An Unlikely Champion
Even immediately, Boston Red Sox followers would acknowledge the names inscribed on the bejeweled 2004 World Series rings: Damon. Francona. Martínez. Ortiz. Ramirez. Schilling. Sulzberger. Varitek.
Wait. Sulzberger?
Yes, that might be Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the previous writer of The New York Times and chairman of The New York Times Company. He and different Times executives obtained rings as a result of the Times Company then held a 17.75 p.c stake in Fenway Sports Group, proprietor of the Red Sox.
Mr. Sulzberger, who stepped down as writer in 2017, donated his ring to the Museum at The Times. Today, it astonishes guests — and never at all times in a pleasant means. Many New Yorkers nonetheless resent the Yankees’ loss to the Red Sox within the 2004 American League Championship Series. (Bostonians felt nothing however vindication.) The Red Sox went on to comb the World Series in opposition to the St. Louis Cardinals for his or her first championship in 86 years.
To have fun, the workforce ordered greater than 500 rings from Jostens of Minneapolis. In an 18-karat gold setting, 10 rubies kind the Red Sox “B,” notable for its spurs, that overlays a diamond-studded baseball diamond on a mattress of artificial sapphires, and is surrounded by the phrases World Champions. On the suitable aspect of the ring is the recipient’s surname.
The worth of any World Series ring relies on whose finger it has weighed down. The 2004 ring introduced to Johnny Pesky, a celebrated determine in Red Sox historical past, was auctioned for $69,000 in 2014. But the ring introduced to Jobel Jiménez, a coach and scout, fetched solely $13,200 this 12 months. Who is aware of what Mr. Sulzberger’s ring can be value?
In 2001, the Times Company was a part of a gaggle headed by John W. Henry that efficiently bid $660 million for the Red Sox, Fenway Park and 80 p.c of the New England Sports Network. NESN was what The Times, which then owned The Boston Globe. The Times Company deliberate to entice regional advertisers by way of “Globe-branded sports programming,” Janet L. Robinson, the senior vp for newspaper operations, mentioned on the time. She mentioned neither The Globe nor The Times would “be involved in operating the ball club.”
After it reversed course to pay attention extra absolutely on The Times alone, the corporate offered items of the Fenway group in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Finally, in 2013, it offered The Globe to Mr. Henry. But the bling stayed put.
The In Times Past column explores New York Times historical past by way of artifacts.
