October 27, 2004

In October of 2004, many Red Sox fans were convinced that nothing would make them happier than watching their team celebrate on the field at Yankee Stadium after beating the Yankees in a seven game series.  Down three games to none the Red Sox came back to beat the Bronx Bombers in a historic series, doing something no other team in Major League Baseball had ever done.

But the Red Sox had more to do before they could be truly satisfied and they did it in four games instead of seven when they swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series.  For the first time in 86 years, Boston Red Sox could partake in the ultimate celebration for a sports fan and they did.

In the days following the final out of the 2004 World Series, you couldn’t go anywhere in Massachusetts, or New England for that matter, where you weren’t faced with some kind of Red Sox memorabilia either being sold, worn or just displayed.  Red Sox fans were proudbefore the World Series win and they reveled in that pride after it.  While some on the outside lamented the loss of the Red Sox fan base as a group who enjoyed the label of long-suffering fans, most Red Sox fans happily shed that stereotype and embraced the status of rooting for a team that knew how to win.

In 2007, in winning the World Series yet again, the Red Sox put to rest the doubters who called 2004 a fluke.  The ownership team of John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner, while sometimes making unpopular or controversial decisions, has brought a culture of winning to Fenway Park that the fans hadn’t seen in decades and that they aren’t eager to see go away.

The 2011 season ended so horribly that some fans, mostly those who jumped on the bandwagon after 2004, might be tempted to give up on the team but the memories of 2007 and, especially, 2004, should serve as a reminder that this team won’t be playing dead for long.

October 27, 2004…where were you when these glorious words were spoken?

“Swing and a ground ball, stabbed by Foulke. He has it. He under hands to first, and the Boston Red Sox are the world champions! For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball’s world championship! Can YOU believe it?” ~Joe Castiglione, making the call on WEEI Radio

Back to Foulke. Red Sox fans have longed to hear it. The Boston Red Sox are World Champions!” ~ Joe Buck, making the call on Fox Sports

(Originally published on Examiner.com)