By: Dan Podheiser, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

The Red Sox and Phillies are definitely not the biggest rivalry in baseball.

Since interleague play started in 1997, the two clubs get together to play a three-game series once, maybe twice a year. The stadiums are always packed, but in the end, it’s just like any other series between two competitive ball clubs.

But as the Sox get ready to welcome the Phils’ to Fenway for a three-game set this weekend, I couldn’t help but notice the recent cosmic connection between these two historic franchises.

In 2004, Boston welcomed a new manager to town by the name of Terry Francona.

Tito, a moniker that Francona assumed long before arriving in Beantown, had only managed for one other big league team before the Red Sox. That team was the Phillies, and he led them to a lackluster 285-363 record from 1997 to 2000. (Take a look at the picture above. Weird right? And Francona looks SO YOUNG!)

Before the “bloody sock” became part of Boston sports folklore, Curt Schilling made a name for himself in the City of Brotherly Love.

In 1993, the 27-year-old Schilling pitched a five-hit shutout in Game 5 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

In ’97 and ’98, Schilling had back-to-back 300-plus strikeout seasons for the Phils’.

Then, after being traded to the Diamondbacks during the 2000 season, and winning the championship in ’01, Schilling signed with the Red Sox in 2004 to play for his former manager, Terry Francona.

Now, we all know what happened in that ’04 season.  But did you know that there was another former Phillie who played an integral role on that 86-year, drought-ending squad?

That’s right, Sox fans. Remember Mike Timlin? The reliever went 5-4 in 2004, and went on to pitch (poorly) 5 2/3 innings in the ALCS and three frames in the World Series.  But before that, Timlin pitched 30 games for the Phils’ in 2002.

Now let’s fast forward a few years.

In 2007, the Red Sox won their second championship in the post-Babe Ruth era (yeah, I went there). But reliever J.C. Romero had very little to do with it.

Romero pitched 20 innings in just 23 games for the Sox in ’07, before he was designated for assignment on June 19.

Four days later, the Phillies picked up the left-handed specialist, and it turned out to be one of the best signings the club has made in recent years.

Romero posted a 1.24 ERA in 51 games for the Phils, and helped them win their first NL East title in 14 years.

The next season, Romero served as a crucial member in the Phillies world championship run, throwing 7 1/3 innings of scoreless ball in the 2008 postseason.

Move forward to July 2009, and the Phillies decide that they need another quality arm in order to get back to the promise land.

Insert former Red Sox ace, member of the ’04 champs, Pedro Martinez.

Martinez went 5-1 down the stretch for the Phils’, and helped them reach the World Series. Philadelphia would take on the Red Sox’ rivals, the New York Yankees, led by former Sox great Johnny Damon, another member of the ’04 team.

So when the Red Sox and Phillies kick off their second series in 2010 this Friday, remember that these teams have crossed paths far more than what the schedule says, giving you reason to take a little more interest in the games.

Oh, and if you want a little rivalry to add to the mix, just remember what city knocked, i mean EMBARRASSED, our Bruins out of playoffs just a month ago.

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