SABR Digital Library: Sox Bid Curse Farewell: The 2004 Boston Red Sox

Sox Bid Curse Farewell: The 2004 Boston Red Sox, edited by Bill Nowlin

Sox Bid Curse Farewell: The 2004 Boston Red Sox
Edited by Bill Nowlin
Publication Date: March 26, 2024

Associate editors: Len Levin and Carl Riechers
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-960819-18-5, $9.99
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-960819-19-2, $34.95

In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in historic fashion. This SABR Digital Library book, published on the 20th anniversary of the 2004 championship, celebrates that team by collecting biographies all of the players on the roster alongside essays about that unprecedented postseason run and its ripples throughout New England. These biographies include everyone on the team, from the stars like David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, and Johnny Damon to a couple of guys who would later manage their own teams in the big leagues in Dave Roberts and Gabe Kapler, to the manager, Terry Francona, and his coaches.

Seeing the team win the World Series for the first time in 86 years resonated throughout New England and “Red Sox Nation” beyond, tapping into the strong sentiments that people have rooting for the underdog. When Dan Shaughnessy wrote the book The Curse of The Bambino, the title resonated with every Red Sox fan. But the “curse” was reversed when the Red Sox avenged that and every other loss to the Yankees by becoming the first team to ever win a seven-game series after being down three games to none.

Chicago Cubs and White Sox fans have had even longer waits, but only the Red Sox had so many excruciating last-minute losses along the way. We hope readers will enjoy the story of Kathryn Gemme, who finally saw her Red Sox win it all again, when she was 109 years old. Also in the book we include the memories of a few dozen fans and details of the first-of-its-kind “trophy tour” to all 351 towns in Massachusetts.

This book began as a project of the Boston Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research, but grew to embrace the contributions of 68 different SABR members, including both Yankees and Cardinals fans.

Below: Find player biographies, memorable game stories, and essays
from Sox Bid Curse Farewell: The 2004 Boston Red Sox

Biographies


Game Recaps

October 24, 2004: Stitched up again, Boston’s Curt Schilling sticks it to St. Louis in Game 2

October 18, 2004: David Ortiz’s walk-off single in 14th lifts Red Sox in Game 5

October 8, 2004: David Ortiz clinches ALDS sweep in extra innings for Red Sox

May 28, 2004: David Ortiz hits 100th career home run as Red Sox beat Mariners

July 23, 2004: Kevin Millar homers three times, but Red Sox lose to Yankees

April 25, 2004: Pedro Martínez, Scott Williamson blank Yankees as Red Sox complete sweep at Yankee Stadium

April 19, 2004: Gabe Kapler and Mike Timlin contribute to Red Sox comeback win over Yankees on Patriots Day

September 25, 2004: Red Sox beat Yankees with seven-run eighth inning

April 16, 2004: Wakefield, Red Sox beat Yankees in first matchup of season

August 12, 2004: Pedro Martínez strikes out 10 Devil Rays batters in shutout

April 17, 2004: New acquisition Curt Schilling beats Yankees for first time in season

October 12, 2004: Late Red Sox rally falls short in ALCS Game 1

April 6, 2004: Red Sox win their first game of a championship season

June 17, 2004: Derek Lowe throws seven shutout innings in his best game of the season  

August 16, 2004: Keith Foulke earns 20th save as Red Sox begin summer surge

September 10, 2004: Ramírez homers twice, Ortiz once, and Schilling walks no one for fifth consecutive game

September 22, 2004: Red Sox win second straight walk-off over Orioles, move closer to clinching wild-card spot

September 7, 2004: Johnny Damon hits his third leadoff home run of the year for Red Sox

October 5, 2004: Red Sox break Game 1 open with 7 runs in fourth inning to beat Angels

October 6, 2004: Red Sox again run up the score in Game 2 against Angels

October 2, 2004: Alan Embree earns hold number 20, with Byun-Hyung Kim getting his second win

