When the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1920, the Yankees, in short order, became a dynasty, while the fortunes of the previously successful Red Sox sank. Since the last Red Sox championship in 1918 (before they won it all in 2004), the team had been to four World Series playoffs: 1946, 1967, 1975 and 1986. They lost each of these playoffs in Game 7.