The 2004 Boston Red Sox season is one of the most legendary stories in baseball history—a tale of redemption, resilience, and the end of one of the most infamous droughts in sports.
The 2004 Boston Red Sox season is one of the most legendary stories in baseball history—a tale of redemption, resilience, and the end of one of the most infamous droughts in sports.
Regular Season Record: 98–64 (2nd in AL East, Wild Card winner)
Postseason:
ALDS: Swept the Angels (3–0)
ALCS: Beat the Yankees (4–3) after trailing 0–3
World Series: Swept the Cardinals (4–0)
Result: First Red Sox World Series title since 1918, breaking the "Curse of the Bambino"
This was the defining moment of the season and one of the most dramatic comebacks in sports:
Red Sox trailed 0–3 in the ALCS to their hated rivals, the New York Yankees.
No MLB team had ever come back from a 3–0 series deficit.
Key Moments:
Game 4: Dave Roberts’ iconic stolen base in the 9th inning tied the game; David Ortiz won it in extras.
Game 5: Ortiz again won it in the 14th inning.
Game 6: Curt Schilling’s “bloody sock” game—pitched through a torn tendon sheath.
Game 7: Johnny Damon hit 2 HRs, including a grand slam. Sox blew out the Yankees 10–3.
They made history by winning four straight games to take the series 4–3.
Opponent: St. Louis Cardinals (105–57 in the regular season).
The Red Sox swept the series in 4 games.
MVP: Manny Ramirez.
Key performances from Pedro Martínez, Curt Schilling, and the bullpen.
David Ortiz – Clutch hero, 3 walk-off hits in postseason.
Manny Ramirez – World Series MVP, 43 HRs in regular season.
Curt Schilling – Warrior mentality; iconic bloody sock games.
Pedro Martínez – Still dominant.
Jason Varitek – Team captain, rock behind the plate.
Keith Foulke – Closer who threw the final pitch of the World Series.
Johnny Damon, Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, Trot Nixon – Key offensive and clubhouse contributors.
The team proudly called themselves “a bunch of idiots”—embracing superstition-breaking goofiness and underdog mentality.
Their chemistry and attitude were widely credited with helping them stay loose under pressure.
Their win ended the 86-year championship drought, often blamed on the Curse of the Bambino (trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919).