Besides 2004, what is your favorite Red Sox memory?

[Spitball]

Mine is easily the 1967 and the Impossible Dream season. The Sox had not had a winning season since 1958 and had finished 1/2 game out of the cellar in 1966. With a four team race coming down to the final game of the season, the Sox and Jim Lonborg beat Dean chance and the Twins on the final game of the season to earn a birth in the World Series.

 

The Sox lost in seven games to the Cardinals, but it was an unbelievable experience for a Red Sox fan. Anyone else have a favorite memory?

Edited February 5, 2014 by Spitball

[mvp 78]

1999 Pedro relief appearance in the playoffs against Cleveland.

[seabeachfred]

For me it was the sixth game of the 2013 ALCS---seventh inning, bases loaded and the "Flyin Hawaiian" at the plate. I went ape s*** as did 38,000 others in the ballpark when he went deep. I don't think my feet touched the floor from that moment until I woke up the next day. The trip cost some serious bucks but it was worth every dime to have been there.

[Bellhorn04]

Manny's game-winning bomb against the Angels in the 2007 ALDS.

[Station 13]

For me it was the sixth game of the 2013 ALCS---seventh inning, bases loaded and the "Flyin Hawaiian" at the plate. I went ape s*** as did 38,000 others in the ballpark when he went deep. I don't think my feet touched the floor from that moment until I woke up the next day. The trip cost some serious bucks but it was worth every dime to have been there.

 

Seems like you had fun. The Red Sox played many amazing ALCS games huh? Game 2 was also a thriller.

[sk7326]

Coming back from 7 runs down, 7 outs left in the season against Tampa in 2008. The Hendu homerun in 1986. The 24 straight wins of Morgan Magic.

 

Let's face it - fans can whine about the non-wins, but Sox have been one of the lucky franchises since 1967. Lot of heartbreak, but a lot of winning too.

[Bellhorn04]

Let's face it - fans can whine about the non-wins, but Sox have been one of the lucky franchises since 1967. Lot of heartbreak, but a lot of winning too.

 

I view all the heartbreaks before 2004 through the lens of 3 championships now, and it puts a much pleasanter perspective on things.

[sk7326]

I view all the heartbreaks before 2004 through the lens of 3 championships now, and it puts a much pleasanter perspective on things.

 

True - although when you think about the "curse", it was a curse because the Red Sox since 1967 have largely been good. There is no "curse of the Clippers" for instance. They have just been a mostly incompetent NBA franchise. And honestly, the Cubs have for the most part been pretty bad since 1908. Winning a world series, let alone 3 changed a lot of my perspective too. But I would definitely choose a run of 1986s (or put another way, the last 9-10 years for the Patriots) over any run of Butch Hobson years, even if they end with a ruined summah.

[BSN07]

Damn that's a good one. Games 4-7 of the 2004 ALCS. Pedro 1999 AS game making Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Jeff Bagwell look like little league kids.

[Thunder]

For me, it was Gomes' go ahead bomb in game 4 of the 2013 WS. I was literally praying for a bomb when he came up to bat, and Dave O'Brien's call of it has stuck with me since. That was the turning point of the series.

[Behindenemylines]

I view all the heartbreaks before 2004 through the lens of 3 championships now, and it puts a much pleasanter perspective on things.

 

Amen! After three titles in ten years the heartbreaks of the past don't hurt as bad.

[Dojji]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1128/bos_g_schilcrowd_576.jpg

 

That man overcame a lot to carry the team to victory in 2004, and then came back one last time to help Beckett and Papi bear the load in 07.

 

That's how you go out right.

Edited February 5, 2014 by Dojji

[sk7326]

I do also have to second basically every Clemens start in 1986 and Pedro from 1998-2000. The titles are the best - I won't trade those in - but those teams did not have the sort of transcendent individual awesomeness that Pedro gave us for instance in his very best. This last decade has been marked by probably the most important Red Sox player ever (Ortiz) and the prime of a truly great player (Pedroia).

 

Pedroia is great in a very fulfilling, Cal Ripken sort of way. But the buzz of a Pedro start, that was something super duper special. His 17 strikeout game against the Yankees is still the best game I've ever seen pitched.

[Palodios]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1128/bos_g_schilcrowd_576.jpg

 

That man overcame a lot to carry the team to victory in 2004, and then came back one last time to help Beckett and Papi bear the load in 07.

 

That's how you go out right.

 

In all fairness...

[SoxSport]

That would be '67 the Impossible Dream season.

