Same to you! Our baby can now vote!By the way, guys, Happy Anniversary!!!!!
Came here to post this myself. While I remain a huge baseball fan, just not of the Sox in particular, the 2004 Red Sox remain my favourite team ever, and in my opinion are the greatest team in baseball history. I will always celebrate October 27th.By the way, guys, Happy Anniversary!!!!!
I was at this game. Every word you posted is on the money, though I may go with "most entertaining game" or "most dramatic game" or even "most memorable game" rather than "best game". Because, scoreboard.For my money, this loss to the Yankees was the best game I’ve ever seen:
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Commonly known as “The Jeter Dives into the Stands Game” (tho as I note below, historical accuracy requires that it be known as “The Pokey Catch Game”), this was the best regular season game during the rivalry in my memory. The Red Sox had lost both of the first two games in the series horribly. The first one I believe Derek Lowe got smoked by Tony Clark who hit a homer to dead center. I believe the second game had the ball literally go throw Ortiz’s glove at first base to plate the winning run.
This game, tho, was epic. Extra innings, multiple crazy defensive shifts, every pitch felt like the full weight of history was on the shoulders of both teams. I remember Gary Sheffield being brought in from right field to add a fifth person to the infield at third base to prevent the go-ahead run from scoring (it worked). And John Flaherty got the game winning hit after Manny put us up in the top of the 13th.
It’s best remembered now for Jeter’s catch in the stands which left him bloodied and woozy but Pokey had the same play to make, caught it and didn’t have to be helped off the field.
Incredible game that set the table for the classic Mueller walkoff game a few weeks later. Somewhat lost to time given what transpired in the playoffs. But as good as the rivalry ever got. And Pokey got his revenge in October.
Point is, I agree, incredible baseball reminds you these games, wins and losses alike, are just chapters to a longer story. And that story is still being written.
I've never commented on this on the board, but that 2003-2004 offseason, I met Nomar (with his fiancée Mia Hamm) at a basketball game in Austin (U Texas vs U Tenn women). My son, 5 at the time, was a huuuge Nomar fan and Nomar chatted with us after the game for 10 minutes, took pictures, asked my son about his baseball team, etc. He was a prince. We couldn't have had a better "hero/celebrity" experience. My son gave him one of those Christmas Tree ornaments that you can customize (Nomar & Mia's 1st Christmas) because Pat Summit, who had met my son waiting for her luggage at the airport the previous day, had quietly promised him that Nomar would be at the next day's game to meet him (she also gave us 4 tickets right behind her bench). That was the offseason in which the Boston press painted Nomar as selfish, pouting, etc. Nothing could be further from the truth.I was at this game. Every word you posted is on the money, though I may go with "most entertaining game" or "most dramatic game" or even "most memorable game" rather than "best game". Because, scoreboard.
Welcome back!Came here to post this myself. While I remain a huge baseball fan, just not of the Sox in particular, the 2004 Red Sox remain my favourite team ever, and in my opinion are the greatest team in baseball history. I will always celebrate October 27th.
Please stay home in the future.You want shitty memorable games?
I was at WS Game 7 in 1975
I was at ALCS Game 4 in 1986 (underrated devastating loss -- thanks, Calvin Schiraldi)
I was at WS Game 6 in 1986
I was at WS Game 7 in 1986
I was at ALCS Game 7 in 2003
[And both Pats/Giants SB's for good measure.]
But I was also at the Dave Henderson game in 1986, and will cherish that memory forever.
I live in the Philly area. I think they're worse then Yankee fans as far as hostility to opposing fans. And they wear it on their sleeve and enjoy the reputation. You nailed it 100 % on Pokey's catch at that July 2004 game.I was at that 11th inning game and the Aaron Boone game.
I was also at the Schilling bloody sock game and games when Jeter and Mariano were booed.
So I don't see myself as a bad or good luck charm. Or any other fan in that light.
I fully agree with and endorse the notion that no level of drama can compensate for losing to those motherless fucks and their hugely awful fans.
Some people will say that fans are fans, and Boston fans can be awful, too. That may be true. But to my eyes, and in my experience, Yankees fans are different in kind and are particularly awful in countless ways. And having to endure them during and after those two games was hideously hideous. And more than anything: scoreboard. No amount of drama changed the fact that the Yankees and not the Sox played the Marlins in the WS and the Yankees got the W that regular seaon late night.
And Pokey's catch was better and more graceful.
And Jeter should have peeled off rather than launched.
And Grady was Grady, which confirmed everyone's worst fears at the worst possible moment.
Incidentally, I met Mia Hamm in the crowd at Game 7/2003, and while she was shy, she could not have been nicer and less "big time."
I was at ALCS Game 3 in Oakland in 1975 when the Sox completed a three game ALCS sweep of the A's. Had tickets for games 4 and 5 also for which I received a refund. Rick Wise!You want shitty memorable games?
I was at WS Game 7 in 1975
I was at ALCS Game 4 in 1986 (underrated devastating loss -- thanks, Calvin Schiraldi)
I was at WS Game 6 in 1986
I was at WS Game 7 in 1986
I was at ALCS Game 7 in 2003
[And both Pats/Giants SB's for good measure.]
But I was also at the Dave Henderson game in 1986, and will cherish that memory forever.
While living in SD, I watched the Yankees sweep the Padres, so the Sox winning was needed to help wash that stink off. Side note for bad beats: got seats from a buddy with season tickets, literally first row third base side (they added seats actually on grass for WS but still) who was out of town and only needed to get to game 5 to see one himself…swept out of seeing a single game.I was at ALCS Game 3 in Oakland in 1975 when the Sox completed a three game ALCS sweep of the A's. Had tickets for games 4 and 5 also for which I received a refund. Rick Wise!