Boston Red Sox – 2004 MLB World Series Champions

The Boston Red Sox are one of the few professional sports teams that can claim the majority of the residents of their home city as fans. The Red Sox Nation grows even larger, drawing fans from around the country.

The home of the Red Sox is Fenway Park, which is the oldest stadium in baseball. Fenway has been the home of the Red Sox since 1912.

The scourge of the Red Sox has been the New York Yankees for much of both teams histories. The most memorable point in the history of this rivalry came during the 1920 season, when the Red Sox sold slugger Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000. The Red Sox would not win a World Championship again until 2004, while the Yankees would win 26 World Championships in their history.

It’s hard to find a franchise with more great players in their history than the Boston Red Sox. Players that have worn the Red Sox uniform include: Bobby Doerr, Carlton Fisk, Harry Hooper, Ted Williams, Cy Young and Babe Ruth.

The Red Sox have won their division 5 times in their history, and have made the playoffs an additional 3 times as the Wild Card Team. Boston has won 6 World Series Championships; in 1903,1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, and in 2004.

During their franchise's history, the Red Sox have had players pitch 16 No Hitters and hit for the cycle 19 times. The Red Sox also have two players that have completed unassisted triple plays while with the team. The 2002 season started with a lot of changes in the Boston front office.

After a change in ownership, the firings of the teams General Manager, and Manager just a week later were quick to shake up the team. The addition of free agents Johnny Damon and John Burkett helped add some fire to the team as they went 93-69, good enough for second place in their division.

But the Red Sox still had a long way to go. Like the season before, the 2003 season brought in more firepower for the Red Sox, this time in the form of Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller and David Ortiz. The lineup for the Red Sox produced a 95-67 record, and earned the team the Wild Card spot in the playoffs.

The team would face the rival New York Yankees in the first round. In a series that would last 7 games, the Red Sox would lose to the Yankees after Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez is left in the game, only to get punished by New York’s batters.

The Red Sox would be out of the playoffs without a World Series title again, but would pick up several key players for their next attempt at a World Championship.

After winning 98 games during the 2004 regular season (the most for the franchise since 1978), the Red Sox would make the postseason as the American League Wild Card team.

Led by players such as Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Pedro Martinez, and the newly acquired Curt Schilling, the Red Sox defeated the Anaheim Angels in 4 games, and the New York Yankees in 7 games to make it to the World Series.

In the Fall Classic, the Red Sox faced the St. Louis Cardinals would had the best regular season record in all of baseball. The Red Sox would end up triumphant after winning the Series in four games, marking the first World Championship for the franchise in 86 years.