2004 WS Celebration
- Thread starter bosockboy
- Start date
The rumor was that he stopped drinking alcohol towards the end of the season (after the September game in Yankee stadium where he got lit up) which contributed to his performance in the playoffs.
In Game Five of the ALCS, watching the clip of Wakefield, Schilling, and Lowe walking to the bullpen in extra inning to a standing ovation by the Fenway fans gave me goosebumps. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a team and the fans successfully spur each other as much as in that series.
However, that it will be a celebration of Tim Wakefield seems somewhat apropos as his selfless act of taking the ball in Game Three of the ALCS, was what told me that they weren't done yet. I had to have brought that up at least once a season when I was coaching Little League.
However, that it will be a celebration of Tim Wakefield seems somewhat apropos as his selfless act of taking the ball in Game Three of the ALCS, was what told me that they weren't done yet. I had to have brought that up at least once a season when I was coaching Little League.
I love when Jeter bunts the runner over to 3rd in game 5, with 1 out and ARod coming up, Yankees up 4-2, and claps, knowing that that one extra run is probably the nail in the coffin.
And then ARod doesn't get the run home.
Edit: because Mike Timlin strikes him out. God I love Mike Timlin.
And then ARod doesn't get the run home.
Edit: because Mike Timlin strikes him out. God I love Mike Timlin.
It was like the inverse reaction that the Cleveland fans had in '99 when Pedro came in. I was in the crowd for those '04 games in the CF bleachers and that was moment that they came out would have been goosebump inducing if it wasn't for the stress/exhaustion I was feeling at the time.
One of the things I still look back on and smile was Timlin in the bullpen. It's pretty common to see NBA or NFL guys encouraging the fans to get loud, not so much in baseball (not sure why, but you don't usually see it). Anyhow, a few different times during games 4 and 5 Timlin would be leaning against the bullpen wall watching the game and was motioning, below wall level, for the fans to get loud. Yes, we were already yelling but he was like the human version of the jumbotron decibel meter - when he'd start motioning with his hand, we'd start yelling louder.
Love this, thank you. This is just the kind of memory I need to get on board with the new season and stop over-thinking everything going on around the team. Let's just enjoy some baseball, dammit!
Would love to be back at Fenway for all this. Might look into tickets and a train up from Philly...
I lived in the Fenway and was out walking one night in May 2004 when I ran across Theo. He lived in what was the new building at the corner of Jersey and Peterborough. The team had just been swept in Texas and I asked him how he was doing. He said he was going to try to eat something and not throw it up watching the game. Then he went unprompted for about a minute complaining about Derek Lowe. I asked if there was an injury or anything and he disgustedly said Lowe wasn't hurt at all. Management was fed up with the guy early in the season, but they stuck with him through the trade deadline and it paid off in the end. But it was no huge surprise when they let him walk at the end of the year.
2004 was the most important season in Red Sox history. It's a perfect time to reminisce about what an incredible year that was. And so for the whole year, from now til the end of the World Series, I will be giving SOSH a special discount on my book The Forgotten Game. It's about Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS, but really, about much more than that.
Go here and use the discount code SOSH2024 - it gives you a 20% discount on this book only (not autographed version). And if you want me to sign it I'm happy to do that for free, so just order the regular copy (not the autographed version) and then either make a note in your order or shoot me a PM and I'll take care of that for you.
Go here and use the discount code SOSH2024 - it gives you a 20% discount on this book only (not autographed version). And if you want me to sign it I'm happy to do that for free, so just order the regular copy (not the autographed version) and then either make a note in your order or shoot me a PM and I'll take care of that for you.
When Lowe showed up to the Toilet for Game 7, his shoes were "missing" from his locker. Someone ran to a sporting goods store and bought whatever size shoe he needed. Because they weren't whatever brand Lowe normally wore, they were painted black to cover the logo.
One of the greatest things to me is how celebrated the 2004 team was and how its importance seemed to be understood by other teams across baseball. Two things stood out to me to signify this.
