2004 American League Championship Series

2004 American League Championship Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season
Boston Red Sox (4) Terry Francona 98–64, .605, GB: 3
New York Yankees (3) Joe Torre 101–61, .623, GA: 3
DatesOctober 12–20
MVPDavid Ortiz (Boston)
UmpiresRandy Marsh
Jeff Nelson
John Hirschbeck
Jim Joyce
Jeff Kellogg
Joe West
Broadcast
TelevisionFox (United States)
MLB International (International)
TV announcersJoe Buck, Tim McCarver, Al Leiter, and Kenny Albert (Fox)
Dave O'Brien and Rick Sutcliffe (MLB International)
RadioESPN
Radio announcersJon Miller and Joe Morgan
ALDS
← 2003 ALCS 2005 →

The 2004 American League Championship Series was the Major League Baseball playoff series deciding the 2004 season American League champion earning the privilege to play in the 2004 World Series. A rematch of the 2003 American League Championship Series, it was played between the Boston Red Sox, who had won the AL wild card and defeated the Anaheim Angels in the American League Division Series, and the New York Yankees, who had won the AL East with the best record in the AL and defeated the Minnesota Twins. The Red Sox became the first (and to date only) team in MLB history to come back from a 3–0 series deficit to win a best-of-seven series. Prior to the 2004 ALCS, no MLB team had so much as forced a Game 7 under those circumstances – and only one team since 2004 has been able to do so (that team being the 2020 Houston Astros, who after being down 3–0 in the ALCS went on to lose in seven games to the Tampa Bay Rays).

In Game 1, Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina pitched a perfect game through six innings, while the Red Sox recovered from an eight-run deficit to close within one run before the Yankees eventually won.[1] A home run by John Olerud helped the Yankees win Game 2. The Yankees gathered 22 hits in Game 3 on their way to an easy win.[2] The Yankees led Game 4 by one run in the ninth inning, but a steal of second base by Red Sox base runner Dave Roberts and a single by Bill Mueller off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera tied the game.[3] David Ortiz hit a homerun in extra innings for the Red Sox win. In Game 5, Ortiz hit a 14th inning walk-off single for the Red Sox. Curt Schilling pitched seven innings in Game 6 for the Red Sox, during which time his right foot sock became soaked in blood due to an ankle injury.[4] Game 7 featured the Red Sox paying back New York for their Game 3 blowout with a dominant performance on the road, anchored by Derek Lowe and bolstered by two Johnny Damon home runs including an upper deck grand slam. Manny Ramirez was named the Most Valuable Player of the series.[5]

The Red Sox went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, winning their first World Series championship in 86 years and ending the so-called Curse of the Bambino.

  1. ^ Shaughnessy, Dan (October 13, 2004). "An Opening Night Shortfall; Red Sox Rally but Lose Game 1 to Yankees, 10–7". The Boston Globe. p. A1.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference 19-18 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Shaughnessy 2005, pp. 197–199
  4. ^ Cleveland, Jeffery (February 24, 2013). "Curt Schilling's bloody sock sells for $92,613 at auction". USA Today. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  5. ^ Shaughnessy, Dan (October 21, 2004). "A World Series ticket; Sox complete comeback, oust Yankees for AL title". The Boston Globe. p. A1.

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