Editor's note: NESN.com is teaming up with WhatIfSports.com to crown the greatest Red Sox team of all time with the "Red Sox Showdown for the Ages." Click here for more information on the 16-team simulation tournament.
Starting on Monday, we'll start to preview the tournament, looking at four teams each day. This preview is for the the 1903 team, the No. 2 seed in the Red Sox Showdown for the Ages.
1903 Boston Americans
Record: 91-47
Finish: 1st in American League, Won World Series over Pittsburgh
Manager: Jimmy Collins
Best Player: Buck Freeman (.287, 13 home runs, 104 RBIs, 20 triples)
Best Pitcher: Cy Young (28-9, 2.08 ERA, 341 2/3 IP)
Breakdown: Because of that 86-year drought between world championships, it's easy to forget how dominant the Boston organization was during its early years. Playing as the Boston Americans, Boston rode 36-year-old Cy Young and his 341 2/3 innings of work to baseball's first World Series crown. Young led Jimmy Collins' bunch to a 5-3 series win over Honus Wagner and the Pirates to win the first World Series.
