BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 1: David Price of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with The Commissioner's Trophy during the first quarter of the game between the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden on November 1, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: The Boston Red Sox celebrate with the World Series trophy after their 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five to win the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
The Red Sox recently raised the Commissioner’s Trophy after winning the World Series. This would be their fourth championship in the last 15 years, the most by any team this century. Where does each win stack up compared to the rest?
As a lifelong Red Sox fan, this string of success that we’ve been on has been amazing. For years I had to watch as it felt like every other team got that chance to shine while the Sox were the lovable losers. Year after year I’d watch as the disappointment of another failed season washed over my father’s face.
Then shortly after the turn of the century, something changed. A new mentality in the front office and some fresh blood in the clubhouse removed the ghosts of failures past. The Bambino was laid to rest and there was a power shift in the AL East.
No longer was it the Red Sox always playing second fiddle to the Yankees. Both were competitive each and every season and would trade division championships. With the Red Sox going 86 years without a title and now having won four in recent history, this is a whole new franchise.
So I went back and rewatched the MLB produced documentaries surrounding each of the recent World Series squads. After reliving the moments and magic of each title win, this is how I feel each win falls into place.
2013: Boston Red Sox defeat St. Louis Cardinals (4-2)
The Red Sox and Cardinals would meet up again in the Fall Classic for the second time in this stretch. The two battled back in the historic 2004 World Series which saw the Red Sox sweep the Cards. This would also be the first year under new manager John Farrell, and what a year it was!
Farrell was previously the pitching coach under former manager Terry Francona. After a stint with Toronto, the Red Sox would call him in to replace Francona at the helm.
This would also mark the last time that David Ortiz would play under the bright lights of the Fall Classic. Big Papi would make the most of his final showing ending the postseason as World Series MVP and posting a .688 batting average will adding in 11 hits and 8 walks.
The 2013 World Series would also see a glimpse into the future as Xander Bogaerts would get a chance to play in all six games and notch a .238 average with 5 hits and a pair of RBI. Bogie got a taste for the big stage and he would build on that resume in 2018.
The rematch would be more competitive than their first matchup in 2004 as it would take the Red Sox six games to put away the Cardinals. This would give Farrell a world championship in his first year as manager of the Red Sox. It would also be our third championship in 10 years.
2007: Boston Red Sox defeat Colorado Rockies (4-0)
I remember watching this series from my dorm room with my Yankee fan roommates. College wasn’t always the most fun my friends. What I remember the most was actually the ALCS. Going down 3-1 to the Indians and having that feeling from 2004 come back into my body. The “not again, not us” feeling.
The Sox would once again make the improbable comeback to make their way to the World Series. Being powered by veterans Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz as well as rookies Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury, the Sox never quit. There were also strong pitching performances from the current and former aces in Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling.
The Rockies, on the other hand, were riding an incredible wave of momentum. Colorado was on an insane run having won 21 of their final 22 games heading into the World Series. This would include sweeps of the Phillies in the Division Series and Diamondbacks in the NLCS. So with the Red Sox having to fight their way to the big dance, Colorado steamrolled their way to it.
Once the World Series kicked off though, it was a story of two different clubs. Boston would outscore Colorado 29-10 and complete a sweep of the National League champs. Though there were a couple of close games in there, it was mostly a blowout. Once again it was Pedroia and Ellsbury shining at the plate having zero fear in their first World Series appearances.
2018: Boston Red Sox defeat Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1)
The most recent championship win comes in at #2 for me and we all know why. Nothing will ever top 2004, though the 2018 squad sure as hell tried. This will easily go down as the best Red Sox team in franchise history. Whether it was the pitching, hitting, or defensive play, this team far excelled beyond their predecessors. This was also one of the most likable teams in franchise history, there wasn’t a single ego in the group.
The Red Sox picked up Astros bench coach and former Red Sox world champion Alex Cora to be their new manager. From day one AC came in and he wanted to change the mentality of the team from the previous regime. Cora was a breath of fresh air this season and seemed to bring a level of professionalism and fun to the squad.
This is the first time I can remember never having a doubt in this team. Were there some slumps? Of course! But never once did I feel this team wasn’t good enough to win the whole damn thing. Setting a franchise record for wins, this team was a juggernaut all season long.
On the flip side of the coin, the Dodgers had a similar type of season. They had their slumps and needed the wildcard playoff to get into the true playoffs, but they still had a 92-71 season. That’s more to the insanity that was the National League playoff picture from this past season.
The powerhouse bats of the Dodgers would run into the fireball pitching of the Red Sox. This series was much closer than the 4-1 tally would show. At any moment the Dodgers could crack the game open with one of their power hitters and change the tides of the series.
The incredible clutch hitting from the Red Sox batters and the legendary pitching performances from Nathan Eovaldi, David Price, and Joe Kelly would deliver title number four. The 2018 championship would also bring the franchise total up to nine total.
2004: Boston Red Sox defeat St. Louis Cardinals (4-0)
Here we are folks, the main event! We all knew this was going to take the top spot without a doubt. Though those other wins have all been amazing, this is the crowning moment. The first Red Sox World Series win in 86 years. Generations have come and gone having never seen their beloved Red Sox raise the Commissioner’s Trophy.
This is a moment that will forever be burned into my memory. The grounder back to Keith Foulke and the flip to Doug Mientkiewicz for the final out. You could feel the decades of pain and sadness finally being exorcized from Red Sox fans the world over. 86 years of “maybe next year,” would finally be paid off.
Much like AC and Farrell, first-year Red Sox manager Terry Francona would deliver a World Series title to Boston. Tito and his gang of “idiots” would finally defeat the Curse of the Bambino. The first step to that achievement was making the greatest comeback in sports history by defeating the Yankees 4-3 after being down 3-0. On the Backs of Manny, Papi, Kevin Millar, Johnny Damon and the arms of Schilling, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe.
This was a team built on passion and the analytics made famous by Bille Beane in Oakland. It wasn’t about getting the best players but the best players for specific scenarios. Knowing the matchups and knowing which players would best suit them in order to be successful.
I remember watchign this series with my entire family around. When that final out was made I glanced over at my father and could see the expression on his face. Pure happiness. Unadulterated, unfiltered pure and true happiness. Many younger fans have only been alive for the recent string of success, so they don’t know just how important and magical 2004 was. This will truly be one of the best nights of my life without a doubt.
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 31: Fans hold signs and wait for the Red Sox Victory Parade to pass on Duck boats on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
Four world championships in 15 years, absolutely nuts to think about. At least for Red Sox fans. A tortured franchise that went 86 years without winning the big one. For many fans they only know the success of this era of Boston sports with the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruin and Patriots all contributing championships.
But for many they sadly never got to see that historic night in 2004. But I believe somewhere they were smiling having seen their beloved Red Sox finally hoist the trophy high. The duck boats have been working over time these last few years and the success looks to be a trend now. With a team fully bought in and a manager that has the heart of the city, I don’t see the winning slowing down.
