Remembering the 2004 Red Sox doesn’t require much effort. In a place like Boston, where sports define our essence, there may not be a single team that has better defined our values during the city’s considerable history.
And if you ask me, they were the best Red Sox team ever.
On paper, the 2018 Red Sox won more games, the 1975 Red Sox may have had more long-term promise, the 2007 team better signified the start of a new era. But one game or one series to win, for all the marbles? One impossible challenge to end 86 years of futility? I’ll take the 2004 Red Sox every time, mostly because they had the consummate mix of talent, attitude, grit, togetherness, leadership, pitching, offense and defense that ever bounced between the fabled walls at Fenway Park. And if you’re on the younger side and think we’re overstating it, well, you just don’t remember. You weren’t there. You didn’t live it.
That’s not a criticism as much as it fact.
After the annual trading deadline on July 31, the 2004 Red Sox needed about two weeks to sort through their changes, the most notable of which was the departure of Nomar Garciaparra. Then beginning on Aug. 16 – closing time – they plowed through the American League like a Teflon tank. The Red Sox finished the regular season by going 34-12, then went 11-3 in the postseason to leave their final mark during their stretch at 45-15. They posted a run differential of +102 over those 60 games, a number that translates into 275.4 over the course of a 162-game schedule. And remember that this was all at the most critical time of the year, against the best teams in baseball, a group that included the 2004 Yankees (101-61) and St. Louis Cardinals (105-57).
For further clarity: at one point, the Red Sox won 10 straight, 16-of-17 and 20-of 22. Their two losses during that span featured a 3-0 defeat to veteran left-hander Ted Lilly, who struck out 13 in 3-0 masterpiece at Toronto. The other was an 8-6 defeat to Texas at Fenway Park in which the Sox nearly erased an 8-1 deficit and had the Rangers holding on for dear life.
In the end, the opponents could pretty much name the game: high-scoring, low-scoring, anything in between. The 2004 Red Red Sox would just beat you at it. That club club will be honored today, this week and this year at Fenway Park, though anyone who lived through their historic run in those weeks won’t need much prodding to conjure up the images.
Enjoy:
ANAHEIM, CA – OCTOBER 5: Pitcher Curt Schilling #38 of the Boston Red Sox looks for a sign during the American League Division Series with the Anaheim Angels, Game One on October 5, 2004 at Angels Stadium at Anaheim in Anaheim, California. Boston won 9-3. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – OCTOBER 6: Pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox watches from the bullpen during the American League Division Series with the Anaheim Angels, Game Two on October 6, 2004 at Angels Stadium at Anaheim in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 8: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox hits the game winning homerun to defeat the Anaheim Angels 8-6 in the 10th inning of Game 3 of the American League Division Series on October 8, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox swept the series 3-0. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 8: The Boston Red Sox celebrate on the field after the American League Division Series with the Anaheim Angels, Game 3 on October 8, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 13: New York Yankees fans unveil a “Who’s Your Daddy” banner referring to pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox during game two of the American League Championship Series on October 13, 2004 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 16: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees awaits a play while the scoreboard reads 19-8 Yankees over the Boston Red Sox in the ninth inning during game three of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 16: Manager Terry Francona #47 of the Boston Red Sox pulls pitcher Tim Wakefield #49 out of the game as Kevin Millar #15 looks on in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees during game three of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 17: A Boston Red Sox fan holds up a sign in support of the Red Sox during game four of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees on October 17, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 17: Dave Roberts #31 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after scoring the game-tying run on a single by Bill Mueller #11 in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees during game four of the American League Championship Series on October 17, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 19: Pitcher Curt Schilling #38 of the Boston Red Sox grabs at his ankle as it appears to be bleeding in the fourth inning during game six of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees on October 19, 2004 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees walk back to the dugout after striking out in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game seven of the American League Championship Series on October 20, 2004 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS – OCTOBER 26: Bill Mueller #11 of the Boston Red Sox tags out runner Jeff Suppan #37 of the St. Louis Cardinals on an attempt back to third base, completing a double-play in the third inning during game three of the World Series on October 26, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS – OCTOBER 26: Manny Ramirez #24 of the Boston Red Sox hits a solo home run in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game three of the World Series on October 26, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS – OCTOBER 27: Derek Lowe #32 of the Boston Red Sox pumps his fist in celebration of getting out of the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game four of the World Series on October 27, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS – OCTOBER 27: Doug Mientkiewicz #13, Keith Foulke #9 and Jason Varitek #33 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 in game four of the World Series on October 27, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS – OCTOBER 27: Jason Varitek #33 and Keith Foulke #29 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 in game four of the World Series on October 27, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS – OCTOBER 27: Catcher Jason Varitek #33 and Kevin Millar #15 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 to win game four of the World Series on October 27, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS – OCTOBER 27: Pitchers Derek Lowe #32 and Bronson Arroyo #61 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate in the locker room after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 to win game four of the World Series on October 27, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS – OCTOBER 27: General manager Theo Epstein of the Boston Red Sox celebrates in the locker room with the Championship trophy after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 in game four of the World Series on October 27, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 30: Fans cheer Boston Red Sox players during the Rolling Rally victory parade October 30, 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in four straight games to take the teams first World Series since 1918. (Photo by Gil Talbot/Getty Images)
