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Authors: Stephanie Peters
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1996, lost it in 1997, and then claimed it again in 1998 and 1999. In 1997, thetenth-inning, seventh-game World Series triumph of the upstart Florida Marlins over the Cleveland Indians had fans cheering
in the streets. And in the final months of the 1998 regular season, the world watched as Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa raced
to beat Roger Maris's home-run record.
By the start of the new millennium, most baseball fans had put the players' strike behind them. They were ready to sit back
and enjoy the national pastime once again.
CHAPTER TEN
2000s
2004 and 2005: What Curses?
The first World Series of the millennium ended the way the last one of the old millennium had — with a victory by the New
York Yankees. But in 2001, the mighty Yanks were put down by the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that had been in existence for
only three years! New York was out of the running the following year but returned to the fall classic in 2003 — only to lose
once again, this time to the Florida Marlins.
Then came 2004 and with it one of the most unexpected and thrilling postseason upsets baseball had ever seen.
The Boston Red Sox had been a “close but no cigar” club since the mid-1980s. In 2004, they came out on top in the American
League East with a record of 98 wins, 64 losses. In the postseason, theyquickly dispatched the Anaheim Angels for the Division title. Next up, however, were the Yankees, their longtime rivals and,
with a record of 101–61, the better of the two teams.
The first two games of the ALCS were played in New York. The Sox lost both. The series moved to Fenway Park for game three
— which the Sox also lost by a demoralizing 19–8!
The Yankees needed only one victory to move on to the World Series. They didn't get it in game four, however. Instead, Boston
squeaked out a twelfth-inning win thanks to a two-run homer by power hitter David Ortiz.
Ortiz was the man of the hour again in game five — a very late hour at that, for he blasted an RBI single in the
fourteenth
inning to give the Sox a 5–4 win. The next night, back in Yankee Stadium, a home run by Mark Bellhorn in the fourth inning
handed the Sox their third straight victory.
The next game, Boston made history by doing what no team had ever done. They fought back from a 3–0 deficit to win four straight
games. It was an unbelievable feat, made all the more thrilling by the game-saving home runs and the incredible staminaof injured pitcher Curt Schilling, whose right ankle was noticeably bloody throughout much of his game-six win.
The “Boston Faithful,” as Red Sox fans called themselves, were overjoyed. Banners reading REVERSE THE CURSE! flew from bridges,
out of windows, and scrawled across newspapers. All of Boston hoped this would be the year the legendary Curse of the Bambino
would finally be put to bed.
After the suspenseful come-from-behind success story of the ALCS, the 2004 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and
the Boston Red Sox was somewhat tame.
Somewhat, but not completely.
The first game was a shoot-out started by David Ortiz, who belted a three-run homer in his first at bat. Boston posted another
run later in the inning to go ahead by four. Then, in the bottom of the third, a series of well-hit singles added three more
runs to Boston's side.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, had crossed home plate only twice. But they came roaring back, and by the bottom of the sixth inning,
the score was tied, 7–7.
Boston answered their next time up with two oftheir own, however, to go ahead 9–7. But then St. Louis pushed across two more in the top of the eighth, tying things up once
again!
Mark Bellhorn turned the tide in Boston's favor. With Jason Varitek on first following a fielding error, he rang the right-field
pole on a pitch by Julián Tavárez. Home run!
The Sox were up, 11–9, and when Red Sox closer Keith Foulke retired St. Louis in the top of the ninth, Boston had their first
World
in the streets. And in the final months of the 1998 regular season, the world watched as Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa raced
to beat Roger Maris's home-run record.
By the start of the new millennium, most baseball fans had put the players' strike behind them. They were ready to sit back
and enjoy the national pastime once again.
CHAPTER TEN
2000s
2004 and 2005: What Curses?
The first World Series of the millennium ended the way the last one of the old millennium had — with a victory by the New
York Yankees. But in 2001, the mighty Yanks were put down by the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that had been in existence for
only three years! New York was out of the running the following year but returned to the fall classic in 2003 — only to lose
once again, this time to the Florida Marlins.
Then came 2004 and with it one of the most unexpected and thrilling postseason upsets baseball had ever seen.
The Boston Red Sox had been a “close but no cigar” club since the mid-1980s. In 2004, they came out on top in the American
League East with a record of 98 wins, 64 losses. In the postseason, theyquickly dispatched the Anaheim Angels for the Division title. Next up, however, were the Yankees, their longtime rivals and,
with a record of 101–61, the better of the two teams.
The first two games of the ALCS were played in New York. The Sox lost both. The series moved to Fenway Park for game three
— which the Sox also lost by a demoralizing 19–8!
The Yankees needed only one victory to move on to the World Series. They didn't get it in game four, however. Instead, Boston
squeaked out a twelfth-inning win thanks to a two-run homer by power hitter David Ortiz.
Ortiz was the man of the hour again in game five — a very late hour at that, for he blasted an RBI single in the
fourteenth
inning to give the Sox a 5–4 win. The next night, back in Yankee Stadium, a home run by Mark Bellhorn in the fourth inning
handed the Sox their third straight victory.
The next game, Boston made history by doing what no team had ever done. They fought back from a 3–0 deficit to win four straight
games. It was an unbelievable feat, made all the more thrilling by the game-saving home runs and the incredible staminaof injured pitcher Curt Schilling, whose right ankle was noticeably bloody throughout much of his game-six win.
The “Boston Faithful,” as Red Sox fans called themselves, were overjoyed. Banners reading REVERSE THE CURSE! flew from bridges,
out of windows, and scrawled across newspapers. All of Boston hoped this would be the year the legendary Curse of the Bambino
would finally be put to bed.
After the suspenseful come-from-behind success story of the ALCS, the 2004 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and
the Boston Red Sox was somewhat tame.
Somewhat, but not completely.
The first game was a shoot-out started by David Ortiz, who belted a three-run homer in his first at bat. Boston posted another
run later in the inning to go ahead by four. Then, in the bottom of the third, a series of well-hit singles added three more
runs to Boston's side.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, had crossed home plate only twice. But they came roaring back, and by the bottom of the sixth inning,
the score was tied, 7–7.
Boston answered their next time up with two oftheir own, however, to go ahead 9–7. But then St. Louis pushed across two more in the top of the eighth, tying things up once
again!
Mark Bellhorn turned the tide in Boston's favor. With Jason Varitek on first following a fielding error, he rang the right-field
pole on a pitch by Julián Tavárez. Home run!
The Sox were up, 11–9, and when Red Sox closer Keith Foulke retired St. Louis in the top of the ninth, Boston had their first
World
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