Derek Lowe signing a monster contract with the Dodgers signaling the end of his RS career. Yet on Fenway opening day he left the Dodgers, flew across the country obviously with their consent, and was on the third base line introduced with the team. I have a pretty strong feeling that if that was say a WS he had won with the Braves, Brewers, Tigers, et al, he would have stayed in LA, and
Kevin Millar throwing out the first pitch for the RS v Cleveland WHILE HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES IN THE SAME DIVISION AS THE RS!!! I was absolutely blown away stunned by this. I can’t believe the Orioles ok’ed this.
Derek Lowe signing a monster contract with the Dodgers signaling the end of his RS career. Yet on Fenway opening day he left the Dodgers, flew across the country obviously with their consent, and was on the third base line introduced with the team. I have a pretty strong feeling that if that was say a WS he had won with the Braves, Brewers, Tigers, et al, he would have stayed in LA, and
Kevin Millar throwing out the first pitch for the RS v Cleveland WHILE HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES IN THE SAME DIVISION AS THE RS!!! I was absolutely blown away stunned by this. I can’t believe the Orioles ok’ed this.
Glad I didn’t know that. Would have been one more reason to freak (are they sure they’re the right size? )
The irony of this thread is back in '04-'13 when us old timers would reminisce about '67, '75, or '86 we took a ton of crap for it from a lot of you guys posting in here. "Stop living in the past..." sums it up. Full circle indeed.
But please, carry on as you were. I'm looking forward to the ceremony as much as anyone.
But please, carry on as you were. I'm looking forward to the ceremony as much as anyone.
Our tickets we received for my mini-season ticket plan for ALCS Game 4 2004 were somehow located in the front row of the bleachers right behind the Sox pitching mound/in front of the 420 mark. On the one hand they still hadn't rearranged the bleacher seating to remove that stupid 8 foot tall fence structure which partially blocks a sideways view like we had for Papi's winning homer. But on the other, being so close to the bullpen and feeling the energy from the guys down there was awesome.
Not exactly a WS memory but thought I’d share this bizarro moment- opening day 2005 after all the introductions and Rivera tipping his cap, there’s a moment of silence for Dick Radatz who had died that week. The place is completely silent…you can hear a pin drop. I’m sitting in the loge boxes in line with the 3rd base on deck circle and a guy in the section in front of me yells out “A-Rod you suck” as loudly as he can. There are some snickers and then a few minutes later a guy comes down and picks a fight with him so there’s a fistfight in the aisle almost directly in front of me…went on for a good minute before they broke it up.
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First off, I purchased this book and would encourage everyone to take advantage of this offer. It's a good read.
I am 100% on board with celebrating the 2004 team all year long. I know others might be tired of it but I could listen/watch/read about that team everyday for the rest of my life and still be entertained. The most important season in Red Sox history indeed.
As the guy finished his "suck", the PA guy says, "Thank you" as if this were planned.
The best part was the long pause.
"Hey, A-Rod! . . .
. . . YOU SUCK!"
Because of the silence requested in honor of (a) the recently deceased Pope John Paul II and (b) the late Dick Radatz, the guy's voice could be heard all over the park. The way I remember it was not a few snickers but loud laughter everywhere.
Anyone here going to the home opener? I bought a decent seat the other day from the Sox and there seems to be quite a few available.
I’m looking forward to my first home opener, and psyched that the 2004 team will be there. Also to honor Wake.
Hoping for sunshine.
I’m looking forward to my first home opener, and psyched that the 2004 team will be there. Also to honor Wake.
Hoping for sunshine.
I am going! Grabbed 2 tix in RF Box section 95, row NN, so no obstructions. Supposed to be sunny and high 50’s. I‘m super looking forward to seeing the 2004 team and tribute to the Wakefield’s. I’m driving down that day from northern Vermont so curious how much solar eclipse traffic I may have to deal with…we are in the path of totality
I will be there in spirit, as will my grandfather, who attended the opening game at Fenway in 1912 (and thought that Joe Wood was the balls), and my Dad, who attended the 50th opening day game in 1962 and whom I dedicated the Win It For thread to, and my boys, who both attended the 100th-anniversary game in 2012 with me.
