The historic battle is Red Sox vs. Yankees.

The current context is the Alexes vs. the Aarons.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora and third baseman Alex Bregman have as much as anyone stood in the way — frustratingly — of October success for Aaron Boone and Aaron Judge.

Cora, as Astros bench coach and co-architect of their sign-stealing illegalities, and Bregman were cohorts in eliminating the Yankees in the 2017 ALCS in Judge’s rookie season. The Red Sox eliminated the Yankees in a 2018 division series in Cora’s first year managing Boston and Boone’s first year managing the Yankees.