2004 World Series
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| 2004 World Series | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Year | 2004 |
| Champion | Boston Red Sox |
| Champion manager | Terry Francona |
| Champion games | 98–64, .605, AL East |
| Runnerup | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Runnerup manager | Tony La Russa |
| Runnerup games | 105–57, .648, NL Central |
| Date | October 23–27 |
| Mvp | Manny Ramírez (Boston Red Sox) |
| Umpires | Eddie Montague (crew chief), Jeff Nelson, Brian Gorman, Chuck Meriwether, Dana DeMuth, Jim Joyce |
| Television | FOX |
| Announcers | Joe Buck and Tim McCarver |
| Radio | ESPN Radio |
| Radio announcers | Jon Miller and Joe Morgan |
| ALCS | Boston Red Sox over New York Yankees (4–3) |
| NLCS | St. Louis Cardinals over Houston Astros (4–3) |
| Previous | 2003 World Series |
| Next | 2005 World Series |
2004 World Series. The 2004 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2004 season, the 100th edition of the World Series. It featured the American League (AL) champion Boston Red Sox and the National League (NL) champion St. Louis Cardinals, with the Red Sox sweeping the series in four games to win their first World Series championship since 1918, ending the Curse of the Bambino. The series was played from October 23 to 27, 2004, at Fenway Park and Busch Stadium II, with Manny Ramírez being named the World Series Most Valuable Player.
Background
The Boston Red Sox entered the postseason as the AL Wild Card winner after finishing second in the American League East to their rivals, the New York Yankees. Managed by Terry Francona in his first season, the team was led offensively by David Ortiz and Manny Ramírez, and featured a pitching staff anchored by Curt Schilling and Pedro Martínez. Their path to the World Series was historic, as they overcame a 0–3 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees in the ALCS, a feat never before accomplished in MLB postseason history. The St. Louis Cardinals, managed by Tony La Russa, won a league-best 105 games to claim the National League Central title. Their powerful lineup, known as the "MV3," featured Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds, while their rotation was led by Chris Carpenter and Jeff Suppan. The Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros in a seven-game NLCS to advance, setting up a rematch of the 1946 World Series and 1967 World Series.
Summary
The series opened at Fenway Park on October 23. In Game 1, the Red Sox capitalized on a fielding error by St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Julian Tavarez and a two-run home run by David Ortiz to win 11–9, despite a late rally by the Cardinals. Game 2 was dominated by Boston's pitching, as Curt Schilling, pitching with a sutured ankle tendon, allowed no earned runs over six innings in a 6–2 victory; the game was also notable for a pivotal pickoff of Albert Pujols by pitcher Bronson Arroyo. The series shifted to Busch Stadium for Game 3, where Pedro Martínez outdueled Jeff Suppan, and Manny Ramírez hit a first-inning home run in a 4–1 Boston win. The Red Sox completed the sweep in Game 4 on October 27, with Johnny Damon hitting a leadoff home run and Derek Lowe pitching seven shutout innings. A three-run home run by Trot Nixon broke the game open, and closer Keith Foulke recorded the final out, a groundout to Édgar Rentería, securing a 3–0 victory and the championship for Boston.
Aftermath
The victory ended the Boston Red Sox's 86-year championship drought, famously known as the Curse of the Bambino, and triggered massive celebrations throughout New England and Boston. The team was honored with a World Series parade attended by millions of fans, and key players like David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, and Manny Ramírez became iconic figures in the city's sports history. For the St. Louis Cardinals, the loss was a disappointment but did not diminish their successful regular season; they would return to win the 2006 World Series. The 2004 Red Sox's comeback against the New York Yankees in the ALCS and their subsequent World Series sweep is often cited as one of the greatest stories in baseball history, influencing the franchise's future success and cementing its legacy. The series also saw high television ratings on FOX, with Game 4 drawing an average of over 28 million viewers in the United States.
See also
* History of the Boston Red Sox * List of World Series champions * 2004 Major League Baseball season * Curse of the Bambino * 2004 American League Championship Series
References
Category:2004 World Series Category:Boston Red Sox postseason Category:St. Louis Cardinals postseason Category:2004 in sports in Missouri Category:2004 in sports in Massachusetts Category:October 2004 sports events in the United States