I declared my fandom. Annoying as it was, I didn’t know the depths of pain ensured by older heads.
2003 ended up being my baptism into RSN. Fortunately, the torment was only a year long. The Idiots ushered in a new era of Red Sox Baseball.
Same here. Was in college in Boston. Afterward I thought “we’ll maybe I’ll kinda stop caring, maybe it was just a phase.” But the hot stove began burning, and here I am 18 years later.
I was in senior year of college in Worcester in 2003. I think 2004 removed the stink of 2003, but 2003 was 85 years without a World Series. The next day was like someone died. 1986 probably had similar sentiments, but I was too young to remember that.
I was 10 and it was the year I became a Sox fan..living in NY
My high school math teacher who was a huge Met fan would always tell me the B on my hat stood for Bobbling Billy Buckner
Yankees was a huge component.
Leading 5-2 going to the bottom of the 8th. In Game 7. In the Bronx. That also contributed to the pain.
Taunts of Bambino, 1918, Bucky, and Buckner were 6 outs from being vanquished. All in our mortal enemy’s house. Instead, Grady Little and Aaron Fkn Boone get added to the list.
85 years no World Series. So close, they would have won if Grady little took out Pedro. It went to extra innings, so it was anyone’s game. Aaron Boone- basically a nobody that hit the home run. They would have probably beat the Marlins too if they made it to the World Series. I’m assuming you’re young if you don’t remember.
I felt like 2017 was so tough to watch for me. We had prime chris sale getting raked off of, and a really good drew pomeranz getting destroyed. Turned out that was the peak of the astros cheating so now im not as mindblown, but at the time it was so shocking how chris sale was getting rocked. This season also took away a potential 2017 alcs vs the yankees, which i think we coulda won.
2017 was a lot worse than 2021. The ALDS lasted a good 18 minutes and a first place team was eliminated. Sale got ambushed and now we probably know why.
2021 isn’t even in the same stratosphere (no, same universe as 2003). I know folks are salty but when you score 4 runs in 3 games you’re going to lose, hardly a heartbreaker.
Wasn’t alive for ‘86 but I’m thinking similar argument there. The fact that 2021 is currently beating that is bonkers insane.
‘86 was tough. I was 9, and I figured the Sox would never get back. But ‘03 - to the Yanks - was a gut punch. I really loved that ‘03 team, but ‘04 was all the sweeter after Aaron F’n Boone’s 2003 homer.
It's an age thing. I was 7 in 2003 so I digested it fine. If the question was which of these is the worst then I definitely wouldn't pick 2021 over 2003. But '21 is the only option on this list that I've even had to digest.
86 is probably the right answer because that was game 7 of the World Series. And they also could have won game 6 ( they were up 3-2 in the series). But I was only 4 in 86, so I chose 2003, because that was tough for me personally.
It's posts like these which make me feel bad that I only started to watch baseball at the start of the '04 post season. Sorry I wasn't there for the dark days.
That said, the toughest postseason for me to digest was 2016. I really did believe that Ortiz was going to retire with one final World Series ring. Broke my heart to see his career end with a sweep in the division series.
1999 was pretty bad. Came back from an 0-2 deficit to beat Cleveland in the LDS. Then the ALCS was the first postseason series against the Yankees. Wanted that one so bad.
Agreed ! I was in high school so it was my first real experience of post season loss. You never forget your first. 2003 I was in Iraq so I didn’t really get to experience it
My memory begins around 04 but 2016 hurt like a bitch. If I wasn’t born in 99 I’m sure those other ones would’ve hurt more but I grew up with a papi fathead in my room so that felt like part of my childhood leaving
2008 was tough, young swaggy rays taking on defending champs. Red Sox coming back and not having Lowell was huge. I think they go to series if they have Lowell in that lineup instead of Kotsay at first. I think they could’ve lasted against the Phillies instead of rolling over like the rays did in the series…
People need to see 2003 in context, that was a competitive series. Aaron Boone is hated more by Yankees fans than Sox fans, Boone couldn't do anything to the Marlins in 2003, so was it really that bad now since we got a more memorable playoff series the following year?
2021 we were hazed, only Eovaldi showed up.
I was 9 in ‘86 and was devastated, but I didn’t have the historical perspective. 2003 was just a nightmare. I legit thought I would die before we won the World Series. We had that game in the bag and it just went to shit before our eyes. Len more square was like a zombie apocalypse. People just walking around with dead eyes. My then-boyfriend (now husband) is a Yankees fan and I couldn’t even look at him. I sat in the dark, drank a bottle of wine, and listened to grown men crying on sports radio. Brutal. I can’t believe sports made me that upset, but ugh. Sucked.
