On Thanksgiving Day of 2002, Theo Epstein left Logan Airport in Boston for Nicaragua. The trip signaled one of the biggest economic growth periods in baseball history.
Epstein, the newly named Boston Red Sox GM, traveled there to sign free-agent pitcher José Contreras. Under new owner John Henry, Boston wanted not only to sign Contreras but also to announce they were taking dead aim at the New York Yankees. There was no real rivalry at the time. The Yankees dominated the Red Sox.
Epstein reserved all 12 rooms in the remote hotel where Contreras was staying just to box out the Yankees.