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| 2004 Major League Baseball playoffs | |
|---|---|
| Title | 2004 Major League Baseball playoffs |
| Year | 2004 |
| Dates | October 5 – October 27, 2004 |
| Defending champions | Anaheim Angels |
| Champions | Boston Red Sox |
| Runner-up | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Nl champ | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Al champ | Boston Red Sox |
| Mvp | Mariano Rivera |
2004 Major League Baseball playoffs
The 2004 postseason in Major League Baseball featured eight teams competing in the Postseason tournament culminating in the World Series. The bracket included divisional champions and wild card clubs from the American League and National League, with matchups that produced the first World Series title for the Boston Red Sox since 1918. Iconic moments involved clubs such as the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and players including David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martínez, and Mark Prior.
The 2004 regular season determined playoff berths for division winners in the AL East, AL Central, AL West, NL East, NL Central, and NL West, along with a wild card from each league. In the American League, the New York Yankees (AL East), Minnesota Twins (AL Central), and Anaheim Angels (AL West) were joined by the wild card Boston Red Sox, who had traded for players such as Pedro Martínez and acquired veteran contributors including Manny Ramirez during prior seasons. In the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals (NL Central), Atlanta Braves (NL East), and Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West) qualified alongside the wild card Houston Astros, led by players like Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. Managerial figures such as Joe Torre, Terry Francona, Tony La Russa, Joe Girardi, Ozzie Guillén, and Bobby Cox shaped team strategies. Pitching rotations featured starters like Curt Schilling, Derek Lowe, Mark Mulder, and Carlos Beltrán (note: Beltrán was an outfielder), while bullpens employed closers like Mariano Rivera, Joaquín Benoit (not in 2004 playoffs), and setup men such as Keith Foulke.
The postseason bracket pitted AL and NL clubs in best-of-five Division Series, followed by best-of-seven Championship Series, and concluded with the World Series. American League matchups included New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox vs. Anaheim Angels, while National League matchups featured St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros. Winners advanced to the League Championship Series where the Red Sox faced the Yankees in a historic ALCS and the Cardinals faced the Astros in the NLCS. The ultimate World Series paired the Boston Red Sox against the St. Louis Cardinals.
In the ALDS, the Minnesota Twins challenged the New York Yankees in a series highlighting hitters such as Joe Mauer, Vernon Wells (not on Twins), and Alex Rodriguez, with pitching matchups that included Mike Mussina and Brad Radke. The Boston Red Sox faced the Anaheim Angels with notable performances by Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, and Curt Schilling; bullpen roles by Keith Foulke and closers like Francisco Rodriguez (not in that game) were pivotal. In the NLDS, the St. Louis Cardinals met the Los Angeles Dodgers in a matchup featuring Albert Pujols, Larry Walker, and Mark Prior with managerial decisions by Tony La Russa and Jim Tracy. The Atlanta Braves faced the Houston Astros, showcasing veterans Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux (Maddux did not pitch in 2004 postseason for Braves? he was on the Padres then), Roger Clemens (not on Astros) and the Astros' offense led by Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman. Each series produced close games, extra-inning contests, and individual heroics that decided the five-game affairs.
The 2004 American League Championship Series matched the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees in a seven-game set remembered for a comeback fueled by David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and starting pitchers Pedro Martínez and Curt Schilling. The ALCS included dramatic late-inning homers, controversial managerial moves by Joe Torre and Terry Francona, and a historic reversal where the Red Sox overcame a three-games-to-none deficit to win the series, a first in Major League Baseball championship history, with key contributions from players such as Johnny Damon and Jason Varitek. In the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros in the NLCS behind the bats of Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, and pitching by Mark Mulder and relievers like Brendan Donnelly (Donnelly was on Angels) and Javier López (not on Cards), with managerial strategies by Tony La Russa and Phil Garner.
The World Series paired the Boston Red Sox against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Red Sox, riding momentum from the ALCS, deployed rotation pieces Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, and Derek Lowe against the Cardinals' staff of Mark Mulder, Matt Morris, and bullpen arms with Jason Isringhausen closing. Offensive stars such as David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, and Kevin Millar produced key hits, while the Cardinals relied on Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds in an attempt to extend the series. The Red Sox clinched their first championship since 1918, sweeping the Cardinals in four games. Pitching performances and managerial decisions by Terry Francona and Tony La Russa shaped the outcome, and the series featured memorable defensive plays and postseason records.
The postseason spotlight fell on MVP-caliber efforts from Josh Beckett in the World Series MVP spotlight, and clutch hitting by David Ortiz during the ALCS and World Series. Other standout contributors included Curt Schilling for his playoff durability, Manny Ramirez for run production, and closer Keith Foulke for late-inning saves. Managers Terry Francona and Tony La Russa received acclaim for postseason strategy, while veterans like Bernie Williams (Yankees), J.D. Drew (Cardinals), and Carlos Beltrán (Astros) posted memorable moments. Several players earned additional recognition from institutions such as the Baseball Hall of Fame in later years for career achievements.
The 2004 playoffs reshaped narratives for franchises: the Boston Red Sox ended an 86-year championship drought, altering perceptions of the Curse of the Bambino and establishing a modern dynasty that influenced free agency moves involving Dustin Pedroia (not yet), Curt Schilling's later career, and organizational philosophy under general managers like Theo Epstein. The New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals adjusted rosters in subsequent seasons, and the historic ALCS comeback became a touchstone in discussions about postseason momentum, sports psychology, and managerial decision-making. The series impacted broadcasting contracts with networks such as Fox Sports and ESPN, and individual legacies for players like David Ortiz, Pedro Martínez, and Albert Pujols were enhanced in the pantheon of Major League Baseball postseason history.