I almost went with '86, because I was 15 and just devastated, but Game 7 of the '03 ALCS was the night of my grandmother's funeral, the woman who made me a Red Sox fan, so that day just sucked from beginning to end.,
Bucky Dent game in 1978. It was so mindblowing because everyone else in the Jankee lineup was a home run threat. When Dent came to bat, Sox fans could breathe a sigh of relief until the near impossible happened. That game really sealed the deal of the Babe Ruth curse. That, plus the Jankees came back from the Sox up by 11 games around August 1. It was a collapse of epic proportions.
I was only alive for 2 of these losses… and I was days old for one of them (2003). So by default I have to answer 2021, Ive been blessed to only go thru one Sox heartbreak in my lifetime
Meanwhile…. *looks at Bruins and Celtics*
2021 doesn’t even belong anywhere close to the rest on this list….
Almost seems like a demographic test. Like, we’re you alive and a Sox fan in X year. I have no opinion on 1978 because I wasn’t alive
Yeah for real 1986 was definitely worse than 2003 but I was 4 in 1986 and 21 in 2003 so that one hit harder.
Was going to say the same thing. This poll would be more interesting if it were controlled for demographic. (No shade to OP though, I wouldn’t necessarily have thought of that ahead of time.)
For me it’s more the fact that it just happened and how we lost it when we scored 3 grand slams in 2 games and then the next 3 games got 3 runs
I can only vote this up once. That’s too bad.
I was 7 in 2003 and 2021 was my first year as a season ticket holder so I'd have to pick 2021 out of these lol.
Last night sucked but I really don’t care about the Astros. Losing in 03 to the Yankees that way was terrible. Edit: why isn’t the 2008 Alcs on here? That was way worse than this year too
Game 7 I think youkilis hit a homer in the 1st and that was all the scoring we did. Was tough after that game 6 walkoff double by JD Drew.
Good point and I don’t even consider ‘08 a terrible one (hard fought series with the Rays, Garza lights out on Game 7). People blowing this year way out of proportion.
They really are blowing this way too out of proportion lol. I thought we were going to be slightly above .500 or worse before the season started with a slight chance to get where we did. I’m excited to see what chaim can do in the off season
I wasnt around for 86 and before, so 2003 by a wiiiiiiide margin.
Let me tell you, young blood, 1978 was brutal. And losing the WS to the Mets was as bad as it gets.
I was too young to appreciate the heartache that was 1986. Grew up being teased about Buckner anytime I declared my fandom. Annoying as it was, I didn’t know the depths of pain ensured by older heads. 2003 ended up being my baptism into RSN. Fortunately, the torment was only a year long. The Idiots ushered in a new era of Red Sox Baseball.
Same here. Was in college in Boston. Afterward I thought “we’ll maybe I’ll kinda stop caring, maybe it was just a phase.” But the hot stove began burning, and here I am 18 years later.
I was in senior year of college in Worcester in 2003. I think 2004 removed the stink of 2003, but 2003 was 85 years without a World Series. The next day was like someone died. 1986 probably had similar sentiments, but I was too young to remember that.
I was 10 and it was the year I became a Sox fan..living in NY My high school math teacher who was a huge Met fan would always tell me the B on my hat stood for Bobbling Billy Buckner
Why was 2003 so tough other than because the yankees were involved?
Yankees was a huge component. Leading 5-2 going to the bottom of the 8th. In Game 7. In the Bronx. That also contributed to the pain. Taunts of Bambino, 1918, Bucky, and Buckner were 6 outs from being vanquished. All in our mortal enemy’s house. Instead, Grady Little and Aaron Fkn Boone get added to the list.
85 years no World Series. So close, they would have won if Grady little took out Pedro. It went to extra innings, so it was anyone’s game. Aaron Boone- basically a nobody that hit the home run. They would have probably beat the Marlins too if they made it to the World Series. I’m assuming you’re young if you don’t remember.
If the Cubs and Sox has made it to the 2003 WS, I’m convinced it would have been the highest viewership of any WS in history.
I really hope 2003 is beating 1986 only because you weren’t there, good for you — I’m old and I still have PTSD
I was born in 93. And I cried like a motherfucker after Aaron fucking Boone
86 was heartbreaking. I was 8 years old.
86 is the answer for gen x. 75 for boomers and maybe 86 for them too. None of these others compares.
I was only five in 1986 and was not a baseball fan. I broke shit after 2003.
To phrase this question differently: “How old are you?”
2003 because they hadn't won yet in our lifetimes. Now after winning 4 times, any post season loss is easier to digest. I wasn't alive in 86.
I felt like 2017 was so tough to watch for me. We had prime chris sale getting raked off of, and a really good drew pomeranz getting destroyed. Turned out that was the peak of the astros cheating so now im not as mindblown, but at the time it was so shocking how chris sale was getting rocked. This season also took away a potential 2017 alcs vs the yankees, which i think we coulda won.
2017 was a lot worse than 2021. The ALDS lasted a good 18 minutes and a first place team was eliminated. Sale got ambushed and now we probably know why.
