NEW YORK — A simple post on Instagram has reignited memories of one of the darkest chapters in New York Yankees history. Former teammates Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon were at the center of it, proving that some rivalries never fade.
Rodriguez fired back at Damon with a pointed four-word reply that underscored how much pain still lingers from a loss that defined an era. The brief exchange showed that even two decades later, wounds from 2004 remain open for the Yankees icon.
The photo that stirred Yankees emotions
The moment began when Damon shared a throwback photo in his Instagram story. The picture showed Damon in a Red Sox uniform and Rodriguez wearing a frustrated look on his face. It came from a September 2004 game that changed the course of the rivalry.
What seemed like a harmless trip down memory lane struck a nerve with Rodriguez. His response was short, yet it carried the weight of two decades: “This one hurts Johnny.”
A night that rewrote rivalry history
The image came from September 17, 2004, at Yankee Stadium. New York led Boston 2-0 going into the ninth inning. Mariano Rivera, widely regarded as the greatest closer in baseball history, entered the game to seal another win.
What followed shocked everyone inside the stadium. The Red Sox rallied for three runs in the ninth against Rivera, handing the Yankees a stunning 3-2 loss. A leadoff walk opened the door, and a stolen base set the stage. Soon after, Boston delivered the decisive blow.
Damon delivers the dagger
The most painful part for Rodriguez was the player who delivered the game-winning hit. Damon’s broken-bat bloop single sealed the Red Sox comeback.
The irony is sharp. At the time, Damon was Boston’s spark plug. Just a few years later, he would be Rodriguez’s teammate in New York. Their connection on opposite sides of baseball’s fiercest rivalry still stirs raw emotions.
The collapse that followed
That September loss turned out to be a preview of October. In the 2004 American League Championship Series, the Yankees jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead against Boston.
Rodriguez, in his first year with the Yankees after a blockbuster trade from Texas, was expected to deliver the championship that had long eluded him. Instead, New York endured the worst collapse in postseason history.
The Red Sox stormed back, winning four straight to take the series 4-3. Rivera faltered in key moments again, and Dave Roberts’ famous stolen base against him set up the decisive rallies. The Red Sox went on to win their first World Series in 86 years.
Damon’s stunning switch
Adding to the bitterness was Damon’s next career move. After Boston’s championship run, he shocked fans by signing with the Yankees as a free agent. In Boston, he went from hero to villain overnight. In New York, he became both a reminder of 2004 heartbreak and a chance at redemption.
Damon’s stint in the Bronx was productive. He played a major role in helping the Yankees capture their 27th World Series title in 2009.
Redemption at last
The 2009 championship represented the highlight of Rodriguez’s career. His postseason performance silenced years of critics who doubted his ability to produce in October.
For Yankees fans, the title ended a nine-year drought. For Rodriguez, it delivered the long-awaited ring that defined his time in New York.
Damon was also instrumental in that run. His key hits in the ALCS against the Angels helped push the Yankees to the World Series, where they defeated the Phillies.
Rivalry scars that last
Still, as Rodriguez’s latest response shows, some scars never fade. That September 2004 game remains a symbol of how the balance of power in the rivalry shifted. It marked the moment the Red Sox proved they could topple the Yankees when it mattered most.
The memory still stings for Rodriguez. While the 2009 championship provided some healing, the emotional weight of 2004 lingers.
Different memories, different sides
Damon’s decision to share the photo shows he views that night as a career highlight. For Rodriguez, it is a haunting reminder. Their contrasting reactions highlight how the same event can define players’ legacies in completely different ways.
The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry has produced countless unforgettable chapters. But for those who lived through its most intense battles, the memories are not just history. They are part of who they are. Rodriguez’s sharp reply more than 20 years later proves that for some, the rivalry never ends.
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