One of the least known facts about our
Olde Towne Team is that they
almost landed in Buffalo. That's right, Buffalo was
almost home to a new AL franchise that eventually ended up in Boston.
The Buffalo Bisons were already a thriving team in 1901, so American League founder
Ban Johnson promised the locals one of the new clubs. But, there was a problem. Johnson
also lusted after a team in more cosmopolitan Boston—where he could get more attention by going head-to-head with the National League
Boston Braves. So, after Johnson got a report back from
Connie Mack that the Huntington Avenue Grounds (now the site of Boston's Northeastern University) could host a team,
Buffalo got screwed. Good thing! The thought of
Babe Ruth,
Ted Williams,
Carl Yastrzemski and
David Ortiz being "Bisons" in Buffalo is horrifying. Thank goodness Johnson was a conniving jerk!
