Sporting the “C” on his jersey, Jason Varitek led Boston’s 2004 rise. Googie man at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Catcher Jason Varitek was a field general in 2004, guiding a pitching staff.

On July 24 at Fenway Park, he proved to the Yankees and one Alex Rodriguez how far he’d go for a pitcher.

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In 2006, Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky displayed his team pride via his World Series ring. By Hackhix (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Boston players played for “a ring” in 2004.

And what a ring they earned! Their World Series ring read on one side: “Greatest Comeback in History.”

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Manny Ramirez, who provided an all-star homer, gets the all-star treatment at the 2004 World Series victory parade. By Schmiddy at en.wikipedia (Uploaded to the English Wikipedia by the author.) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Manny Ramirez was the sole Red Sox starter on the 2004 All-Star team.

However, Manny and David Ortiz contributed key homers that guaranteed Boston home field advantage for the World Series.

Here are all the stats you’d ever need to relive that night. 

The mysterious Manny Ramirez, circa 2008. By Keith Allison (Flickr) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The words “Manny being Manny” are part of my book Out of Left Field.

They’re being spoken more than a decade later, repeated by Hall of Fame teammate Pedro Martinez.

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Dave Roberts wore a different team cap during the 2010 off-season: the U.S. Navy’s. He toured the USS Carl Vinson as a Padres coach. By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Travis K. Mendoza (http://www.flickr.com/photos/compacflt/5260980927/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

More Boston news outlets than California media jumped on the story when former Red Sox speedster Dave Roberts (briefly) was named interim manager of the Padres.

It seems those reporters haven’t forgotten “The Steal” from 2004, either. 

My husband and I were lucky to attend the Sox/Giants game, the summer after the World Series, which marked Roberts’ first return to Fenway Park. The crowd went wild when he came up to bat and gave him a standing ovation, even though he was now playing for the other team.

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Writing or announcing, Verducci knows how devoted Boston fans are! By Sandy_Alderson_and_Tom_Verducci.jpeg: Caryn Rose derivative work: Delaywaves talk (Sandy_Alderson_and_Tom_Verducci.jpeg) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The 2004 Red Sox revival meant the world to Brandon in Out of Left Field.

In reality, other fans felt the same.

Tom Verducci crafted the perfect tribute to the Boston faithful, a feature that keeps inspiring more than a decade later.

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“Wake” throwing his knuckler in a 2006 battle at Baltimore. By Waldo Jaquith on Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Although he didn’t sparkle in the ’04 World Series, Tim Wakefield supplied Boston with a dozen victories prior to the Fall Classic. 

He did it all with one mystical pitch.  

Here’s one of his starring moments (including some slow-motion artistry) from the 2012 documentary, Knuckleball:

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Nomar in 2002. By Dlz28 on en.wikipedia (From en.wikipedia; description page is (was) here) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Through 2003, Nomar Garciaparra was a Boston sparkplug. 

His strict at-bat rituals—which started when he left the dugout, one careful step at a time—amused fans. He had five All-Star nods. Two batting titles. Brandon and other fans expected him to help spark Boston’s turnaround.

What happened?

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Frank Malzone, who became a Red Sox Hall of Famer in 1995, is quoted by author Golenbock as saying his promotion from the minors was delayed because of his Italian heritage.

As the Sox struggle this year, we need to look back on successful seasons in the past. 

A good place to do that is with Peter Golenbock’s history, Red Sox Nation: The Rich and Colorful History of the Boston Red Sox. 

Golenbock writes team histories like no other author. This 608-page book will provide any Red Sox Nation citizen a mental and physical workout.

“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.