100 Greatest Red Sox >> #100: 2004 Red Sox

The 2004 Boston Red Sox

98-64, Finished 2nd in AL Eastern Division, 1st in AL Wild Card. Scored 949 runs, Allowed 768 runs. Pythagorean W-L: 96-66
Won World Series (4-0) over St. Louis Cardinals. Won AL Championship Series (4-3) over New York Yankees. Won AL Division Series (3-0) over Anaheim Angels

The 2004 Boston Red Sox, named #100 out of the Top 100 Boston Red Sox, brought joy to many of us that night of October 27, 2004. The date, burned in the memories of countless Red Sox fans out there, will forever live in infamy as that night was the culmination of events that even Hollywood could never script. Ranging from a movie and a book about the Red Sox being written as the season progressed without a clue as to the end result to the fabled vanquishing of the 'Evil Empire' in the midst of the greatest sports comeback of all time to the swan song for Pedro's Red Sox career (or is it?) and the birth of a legend: the bloody sock of Curt Schilling.

I could go on for 10,000 words on how amazing the Red Sox 2004 World Series run was. All the plot lines of the season, from the July 31 fight to Terry Francona's first season managing the Red Sox to the below-market signings of Bill Mueller and David Ortiz propelling us to the crown to the shocking trade of a Red Sox icon by the name of Nomar Garciaparra. But three years after the fact, how can I do it justice? How can I get as "in the moment" as it was to be?

So I offer this instead: select words from yours truly in October 2004, plus commenters on Fire Brand. Straight from October 2004 and filled with emotion. Unless otherwise credited, all words are from me.

I left with the score 6-1 and Arroyo solidly in hand. I was going to the North End to a restaurant with Mia, and so I was to follow along on my phone. Mia was running late, so I went back to my TV. On the way back, I was following along on my phone. I lost service and I noticed Mike Timlin was two outs away from escaping the jam in the sixth. Boy, Timlin sure is NAILS! Right before I got back to the TV, I got service again. Boom. 6-6. I watched the replay in amazement. Then Mia was ready, so I left again.

We took the T to the North End, and of course, there’s no service down under. I told myself to be patient, I would check the phone when we got back topside, so I contented myself with making conversation with Mia. I was so engrossed in the conversation I completely forgot about the game until we had settled on a restaurant - Baccos. We were seated right next to the bar. Well, actually, the restaurant is so small that every seat is near the bar. It’s a very nice restaurant with good food and great visuals. One great visual was the Red Sox game. I sure ‘nough kept an eye on the game. I was talking to Mia when the entire bar erupted in applause. I told Mia “one moment, please” and esconsed myself at the bar for five or so minutes. Thank you, David. (link)

Hearing 55,000 New Yorkers chant, “Who’s Your Daddy?” isn’t my idea of a wild night, but those same 55,000 New Yorkers shut up quick, fast, and in a hurry when the score went from 8-0 to 8-7 in the matter of ONE OUT. (comment by Sam)

So we lost. Again. Game Two. Martinez v. Lieber.

Okay, where are all these Yankee aces coming from? No, really. Mussina and Lieber? Jon Lieber? (link)

The Red Sox won! The wheels of my bandwagon are repaired, albeit with duct tape. Again, I ask, how do you people sleep at night?! (comment by Joseph Jackson)

ALEX RODRIGUEZ IS THE DIRTEST, CHEAPEST, LOWEST SOB ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH.

It is official.

It is also official that Schilling pisses nails. That man is a king, in my book. (comment by Sam)

11:45 PM and it’s 0-1 to Damon. Tapper to Rivera, and that’s it.

It’s now or never.

TIMLIN!

11:49 PM STRIKE! BALL ONE! BALL (to Matsui) … Single by Matsui. Ah well, wasn’t gonna be easy.
11:51 PM Bronson Arroyo warming, Bernie Williams up… Ball One. Ball Two. Please. End now. 11:52 PM, STRIKE! (Two grand slams, they’re right back in it.) Ball. STRIKE! 3-2. 11:53 PM Embree warming up. Arroyo ran back up to continue warming. Miscommunication, perhaps. AND THIS WILL BE A … no, just the force at second by Pokey. I WILL TAKE IT!

ONE MORE! ONE MORE! POSADA POPPED OUT! UNO MAS!!!!!!!!

Ball … high, to Kenny Lofton. You just KNOW Schilling wants Lofton to make the last out ….

Ball two … ball three. COME ON TIMLIN! Ball four. Okay. So we need to do it for John Olerud, eh. Fine by me. Ah, but Tito’s coming out to yank Timlin. NO CHANCES! Embree coming in!

And Ruben Sierra will pinch-hit.

Sierra is a switch-hitter, so will bat righty. Bernie on second.

12:00 PM Ball. Come on! GROUNDER…

THE WIN! THE WIN!

THE SOX WIN! HISTORY! HISTORY! THE SOX WIN! YESSS!

Oh.

My.

God. (link)

The highest scoring Game 1 in the history of the World Series occurred today (what is with the Red Sox and history?) with the Red Sox taking an 11-9 squeeze over the Cardinals on a Mark Bellhorn eighth inning home run off the foul pole courtesy of reliever Julian Tavarez....

It’s also nice for me to write a semi-lucid post, something I haven’t been doing in the last week or so. That’s nerves for you. (link)

The Boston Red Sox are the 2004 World Series Champions of Major League Baseball!

We believed … and won. (link)

Bucky Dent is replaced with David Ortiz’s shot. Buckner is replaced with Schilling’s Game Six. Aaron Boone is replaced with Foulke - Minky. Free at last! Free at last! (link)

Terry Adams, Abe Alvarez, Jimmy Anderson, Bronson Arroyo, Pedro Astacio, Jamie Brown, Frank Castillo, Lenny DiNardo, Alan Embree, Keith Foulke, Bobby Jones, Byung-Hyun Kim, Curtis Leskanic, Derek Lowe, Mark Malaska, Anastacio Martinez, Pedro Martinez, Ramiro Mendoza, Mike Myers, Joe Nelson, Curt Schilling, Phil Seibel, Mike Timlin, Tim Wakefield, Sandy Martinez, Doug Mirabelli, Jason Varitek, Mark Bellhorn, Orlando Cabrera, Cesar Crespo, Brian Daubach, Andy Dominique, Nomar Garciaparra, Ricky Gutierrez, David McCarty, Doug Mientkiewicz, Bill Mueller, Pokey Reese, Earl Snyder, Kevin Youkilis, Johnny Damon, Adam Hydzu, Gabe Kapler, Kevin Millar, Trot Nixon, Manny Ramirez, Dave Roberts, Ellis Burks and David Ortiz... thank you. Thank you.

Evan Brunell, a diehard Red Sox fan, writes about the Red Sox at Fire Brand of the American League, his analytical and sometimes not so analytical look at the Boston Red Sox. He is joined by Mike Edelman and Zach Hayes, and is also the owner and president of MVN.com.