April 11, 2004: David Ortiz hits game-winning home run for second game in succession

September 16, 2004: Curt Schilling wins his 20th game for Red Sox

May 7, 2004: Many contributors forge Red Sox rally, walk-off win over Royals

May 8, 2004: Pokey Reese hits inside-the-park home run for Red Sox

September 17, 2004: Mariano Rivera proves mortal, allowing Red Sox a come-from-behind win

September 26, 2004: Red Sox score early, beat Yankees by 7 runs for the second game in succession

October 27, 2004: ‘Now I Can Die in Peace’: Red Sox sweep World Series to win for first time in 86 years

October 16, 2004: Yankees obliterate Red Sox, 19-8, to take commanding lead in ALCS

October 17, 2004: ‘Don’t Let Us Win Tonight!’ Red Sox begin ALCS comeback in Game 4

April 4, 2004: Red Sox stumble out of the gate against retooled Orioles

October 23, 2004: Red Sox continue momentum with Game 1 win in World Series

October 19, 2004: Curt Schilling keeps Red Sox alive in ‘Bloody Sock Game’

September 3, 2004: Two solo homers help Red Sox run win streak to 10 in a row

October 13, 2004: Yankees win something of a pitching duel in the Bronx

October 3, 2004: First baseman Dave McCarty pitches for third time during magical Red Sox season

September 27, 2004: Bronson Arroyo’s 10th win clinches playoff berth for Red Sox

July 6, 2004: Red Sox win their second 11-0 game of the season

October 26, 2004: Red Sox win Game 3 as Cardinals blunder on the basepaths

June 25, 2004: Manny Ramírez’s 5 RBIs help Red Sox to big win over Phillies

July 24, 2004: Red Sox fired up after walk-off win over Yankees at Fenway

September 6, 2004: Manny Ramírez and David Ortiz hit back-to-back home runs for the sixth time in season

September 8, 2004: Red Sox win gets them as close to first place as they will get in the last four months of season

August 8, 2004: Boston’s Tim Wakefield gives up six home runs to Tigers but wins game

April 24, 2004: 26 Red Sox batters go hitless with runners in scoring position, but beat Yankees in 12th

October 20, 2004: ‘Hell freezes over’; Red Sox complete historic ALCS comeback over Yankees in Game 7


Essays


Contributors: Malcolm Allen, Jesse Asbury, Budd Bailey, Lawrence Baldassaro, Bill Ballou, Gerald Beirne, Charlie Bevis, Kevin G. Bley, Rich Bogovich, Mike Bresciani, Robert Brustad, Ralph Caola, Christopher D. Chavis, Walt Cherniak, Karl Cicitto, Eric Conrad, Kit Crissey, Dave Dionisio, Robert Emerson, Jeff English, Anne Enos, M. Frank, Norm Ginsberg, Chad Hagan, Belt High Hallisey, Donna L. Halper, Barry Halpern, Paul Hofmann, Joanne Hulbert, William Hyland, Evan Katz, Seamus Kearney, Norm King, Bob LeMoine, Len Levin, Nick Malian, Scott Melesky, David G. Moore, Mark Morowczynski, Tom Nahigian, Robert Nash, Bill Nowlin, Tony S. Oliver, Ryan Palencer, Tim Peeler, Matt Perry, Eric Poulin, Bill Pruden, José Ramírez, Alexander Reardon, Carl Riechers, Luca Rossi, Keley Russo, Jason Scheller, Mark Schremmer, Paul Semendinger, Vic Son, David Southwick, Mark Stangl, Karen De Luca Stephens, Mark S. Sternman, Jeb Stewart, Cecilia M. Tan, John Tierney, Richard “Dixie” Tourangeau, Greg Tranter, George “Skip” Tuetken, John Vorperian, Bob Webster, Saul Wisnia, Ed Wheatley, and Gregory H. Wolf.

Donate Join

© 2026 SABR. All Rights Reserved.