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I’ll be there. Started a tradition of taking whichever niece or nephew was graduating to an Opening Day. This will be the last one…a nephew. They sure grow up fast…
I will say, it’ll be a bit unusual. While I’m very excited about the 20th anniversary of the 2004 team, it’s so odd that my nephew wasn’t even born when that exciting season wrapped up….
He’s heard plenty of stories, though…
I will say, it’ll be a bit unusual. While I’m very excited about the 20th anniversary of the 2004 team, it’s so odd that my nephew wasn’t even born when that exciting season wrapped up….
He’s heard plenty of stories, though…
I'll be there like I have for every Opening Day since 2000 (the non-Covid ones, anyway). I'm excited for the view from my newly upgraded season tickets in the first row of GS16. I'm sure I'll be daydreaming about June and July games right around the 6th inning when it starts getting really cold. But it's always nice to be back in the ballpark after 6 months away.
Cross posting the quote above which is part of what I wrote in the Fenway Experience thread...Obviously this opening day will be a special one considering the celebration of the 2004 World Series Champs as well as the team honoring Tim and Stacey Wakefield. From 2000-2020 my wife and I would normally attend 4-6 games each year. Up until the time that he retired it seemed that nearly every game we went to Tim Wakefield was the scheduled starter. As game day would approach and we could see how the rotation would line up for our game we would always joke, "Jesus, Wakefield again!!!" Seems only natural that our return to Fenway should be for this year's opener. I just got a pair of tix in our preferred section which is on the first base side of home plate in the State Street Pavilion. As is the norm, we'll leave early, park at Riverside, take the T to the Fenway stop, grab a bite at El Pelon and enter the park when the gates open. Off course the pre-game ceremonies are the big draw here, but we're also looking forward to our first opening day and seeing some of these young, exciting players that look to be the beginning of what we all hope will be the young core to usher in the next wave of World Series championships.
I found this from Mass Live. Looks like the gates open at 12:10 and fans are asked to be seated by 1:30.
https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2023/03/red-sox-opening-day-when-will-fenway-park-gates-open-when-will-pregame-ceremony-begin.html
When I was dating my future wife, who wasn’t (and sadly, isn’t) a huge baseball fan, the first game I took her to was a Wakefield start in 1997. Of course, the first batter of the game strikes out, but reaches base on a passed ball. Really complicated things when trying to explain the rules of the game to a newbie.
Fast forward fourteen years, as we bring our one year old daughter to her first Fenway game and wouldn’t you know who is the starting pitcher once again…none other than Tim Wakefield.
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Duh...I guess that "Opening Day at Fenway Park is Thursday against the Orioles." should have tipped me off. I'm guessing it should be mentioned during the broadcasts of today and tomorrow's games.
Bumping to ask if anyone's heard anymore on what time the gates open and what time the pregame ceremonies begin. It's pretty strange just a day before the opener that we still can't find any sort of statement by the team. I did send an email to the ticket office yesterday, but haven't gotten a reply yet.
Thanks, that's what we're leaning toward as home openers tend to have a bit of pregame pomp attracted to them even under "normal" circumstances. I was just curious if there was anything official that might be to the contrary due to the uniqueness off this season's opener.
Fuck if we can get 400 hits out of Manny this season that's going to solve a lot of problems even if just 40 of them are HRs.
I was there, and this is also my recollection.
The cheer for Mariano when he was announced is one of my favorite live baseball memories (that was not an actual play).
Opening Day 2005
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5-cZagtNl0
The 26:46 mark made it dusty in here
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5-cZagtNl0
The 26:46 mark made it dusty in here
Anyone know how to watch this that lives outside NESN territory, doesn’t have MLBN but does have MLB.tv (it’s insane .tv does not inckkce MLBN but I digress)?
37:37 mark for Mariano's ovation; 47:45 is the start of the moment of silence and the "A-Rod you suck" is audible.
View: https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/1777389794311491840
the attendee list
Edit
Reason for Pedro's absence
View: https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/1777393174626885634
the attendee list
Edit
Reason for Pedro's absence
View: https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/1777393174626885634
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