Yaz was unreal. Dominating player, especially down the stretch.

 

I remember being in a parking lot across the Charles from Kenmore Square. listening to the Tigers-Angels game.

When the Angels won, which clinched the Pennant for the Red Sox (they had just beaten the Twins at Fenway),

you could hear the roar in Kenmore Square from across the river.

 

Many years later, I sat with Jim Kaat in the owner's box at a local race track, and discussed that final 3 game series at Fenway. Kaat pitched one of those games for the Twins. I don't remember a damned thing about what we said. LOL.

[SoxSport]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1128/bos_g_schilcrowd_576.jpg

 

That man overcame a lot to carry the team to victory in 2004, and then came back one last time to help Beckett and Papi bear the load in 07.

 

That's how you go out right.

 

Yeah. Schilling was a warrior. He'll make the HOF someday for his WS heroics. For two teams.

 

I also remember that Yankee ass-kisser from CBS who said on the air during a game that Schilling's bloody sock was faked.

He's still announcing-which tells you something about CBS. The media gets away with outrageous things sometimes.

[SoxSport]

Just saw on twitter Schilling diagnosed with cancer. Only 47. Tough break for a great competitor. Hope he beats it.

[seabeachfred]

Seems like you had fun. The Red Sox played many amazing ALCS games huh? Game 2 was also a thriller.

 

Station, I had the time of my life last October during the playoff run. I got to Boston the night before the 6th Game of the ALCS and was jumping with excess energy waiting for the game that Saturday. We won and won the AL and so I had three days to relax and see Boston before the WS. Sat in the CF bleachers for the first WS game and, truth be told, those seats are not so bad at all. I was back to the grandstand, one row behind the box seats for the second game, the same seat I had for the ALCS. Unfortunately that game didn't end so well, but it was a helluva trip and I really believed we would come back strong and win the series. Sometimes I get it right.

[seabeachfred]

Amen! After three titles in ten years the heartbreaks of the past don't hurt as bad.

 

I came on board as a full fledged convert in the summer of 2000 so I didn't endure some of those bad experiences most of my friends here have. I think that's why some of them get on my case and let me know that I know only of the good times so be quiet. Of course the late part of 2001, 7th Game ALCS 2003, Sept., 2011 and 2012? I've had enough bummers there to last for the rest of my life. Unlike most of you, however, I always liked the 2007 team better than the 2004 one----until 2013. Man, that has got to be the best Red Sox year from where I sit.

[seabeachfred]

Just saw on twitter Schilling diagnosed with cancer. Only 47. Tough break for a great competitor. Hope he beats it.

 

God, I hope it's treatable. Curt put his career on the line for us back in '04 and I saw him in person throttle the Angels in the 2007 ALDS when he stuffed it to them on guile alone. Personally I owe Curt a lot.

[sk7326]

Schiling is a bit of a pompous blowhard. But the bloody sock can never be taken away.

[Spudboy]

That would be '67 the Impossible Dream season.

Yaz was unreal. Dominating player, especially down the stretch.

 

I remember being in a parking lot across the Charles from Kenmore Square. listening to the Tigers-Angels game.

When the Angels won, which clinched the Pennant for the Red Sox (they had just beaten the Twins at Fenway),

you could hear the roar in Kenmore Square from across the river.

 

Many years later, I sat with Jim Kaat in the owner's box at a local race track, and discussed that final 3 game series at Fenway. Kaat pitched one of those games for the Twins. I don't remember a damned thing about what we said. LOL.

 

Great stuff. The last few weeks of the 1967 AL season were so exciting. I believe that 4 teams were in the hunt for the pennant and no one knew what was going to happen. I listened to that game on my transistor radio! Baseball has never been better.

[BornToRun]

A specific one that comes to mind for me is a 2006 home game against Cleveland.

 

David Wells went against, I think, Paul Byrd and the game was a slugfest that knocked both pitchers out early. With the score 8-6, Kyle Snyder came in and pitched something like 5 innings of no-hit relief.

 

We go into the bottom of the 9th with the score the same and Fausto Carmona coming in to pitch. I remember, pretty much to a T how the inning transpired, keep in mind, being like 11-12 years old, I was chanting "Let's go Red Sox" at the TV the whole time:

 

Alex Cora lines a single to left field

Youk walks on a pitch that almost hits him in the head

Loretta pops out to short

 

Then Ortiz came up and worked the count to 2-0 and I thought "here comes a fastball". Carmona throws one on the lower outside corner and Papi cranks it out to straightaway center and I proceed to lose my s***.

