December 28, 1942: The Red Sox announce that spring training in 1943 will be held indoors at Tufts University in compliance with the Department of Defense restrictions on War Travel; the Red Sox will begin training at Tufts in 1944, moving on to Baltimore, MD, and they will train near Atlantic City, NJ, in 1945. [...]

December 27, 1967: Red Sox pitcher, and 1967 Cy Young Award winner, Jim Lonborg, undergoes surgery to his left knee to repair damage suffered in a skiing injury four days earlier; when I asked Jim if he regretted his decision to go skiing he answered, "And miss a vacation with Jill St. John? I don't think so!" [...]

December 26, 1919: The Red Sox sell Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 and a loan of $350,000 from the Yankees to Red Sox owner Harry Frazee who used Fenway Park as collateral; contrary to popular belief, the Babe was thrilled to go to the big stage of New York City and the proceeds were not used for "No No Nannette" which debuted in 1925. [...]

December 25: A very Merry Christmas and the very best of the holiday season to all who stop by regularly at "This Day in Red Sox History!" [...]

December 24, 2004: Catcher Jason Varitek, who is the first captain of the Red Sox since Jim Rice, signs a four-year deal -- 2005-2008-- with the Boston; "Tek" will go on to play for Boston through 2011, and his combination of defense, batting, and leadership will earn him a spot among the best catchers in Boston Red Sox history. [...]