ST. LOUIS – OCTOBER 27: The Boston Red Sox celebrate after winning game four of the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 27, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 3-0 to win their first World Series in 86 years. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 3–0 in Game 4 of the World Series on October 27, 2004, capturing their first championship since 1918. The victory ended an 86-year wait for a World Series title for a franchise whose devoted fans continued to support the team through generations of disappointment. The championship also brought an end to what baseball fans had long called the Curse of the Bambino, a superstition that began after Boston sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees following the 1918 season. For generations of Red Sox fans, the 2004 championship represented the end of a long-standing chapter in the team’s history.
Boston Takes a 3–0 Series Lead
The Red Sox entered Game 4 with a 3–0 lead after winning the first three games of the World Series. In Game 1, Boston won 11–9 in a high-scoring game, with David Ortiz and Mark Bellhorn hitting home runs. The Cardinals also had a strong offensive performance, with Edgar Rentería and Larry Walker contributing important hits. Boston won Game 2 by a score of 6–2, with Curt Schilling delivering a strong pitching performance despite an injured ankle. In Game 3, Pedro Martínez pitched seven scoreless innings to help Boston win 4–1. Although Larry Walker hit a home run for St. Louis in the ninth inning, the Cardinals were unable to overcome Boston’s lead, leaving the Red Sox just one win away from their first World Series championship since 1918.
Game 4: The Red Sox Make History
On October 27, 2004, the Red Sox faced the Cardinals in Game 4 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, needing just one more win to become World Series champions. Boston got off to a quick start when Johnny Damon hit a leadoff home run in the first inning, giving the Red Sox an early 1–0 lead. In the third inning, Trot Nixon hit a two-run double, bringing home two more runs and extending Boston’s lead to 3–0.
Starting pitcher Derek Lowe played an important role in the victory, as he did not allow the Cardinals to score any runs in seven innings while giving up only three hits. The Cardinals struggled to score against Lowe, but they continued trying to get runners on base and make a comeback. Boston’s bullpen took over for the final two innings, helping maintain the lead.
In the ninth inning, Albert Pujols hit a single for St. Louis, giving the Cardinals a chance to start a comeback. However, Boston’s closer, Keith Foulke, retired the next two batters before getting Edgar Rentería to hit a ground ball back to the mound. Foulke fielded the ball and threw it to first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz for the final out.
The 3–0 victory completed Boston’s four-game sweep of the Cardinals and secured the team’s first World Series championship since 1918. After 86 years without a title, the Red Sox finally ended the long wait for their fans and brought the Curse of the Bambino to an end.