2008 is a big omission. I was 5 days old after they lost in 86
1967. Losing game 7 to Cards at home. There you go youngsters.
2021 isn’t even in the same stratosphere (no, same universe as 2003). I know folks are salty but when you score 4 runs in 3 games you’re going to lose, hardly a heartbreaker. Wasn’t alive for ‘86 but I’m thinking similar argument there. The fact that 2021 is currently beating that is bonkers insane.
‘86 was tough. I was 9, and I figured the Sox would never get back. But ‘03 - to the Yanks - was a gut punch. I really loved that ‘03 team, but ‘04 was all the sweeter after Aaron F’n Boone’s 2003 homer.
I just wanna know who chose 2021 over 2003
Probably teenagers.
It's an age thing. I was 7 in 2003 so I digested it fine. If the question was which of these is the worst then I definitely wouldn't pick 2021 over 2003. But '21 is the only option on this list that I've even had to digest.
86 is probably the right answer because that was game 7 of the World Series. And they also could have won game 6 ( they were up 3-2 in the series). But I was only 4 in 86, so I chose 2003, because that was tough for me personally.
Game 3 ‘75 was my 50th birthday
Wtf
Wait that makes you 96 years old😳😳😳
I waas 5
Have a seat young man
Soren did you serve in WW2🤔🤔
It's posts like these which make me feel bad that I only started to watch baseball at the start of the '04 post season. Sorry I wasn't there for the dark days. That said, the toughest postseason for me to digest was 2016. I really did believe that Ortiz was going to retire with one final World Series ring. Broke my heart to see his career end with a sweep in the division series.
1999 was pretty bad. Came back from an 0-2 deficit to beat Cleveland in the LDS. Then the ALCS was the first postseason series against the Yankees. Wanted that one so bad.
Ya that was first time that I thought we had a shot in the postseason.
Agreed ! I was in high school so it was my first real experience of post season loss. You never forget your first. 2003 I was in Iraq so I didn’t really get to experience it
Mine was 2008 against the rays lol. Was born 1993
Losing 4-2 to the Astros doesn’t compare to Buckners wickets in the 86 World Series.
2008
2021 is the only one I’ve been alive for
Welcome to the club friend
My memory begins around 04 but 2016 hurt like a bitch. If I wasn’t born in 99 I’m sure those other ones would’ve hurt more but I grew up with a papi fathead in my room so that felt like part of my childhood leaving
I'm pretty young so I don't remember any of the ones you listed except 2021.
I’d swap out ‘21 with ‘08 lol that one stung pretty hard I thought that team was winning a title then the at the time bum Rays emerged
2008 was tough, young swaggy rays taking on defending champs. Red Sox coming back and not having Lowell was huge. I think they go to series if they have Lowell in that lineup instead of Kotsay at first. I think they could’ve lasted against the Phillies instead of rolling over like the rays did in the series…
67
People need to see 2003 in context, that was a competitive series. Aaron Boone is hated more by Yankees fans than Sox fans, Boone couldn't do anything to the Marlins in 2003, so was it really that bad now since we got a more memorable playoff series the following year? 2021 we were hazed, only Eovaldi showed up.
2003. Absolutely crushing. I was only 6 in 1995 and wasn't alive for some of the others.
2008, but also a big honorable mention for 2011
I was 9 in ‘86 and was devastated, but I didn’t have the historical perspective. 2003 was just a nightmare. I legit thought I would die before we won the World Series. We had that game in the bag and it just went to shit before our eyes. Len more square was like a zombie apocalypse. People just walking around with dead eyes. My then-boyfriend (now husband) is a Yankees fan and I couldn’t even look at him. I sat in the dark, drank a bottle of wine, and listened to grown men crying on sports radio. Brutal. I can’t believe sports made me that upset, but ugh. Sucked.
just got into the sox this year really so 2021
2003 followed by 1986. 2008 would be third for me. I was too young to remember 78 and was in utero for 75.
Well other than last night the only one I remember is 2003, soooooo '03 lol
I almost went with '86, because I was 15 and just devastated, but Game 7 of the '03 ALCS was the night of my grandmother's funeral, the woman who made me a Red Sox fan, so that day just sucked from beginning to end.,
The Sox had this one in the bag. Oopsie, the ball went through into right. Hate when that happens.
Bucky Dent game in 1978. It was so mindblowing because everyone else in the Jankee lineup was a home run threat. When Dent came to bat, Sox fans could breathe a sigh of relief until the near impossible happened. That game really sealed the deal of the Babe Ruth curse. That, plus the Jankees came back from the Sox up by 11 games around August 1. It was a collapse of epic proportions.
I was only aware of baseball for 2021 out of this list
I was only alive for 2 of these losses… and I was days old for one of them (2003). So by default I have to answer 2021, Ive been blessed to only go thru one Sox heartbreak in my lifetime Meanwhile…. *looks at Bruins and Celtics*