Athletes - 2004 World Series

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	Athletes - 2004 World Series

The 2004 World Series represented the 100th time two modern Major League Baseball teams met to decide the championship. The best-of-seven series began on October 23. After winning four consecutive games, on October 27 at 10:37 pm CT, the American League champion Boston Red Sox defeated the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals to claim the 2004 World Series Trophy. It had been 86 years since Boston last claimed the prize by defeating the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series. With their Series sweep, Boston had finally broken the "Curse of the Bambino". To make the championship sweeter, it came on the heels of the largest comeback in postseason MLB history (a 0-3 deficit against the New York Yankees in the Championship Series).

Managers: Terry Francona (Boston), Tony La Russa (St. Louis)

Umpires: Ed Montague (Crew Chief), Dale Scott, Brian Gorman, Chuck Meriwether, Gerry Davis, Charlie Reliford

Series MVP: Manny Ramírez (Boston)

Television: FOX (Joe Buck and Tim McCarver announcing)

Summary

The Boston team became the 18th in major league history to sweep its opponents in the World Series, and the 4th team to keep its opponent from obtaining the lead at any time in the Series. Considering American professional sports history in general, Boston became the 153rd team to make a series sweep, and the 25th team to have never trailed in a best-of-seven series. Boston led St. Louis at the end of 35 out of 36 total innings of play. The closest the Cardinals ever came to possessing the lead in the Series was on two different occasions in Game 1. The Cardinals tied the game at 7 in the top of the 6th inning. The Red Sox regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the 7th. The Cardinals responded with two in the top of the 8th to tie the game at 9, but the Red Sox replied with two in the bottom of the same inning.

Both teams had lost their most recent World Series appearances. The Red Sox lost in seven games to the New York Mets in 1986, while the Cardinals lost in 1987, also in seven games, to the Minnesota Twins. The Cardinals had not won the World Series since 1982. The two teams had played each other in two previous World Series, in 1946 and 1967; the Cardinals won both in seven games.

Game 1, October 23

The first game of the 2004 World Series was played at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", was performed by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith – whose musical career started in Boston even though he was born in New York – and was followed by a fly-over of F-16s provided by the Vermont Air National Guard, although the planes were heard more clearly than they were seen.

Tim Wakefield was the starting pitcher for the Red Sox, Woody Williams for the Cardinals. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Williams gave up a leadoff double to Johnny Damon, then hit Orlando Cabrera in the shoulder with a wild pitch. David Ortiz followed with a three-run home run. Still in the 1st, Kevin Millar scored on a Bill Mueller single to put the Red Sox up 4-to-0.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Jim Edmonds reached base on a bunt single. He would later score on a Mike Matheny sacrifice fly to make the score 4-1. Larry Walker homered to right field in the top of the 3rd inning to cut the lead to 4-2, but the Red Sox stopped the progress of the Cardinals with a double play which retired Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen. In the bottom of the 3rd, back-to-back singles by Damon and Cabrera drove in Mueller and Doug Mirabelli. Mark Bellhorn scored on a fielder's choice to shortstop Edgar Rentería to widen the Boston lead to 7-2. Preventing further damage, Kevin Millar grounded out with the bases loaded to end the 3rd.

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Athletes - 2004 World Series

Summary

Game 1, October 23

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