The 2002 Boston Red Sox season was a significant turning point for the franchise, marked by the arrival of a new ownership group led by John W. Henry and the foundational pieces of future championship success. Under manager Grady Little, the team achieved a strong 93-69 record to finish second in the American League East, highlighted by Manny Ramirez winning the American League batting title with a .349 average and stellar performances from stars like Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez, and Derek Lowe. Although they narrowly missed the postseason, the season represented a major 11-win improvement from the previous year and set the stage for the historic successes that would follow later in the decade.