The biggest rivalry in American sports will be a long way from home this weekend, when reigning World Series champions the Boston Red Sox face the New York Yankees over two games in London.

It's the first time regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) games will be played in Europe, with the London 2012 Olympic Stadium the chosen venue.

It's almost a century since the famous Red Sox, Yankees rivalry began with "The Curse of the Bambino," when one of the sport's greatest ever players Babe Ruth was traded from Boston to New York.

Now, however, these two fabled teams have brought their story to the U.K., thanks to the mutual backing of their respective owners.

"It began with interest at the top, Hal Steinbrenner and John Henry are actually friends. They've been talking for a number of years about the possibility of bringing an event here," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred exclusively told CNBC.

"Obviously John Henry is involved in soccer in the U.K., but it was it was the confluence of their interest and Major League Baseball's desire to make a splash in Europe that really brought the event together."