Remembering the 2004 World Series at Fenway with My Dad
If you were lucky enough to see any of the 2004 World Series at Fenway, you probably have quite the story to tell. I know I do.
October of 2004 was a roller coaster, a series of sleepless nights, a euphoric blur. I watched the messy start to the ALCS at a bar in Worcester. I landed at Logan on a flight home from Philly just in time to witness the Sox vanquish the Yankees in Game 7.
My buddy Mat gave me the play-by-play over the phone as I made my way off the plane and through the terminal. Once the game went final, I called my dad immediately. Cliffy is the biggest Sox fan I know. And little did we know, we were about to share a big Sox moment.
The 2004 World Series at Fenway: Surreal Life
My brother-in-law Kevin worked for Capital One in ’04. They were an MLB sponsor, so he ended up with a pair of tickets to Game 1 and Game 2 at Fenway Park. He was planning on flying to Boston from his home in Richmond to take me to a game and his sister–my wife, Meghan–to a game.
Then something strange yet wonderful happened.
Kevin couldn’t make the trip. He overnighted the tickets to us. Meghan, not being much of a baseball fan or a Red Sox fan, said: “why don’t you take your dad to a game and your brother to a game? I don’t need to sit outside in the cold in October.” Selfless. Generous. Iconic.
The 2004 World Series at Fenway: Game 1
20 years on, the moments from that magical night of October 23, 2004 reside in my mind like faded Polaroids. My dad and I making our way through the crowded concourse to our seats in the Grandstand. Papi’s first inning bomb. The Bellhorn homer clanging off of Pesky’s Pole.
But the clearest memory? My dad repeatedly turning to me in his seat, grabbing my leg or my shoulder, looking me right in the eye and saying: “We’re at the World Series!” with the pure, unbridled joy of a young child taking in their first Fenway game as a Red Sox fan.
The 2004 World Series at Fenway: Game 2
I was back at Fenway on the 24th for Game 2 with my brother Nate. Another all-timer, another Red Sox win. The memories for that one were even fuzzier, though. Must’ve been those ice cold beers we were crushing in between innings.
October of 2004 was the pinnacle for generations of Red Sox fans. And thanks to the generosity of my brother-in-law and wife at the time, the 2004 World Series at Fenway is a core memory for me, Cliffy, and Nate. A heartfelt thanks to all of them, and to you for reading this. Go Sox.