 

Nothing too spectacular relative to the other stuff in this thread but a favorite of mine nonetheless.

[seabeachfred]

A specific one that comes to mind for me is a 2006 home game against Cleveland.

 

David Wells went against, I think, Paul Byrd and the game was a slugfest that knocked both pitchers out early. With the score 8-6, Kyle Snyder came in and pitched something like 5 innings of no-hit relief.

 

We go into the bottom of the 9th with the score the same and Fausto Carmona coming in to pitch. I remember, pretty much to a T how the inning transpired, keep in mind, being like 11-12 years old, I was chanting "Let's go Red Sox" at the TV the whole time:

 

Alex Cora lines a single to left field

Youk walks on a pitch that almost hits him in the head

Loretta pops out to short

 

Then Ortiz came up and worked the count to 2-0 and I thought "here comes a fastball". Carmona throws one on the lower outside corner and Papi cranks it out to straightaway center and I proceed to lose my s***.

 

Nothing too spectacular relative to the other stuff in this thread but a favorite of mine nonetheless.

 

I remember that game BTR. A friend called me soon after the game and told me that Papi was the best clutch hitter he'd ever seen. What I also remember was t hat a few games later Nixon and Varitek got injured and the Red Sox collapsed badly, losing a five game series to the Yankees at Fenway Park....that's right; we got swept 5-0.

[Jaddy]

In light of the hall inductions this week, nothing beat a Pedro vs Clemens showdown. That was a great way to fall in love with baseball. I was at Fenway for Clemens last start at Fenway when he was first retiring from the Yanks (idk if he ever came as an Astro). I was one of the few booing, until my Dad told me to shut up haha so I started clapping with everyone else. There's no place like Fenway Park.

[Spitball]

The 1967 season was my favorite Red Sox moment, but the late July 2004 game when Bronson Arroyo hit Alex Rodriguez was a great memory, also. As A-Rod was going to first, he was shouting, "F... you!" Varitek stepped between them and ended up shoving his glove in A-Rod's face. A brawl ensued.

 

At the time, the Sox were 9.5 games behind the Yankees. They went on to win that game 11-10 when Bill Mueller hit a 2-run walk off homer against Mariano Rivera. The game seemed to give the Sox a new life the rest of the season.

 

Edited February 10, 2014 by Spitball

[Spitball]

And there was this. Alex Rodriguez slaps the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove and is called out for interference. The Yankee fans threw balls and trash onto the field. Bronson Arroyo is still one of my favorite ex-Red Sox players.

 

[Thunder]

And there was this. Alex Rodriguez slaps the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove and is called out for interference. The Yankee fans threw balls and trash onto the field. Bronson Arroyo is still one of my favorite ex-Red Sox players.

 

 

 

Speaking of favorite ex-Sox players, Ells is on the top of my list. I'm shocked I haven't burned my shirt yet. Rest of the top 5 is Jason Bay, Adrian Beltre, before we knew about the steroids version of Manny, and Youk. Probably a few more that I can't think of off the top of my head.

[Spitball]

Speaking of favorite ex-Sox players, Ells is on the top of my list. I'm shocked I haven't burned my shirt yet. Rest of the top 5 is Jason Bay, Adrian Beltre, before we knew about the steroids version of Manny, and Youk. Probably a few more that I can't think of off the top of my head.

 

I still have my Ellsbury number 46 and Manny number 24. I may never wear either again but hold out hope the Sox will sign someone with the same name and give the same number...Heck, I am probably just a horder.

[seabeachfred]

The 1967 season was my favorite Red Sox moment, but the late July 2004 game when Bronson Arroyo hit Alex Rodriguez was a great memory, also. As A-Rod was going to first, he was shouting, "F... you!" Varitek stepped between them and ended up shoving his glove in A-Rod's face. A brawl ensued.

 

At the time, the Sox were 9.5 games behind the Yankees. They went on to win that game 11-10 when Bill Mueller hit a 2-run walk off homer against Mariano Rivera. The game seemed to give the Sox a new life the rest of the season.

 

 

During Spring Training, 2007, down in Fort Myers, they had a bunch of mimentoes up for auction and one of them was a 18 by 24 picture of Varitek putting his glove and fist in A-Fraud's head. I made a bid of $300.00 and won. That picture hangs in my Red Sox room on the side commemorating the 2004 World Series Championship season. One of my better investments.....And it is not for sale at any price.