This Day in Baseball History

2001 - John Henry group purchases Red Sox

A group of investors led by John Henry successfully outbids competitors to purchase the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park and a majority stake in the New England Sports Network.

Major League Baseball approves the sale a month later, transferring ownership from the Jean Yawkey Trust to Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino for a reported $600 million - doubling the previous record of purchase for a team. The deal includes 80 percent ownership of NESN.

Henry, who grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan, is named principal owner of the franchise, while Werner is given the title of chairman and Lucchino becomes president and CEO. 

The trio promise to end the "Curse of the Bambino" and Boston's 86-year championship drought. Their efforts prove successful less than three years later when the Red Sox sweep Henry's childhood-favorite Cardinals in the 2004 World Series.

Birthdays

1881 - Branch Rickey
1900 - Gabby Hartnett
1976 - Aubrey Huff
1979 - David DeJesus
1981 - James Shields
1982 - David Wright