Boston Red Sox History: The Curse of the Bambino Comes to an End
The Curse of the Bambino lasted for three generations. On this day in 2004, the Boston Red Sox finally laid the ghost of Babe Ruth to rest.
86 years. It was literally a lifetime since the Boston Red Sox had won the World Series. Three generations had come and gone, with fans of the team living their entire lives without seeing the Red Sox win a championship. After some of the near misses, and the agonizing heartbreak, it was fair for fans to wonder if they would ever get to see the Red Sox win a World Series in their lifetime.
Then came the 2004 season. After being on the verge of elimination, swept by the hated New York Yankees, the Red Sox stormed back. They won the final four games, becoming the first team in MLB history to come back after being down 3-0 in a best of seven series. The weight seemed to be lifted from their shoulders as they advanced to face the St. Louis Cardinals.
After a nailbiter in Game One, the Red Sox just overpowered the Cardinals. They took the first three games, and smelling blood, were ready for the sweep. Playing in Busch Stadium, under full lunar eclipse, Boston sent the inconsistent Derek Lowe to the mound. The Cardinals countered with Jason Marquis, who had his finest season on the mound, in an attempt to survive another day.
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Instead, the Red Sox took care of business. Johnny Damon led off the game with a home run to center, and Trot Nixon hit a bases loaded double in the third to give Boston a 3-0 lead. That was more than enough for Lowe, who allowed only three hits and a walk in seven scoreless innings.
We can all remember that final out. Edgar Rentaria, who was one of the key performers in the 1997 World Series, represented the Cardinals final chance. He hit a soft grounder to the mound, where Keith Foulke tossed the ball to Doug Meintkiewicz for the final out. In that moment, under the blood red moon, the Curse of the Bambino had been lain to rest.
That final out would become a source of contention between Mientkiewicz and the Red Sox. He held on to the ball after that final out, and considered it to be his property. Boston felt that the ball belonged to the fans, and not any one person. Eventually, peace reigned as Mientkiewicz loaned the ball to the team, so that the fans could see the ball that was fielded for that final out.
As we watch two teams battle to end their own curses, let us celebrate the ending on another. On this day in 2004, the Boston Red Sox finally, after 86 years, put their own curse to rest.
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