Those Idiot Red Sox

The players on the 2004 Red Sox team called themselves “The Idiots,” a satirical comment on their formal schooling (only two had gone beyond high school). What “The Idiots” did is a go figure story, ask any Yankee fan.

I grew up in New England so I was born into Red Sox nation long before that name became a successful marketing strategy. Every spring was filled with excitement that this would be the year.
The Bosox would contend for awhile, sometimes quite a while but in the end it would be the "Red Flops" and the big let down. Oh sure they made it into some World Series but they managed to lose them all. The most egregious flop being against
to the Mets when the Sox came within one strike of winning it all before losing again.

I knew all about “The Curse of the Bambino” referring to the Sox sale of a guy named Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1918, the last year Boston won a World Series.

The 2004 “ Idiots” had their ups and downs but they made the playoffs. A sign in the locker room read 11 more wins. A few eyebrows lifted when the Sox swept the A’s in three. But now it was those dreaded Yankees for the American League title.


The Yankees won the first three games-a kiss of death. No major league team has ever come back to win a seven game series after losing the first three. In game four the Yankees were leading when the best closer in baseball, Mario Rivera came on to finish it off. A bloop single, a pinch runner and a solid hit and the game was tied. The Idiots would not lose again-taking an unprecedented four straight
from the Yankees
to get into the World Series and then tokk four straight from the St. Louis Cardinals which that year had the best record in the majors.

Why 2004? Why “The Idiots?”

Did God finally have mercy on the long suffering Sox fans? Was it the new owners and manager who categorically dismissed the Curse but quickly labeled the Yankees “The Evil Empire?”
Maybe it was David Ortiz who always pointed skyward with both arms as he crossed home plate after each homerun. Or was it pitcher Curt Schilling’s cross on a chain, which he kissed and tucked under his shirt each time he started a game.
Perhaps it was the faithful holding signs and chanting in the stands, ”We Believe, We Believe.”

Whatever. If we don’t believe we are the idiots.

John Obrien
Portland, Maine