The Little Team that Could…Red Sox 2013 World Series Champions

By Stephanie Burke

Last night the Boston Red Sox made history and won the World Series at Fenway Park.  A team hasn’t clinched a World Series there in 95 years (since 1918)! What is so amazing is that this team was all but counted out at the beginning of the season.  In April everyone in the sports world was picking them to be in last place…but this team showed them all they were wrong.

After a disastrous 2012 season that was followed by allegations of an out of shape team that feasted on Chicken and beer…the Sox ownership made some changes.  They replaced failing manager Bobby Valentine with John Farrell.  Farrell was familiar with Boston having worked under former Manager Terry Francona as the pitching coach for the Red Sox from 2007 to 2010.   

John Farrell took this “rebuilding year” team and brought them not only TO the World Series but they won it! They are like the little team that could! First winning the ALCS and then surprising everyone with a phenomenal World Series clinch in Game 6 at their home field!

Shane Victorino started it off with a three-run double in the third inning. Steven Drew had a home run in the 4^th inning and Mike Napoli had an RBI that helped put the sox on top.  Then pitcher John Lackey, who was in the middle of the chicken and beer debacle, redeemed himself in the eyes of Sox fans everywhere.  Lackey pitched 6 and 2/3 innings allowing only one run! Lackey also became the first pitcher to start and win a Series clincher for two different teams (he pitched the Angles to a win in 2002 as a rookie). To close out the game the Sox turned to closing pitcher, and ALCS MVP, Koji Uehara who struck out Matt Carpenter for the final out of the series!

Not surprisingly Red Sox designated hitter, Big Papi (David Ortiz) was named the series MVP.  Papi walked in four of his five at bats (twice was intentional by the Cardinals) and struck out in the other one. But overall overall, Papi was 11-for-16 in the series and had a .750 on-base percentage as he reached base safely in 18 of his 24 at bats.  He had two doubles, two home runs, six RBI and walked seven times, tying the World Series record set by Boston's Carlton Fisk in 1975.

It really was a team effort with Dustin Pedroia, David Ross and Xander Bogaerts (to name a few) all contributing along the way.  This team went from last to first and beyond! The rallied around the city of Boston who needed this win more than most.  They gave Boston something to believe in after tragedy struck in with the Boston Marathon bombings in April and they kept on giving all season long.