Hunter Dobbins will take the mound for the Boston Red Sox in the series finale against the New York Yankees, a game that will decide who wins the series. It’ll also mark his debut in baseball’s most iconic rivalry — and Dobbins is already turning up the heat with some fiery comments about the Bronx Bombers.
Speaking with Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald, Dobbins made it clear where he stands when it comes to the Yankees — even going as far as saying he’d rather retire than ever wear the pinstripes.
“My dad was a diehard Red Sox fan,” Dobbins said. “And I’ve said it before, that if the Yankees were the last team to give me a contract, I’d retire.” He enters Game 3 with a 2–1 record and a 4.06 ERA.
A fan of the game — but not the Yankees
Dobbins may be passionate about baseball, but his dislike for the Yankees runs deep. He explained that while he followed the Red Sox growing up, he intentionally avoided watching Yankees games — even as a young player with big league aspirations.
“I grew up watching the Red Sox a lot, but I knew I wanted to do this as a career,” he said. “I didn’t get attached to a team, but I grew up watching (the Red Sox), and just, I think out of disdain for the Yankees, I watched anybody but them.”
The one Yankee he respects
While Dobbins admits he’s not a fan of any Yankees players, he made one exception. “Can I say all of them but Andy Pettitte?” he said, referencing the five-time World Series champion. Dobbins added that Pettitte and his father were good friends, which earned the former Yankees pitcher a rare spot in his good graces.
