 In 1990 , Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy wrote a book titled The Curse of the Bambino , criticizing the Red Sox for the sale of Babe Ruth , and publicized the curse . When the Red Sox were at Yankee Stadium during a weekend in September 1990 , Yankee fans started to chant " 1918 ! " to taunt the Red Sox , reminding them of the last time they won a World Series . Each time the Red Sox were at Yankee Stadium afterward , demeaning chants of " 1918 ! " echoed through the stadium . Yankee fans also taunted the Red Sox with signs saying " 1918 ! " , " <unk> OF THE <unk> " , pictures of Babe Ruth , and wearing " 1918 ! " T @-@ shirts each time they were at the Stadium . 
