5 iconic Boston Red Sox moments since the 2000 season
Five defining Boston Red Sox moments since 2000
The Boston Red Sox are the most successful franchise in MLB since the turn of the century with four championships. Each one of the four championship teams were so unique in their own regard and brought so many memories to all Red Sox fans. Along with those championship teams, the Red Sox had many teams that were great and worth remembering, with the exception of 2012 and 2020.
There are so many different moments from each of team that will live in the heads of Red Sox fans forever. The five moments listed are not necessarily the five most important to winning a championship, but moments that are memorable to that particular team and the franchise as a whole.
With so much success comes a lot of these memorable moments, so there are a few that are not on this list that are definitely worth mentioning, so here are a few honorable mentions:
- Andrew Benintendi’s diving catch to win game four of the 2018 ALCS
- Mookie Betts caps off a 13 pitch at-bat with a grand slam in 2018
- Daniel Nava’s go-ahead home run in the first home game after the Boston Bombing
- Christian Vásquez and Kiké Hernandez hit back to back walk-offs to send the Red Sox to the ALCS in 2021
- Curt Schilling pitching with a bloody sock in 2004
- David Ortiz’s final game
Each of these moments are iconic in their own respect, but pail in comparison to the following moments. Listed in no particular order, the first moment is, arguably, the most memorable moment in Red Sox history.
Red Sox OF Dave Roberts steals second base in game 4 of the ALCS
After losing to the Yankees in 2003 thanks to an Aaron Boone walk-off home run, the idea of breaking the curse anytime soon was the last thing in the minds of Red Sox fans. To make matters even worse, in 2004 the Sox went down three games to none in the ALCS to the Yankees.
The Sox were as close to losing as it gets, down a run in the ninth with the mighty Mariano Rivera on the mound.
While the fans may have lost hope, the players did not. As coined by Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar:
“Do not let the Red Sox win today.”
Millar reached on a walk in a great at-bat. Once he reached first, Red Sox manager Terry Francona gave Dave Roberts the nod to pinch run for Millar. Everyone knew that Roberts was going to steal second; Rivera tried to pick him off three times. Roberts went on the first pitch with one of the greatest jumps you’ll ever see, and was safe by inches.
The rest is history. Bill Mueller knocks in Roberts to tie the game, David Ortiz walks it off in the twelfth, Ortiz walks it off again the next night in the fourteenth, the bloody sock game, and the Sox clinching in New York.
As I write about this moment, all I want to do is watch “Four Days in October.” This group of idiots managed to upset the big, bad Yankees after being down three.
You can even make the argument that since the steal, the powerhouse of the AL East has shifted from the Yankees to the Red Sox. The Yankees have been quite an embarrassment since, managing only one World Series in 2009; despite being in the top five of payroll every year, except one, since 2000.
Not long after the steal did the Red Sox finally achieve the impossible.
Red Sox win the 2004 World Series
I am blessed with the amount of success that I have witnessed from the Red Sox in my lifetime, but generations before me were not so lucky. Year after year watching the Red Sox lose, fans were practically clawing the eyes out of their sockets.
After dealing Babe Ruth, the most well-known baseball player ever, to the Yankees for some change, fans couldn’t catch a break. Images of Bill Buckner letting a World Series victory go through his legs were engraved in the heads of Sox fans.
All of the suffering came to an end in 2004 after an 86-year drought, or some would say, a curse. After a thrilling ALCS as mentioned beforehand, the Red Sox faced off against the Cardinals for the chance to “reverse the curse,” and that they did in sweeping fashion.
I can’t even guess the amount of times that I have watched the final out of the World Series. With Joe Buck on the call, the final out goes on a loop in my head like a catchy song:
“Back to Foulke, Red Sox fans have long to hear it. The Boston Red Sox are World Champions.”
Just three years after, a more seasoned David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez led the team to another World Series. During that championship push, Ramirez had what was the most memorable moment of that season.
Red Sox OF Manny Ramirez’s walk-off in Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS
If you were to ask any Red Sox fan what they remember about 2007, there’s a good chance that they will say Manny’s walk-off in game two of the ALDS. Him watching that home run with his hands held in the air while the Fenway faithful replicates never fails to leave me speechless.
Often times, the 2007 team is forgotten because the other three teams had such massive impacts: 2004 broke the curse, 2013 helped heal Boston, 2018 was the greatest Red Sox team of all time.
Mike Lowell had the best season of his career while finishing fifth in MVP voting and winning the World Series MVP. David Ortiz was in his prime and finished the season fourth in MVP voting. Manny had a great season earning him an All Star game appearance. Also, this was the beginning of the Laser Show; Dustin Pedroia racked up Rookie of the Year honors.
This team was loaded with talent and trampled everyone en route to the World Series losing only three games; all in the ALCS. Some may argue that the 3-4 combo of Ramirez and Ortiz is one of the greatest ever.
Red Sox DH David Ortiz’s speech after the Boston Bombing in 2013
On April 15, 2013, the city of Boston was attacked by two disgusting human beings. Multiple bombs being detonated along the course of the Boston Marathon sent people around the country into disarray.
I vividly remember coming home from school when I was 11, sitting on my coffee table, and watching the news with my jaw dropped to the floor. I sat there like a statue for hours, not even taking the time to take off my back pack.
Five days later, the Red Sox returned to Boston for their first series after the attack with a packed house. Rather than wearing the traditional home uniforms with “Red Sox” painted on the front, it was replaced with “Boston,” and no one explained that better than David Ortiz in, arguably, the greatest speech in the history of sports.
If there is any person, in any situation, that could get away with dropping the f-bomb in a stadium filled with over 35,000 people and being broadcast to millions, it’s Big Papi. This speech not just helped heal a grieving city, it showed anyone who dares to mess with the United States that “we will not let anyone dictate our freedom.”
Not only did Ortiz deliver this much needed speech in 2013, he also led the Sox to a World Series victory, with the next moment being a major reason why they won.
Red Sox DH David Ortiz’s grand slam in the 2013 ALCS
The Red Sox proved a lot of people wrong in the 2013 season. After a forgettable 2012 season, the Red Sox were projected to finish last in the AL East. Although, with new skipper John Farrell at the helm, the Red Sox went on to win the division, and eventually the World Series.
With the city of Boston relying on the Red Sox for a championship after the bombing, David Ortiz put the city on his back in game two of the ALCS. The Tigers were up 5-1 in the eighth with two outs and the bases loaded, and Ortiz delivered with one of the most memorable grand slams in Red Sox history.
Watching Torii Hunter dive over the right field wall as Officer Steve Horgan throws his hands up in excitement is a picture perfect moment. I remember knowing that Papi was going to hit one out, and I think every Red Sox fan felt the same way.
This particular moment encompasses the entire 2013 season and shows that something bigger than life was guiding Boston to a championship. There is no one better to produce in this situation than David Ortiz, and I am fully convinced that this moment is what sealed David Ortiz as a Boston legend.
These moments capture what being a Red Sox fan has been like since the year 2000. There are certainly many more beyond these five, and the five honorable mention, but if you were to ask a Red Sox fan to give one iconic moment, there’s a good chance they’d pick one of these five.
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