Boston Red Sox History: Dave Roberts Becomes a Legend
The Curse of the Bambino appeared as though it would last for at least one more year. But on this day in 2004, the Boston Red Sox began one of the most improbable comebacks in MLB postseason history.
The Boston Red Sox were down to their final inning. Already behind in the 2004 American League Championship series three games to none, the Red Sox trailed the New York Yankees 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. With Mariano Rivera on the mound, it seemed as though the Curse of the Bambino would live another year.
Then, the impossible happened. Kevin Millar led off the inning with a walk, and was lifted for pinch runner Dave Roberts. In one of the most daring moves in recent postseason history, Roberts took off for second, barely stealing the bag ahead of Jorge Posada‘s throw. Bill Mueller followed with a base hit up the middle, and suddenly, the Red Sox had tied the game.
Boston actually had a chance to take the lead, loading the bases with one out. However, Rivera pitched out of the jam, preserving the tie and giving the Yankees a chance to finish off the sweep. Instead, the game went into extra innings, where David Ortiz provided one of the first truly iconic moments of his career, belting a two run home run to give the Red Sox life and avoid the sweep.
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From that point, the Boston Red Sox grew in confidence. They again defeated Rivera in Game Five, and went on to become the first team in MLB history to win a series after being down 0-3 in a best of seven series. From there, they swept the Cardinals in the World Series, officially ending the Curse of the Bambino once and for all.
It is fitting that, as the Red Sox looked to bury the ghosts of 86 years of failure, the Yankees would be standing in their path. Not only was this the team that Babe Ruth was sold to, but they had provided quite a few painful exits for the Red Sox. Bucky Dent and Aaron Boone are still despised in Red Sox Nation, even after the curse was lifted.
In the storybook campaign that was the Red Sox 2004 season, it was the perfect final obstacle. Hollywood could not have scripted it any better, although they did horn in on the action with that horrendous Jimmy Fallon movie. Boston would prove this was not just a one year mirage, as they have gone on to win two more titles, leaving the previous decades of misery far behind them.
On this day in 2004, the Boston Red Sox were finally able to stare down the ghosts of their past. All it took was one daring baserunning escapade, where Dave Roberts became immortalized as a hero.