Liza Ketchum

“El Bencho” throws out the first pitch at Fenway for game 7 of the ALCS. By Jared Vincent on Flickr [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Long before Kevin Millar was sharing his “Got Heeem!” catch phrase on national television, he rallied his 2004 Red Sox teammates with the challenge of “Cowboy Up!” In fact, fans remember quite a few things Millar has said through the seasons.

Bill Mueller in 2005. Googie man at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Forget Clark Kent. Bill Mueller was the mild-mannered surprise for the 2004 Red Sox.

Winner of a league batting title that year, he pounded the rival Cardinals for six hits in the World Series.

Small wonder the St. Louis-area native was hired by the Cardinals as a 2015 coach.

From a 1966 magazine ad touting their new single, “Dirty Water.” Imagine what Red Sox caps would do to those hairdos! By Tower Records (Billboard page 39, 16 April 1966) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Brandon loved singing “Dirty Water,” the Red Sox victory song.

The lead singer for the Standells was a Red Sox fan!

See how he loved the team’s embrace of his hit:

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The strong right arm of Jim Lonborg sent the Sox to the 1967 World Series. By Boston Red Sox / MLB (ebay.com, front of photo, back of photo) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

In Out of Left Field, Brandon saw many connections between his father’s past and his present.

Brandon’s 2004 Red Sox faced the Cardinals in the World Series that year, just like in 1967.

Relive the final step that “Impossible Dream” team took to the ’67 Fall Classic here:

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This “team picture” of the 2004 World Series champs was taken during a 2005 congratulatory ceremony at the White House. By Paul Morse [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

One rare high point of the 2014 season was Fenway’s 10-year reunion of the 2004 champs.

See how the “Idiots” relived that glory.

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The view from atop Fenway’s Green Monster is great. The view from WITHIN? The on-field scoreboard operators get that rare perspective every game. By InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Brandon loved sitting by the Pesky Pole in Fenway, but he knew what was definitely the best seat in the house:

In 2011, a fan got a peek inside Fenway Park's famed manual scoreboard. By C.S. Imming (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

In 2011, a fan got a peek inside Fenway Park’s famed manual scoreboard. Notice the dents from all the line drives! By C.S. Imming (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Fenway Park is prized as a vintage baseball relic.

However, the hand-operated scoreboard is a replica installed in mid-2001.

The whereabouts of the original fixture created a mystery.

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During the 2008 season, Wally tried to persuade Fenway fans to recycle. By malo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

One of the veterans on the 2004 championship team was Wally the Green Monster.

The mascot debuted in April, 1997. Wally is our grandson’s favorite Red Sox.

Meet the executive who gets the credit (or blame) for the birth of a monster:

Pumpsie Green's role in Red Sox history is examined by Howard Bryant. By Derek Green (PUMPSIE GREEN AND D. GREEN) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Pumpsie Green’s role in Red Sox history is examined by author Howard Bryant. By Derek Green (PUMPSIE GREEN AND D. GREEN) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I’ve been enjoying ESPN personality Howard Bryant’s latest book, Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball.

Bryant is a Red Sox history expert, too. His book for adult readers, Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston, is a revealing look at the team’s struggles with integration.

Here, Bryant talks about growing up in Boston (divulging how he could be a Yankee fan as a boy).

All posts by Liza Ketchum

Kevin ‘Cowboy Up!’ Millar kept 2004 Red Sox colorful

Was Bill Mueller Boston’s Clark Kent in 2004?

The Boston Red Sox love their ‘Dirty Water’

The 2004 Red Sox versus 1967’s ‘Impossible Dream’

A decade later, the Red Sox ‘Idiots’ were still celebrating

Trot Nixon’s family, author Matt Tavares, made Red Sox autographs matter

How to be truly INSIDE Fenway Park

What happened to the original Fenway Park scoreboard?

Who is the father of Boston Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster?

ESPN’s Howard ‘Legends’ Bryant knows Red Sox baseball, too