5 years ago today -- Red Sox history changed forever

[SSFan 6.33]

A great post on WEEI.com
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/red-sox/alex-speier/2009/07/24/red-sox-independence-day-remembering-brawl-walk-and-cha


For those New Englanders who believe in the notion of a Red Sox Nation, July 24 must be considered the culture’s independence day.

From a symbolic standpoint, it was five years ago today that Red Sox history altered irrevocably. On July 24, 2004, the Red Sox claimed perhaps the most important regular-season win in franchise history.

The 11-10 victory over the Yankees that day marked not merely a reversal in the standings, but also a change in the culture and psychology of rivals.

Do you know where you were when this game happened?  I was in Seattle, sick in my hotel room while my family was attending a wedding.  It was the Fox Game of the week, so I got to watch it.

[Redz]

Mark Bellhorn!

[Donoghus]

I was at a BBQ at my buddy's place in Walpole.

We were outside hanging in his pool and he had a tv out on the deck.

Surreal game.

Bill Mueller, he was the silent assassin on that team.  Quietly did his thing.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRGUqd_M6Mg

Tek basically did this, with a huge assist from Bill Mueller.

[Rondo2287]

I was going into the burlington mall, some yankee fan was watching the game on delay in radio shack, I bet him 10 bucks mueller took rivera yard

[Truck Lewis]

wow,,,,5 years already???

I was in a hoop tourney that whole day.  Fortunately the brawl happened when we were between games and we caught it while eating lunch.   After we lost by 2 points in the tourney final  we all went home in awful moods, especially since we were updated of the sox losing heading into the 9th. 

Fortunately we got home just as the 9th started and once billy mueller showed the world that he is Mo Rivera's kryptonite, we were ready to go crazy that night.

[Jon Niednagel]

I was in a sports bar with some good friends (and several hundred die-hard Red Sox fans) in Portland, ME. I will never forget that night. I happened to be wearing one of those "Yankee Hater" caps that look remarkably similar to a Yankees cap. I had to explain myself all night as the hat was a fairly new thing at the time. It was good for a few laughs and generated some funny conversation, but I hated the thought of anyone mistaking me for a Yankees fan so I never wore it again. Hmm, maybe that was the key to the Sox success…

[RAcker]

From a philosophical standpoint I will just point out that history never changes.  Before this date mentioned in the OP it was what it was and still is what it is.  The Red Sox have just been having success, so enjoy it in the present, McFly. 

The history books won't change just because of the last several years. 

[the_Bird]

Incredible game, but the Yankees/Red Sox dynamic did not and could not change in the regular season. 

Dave Roberts.  That game five years ago was one for the ages, but it didn't prevent those Edited for profanity.  Please do not do it again.s from nearly sweeping us in the postseason.  It was Roberts' steal that changed things, not the brawl (how much could the brawl have really mattered given the beatdown they gave us in games 1-3?).

[ma11l]

I think history also truly changed the day they made the Nomar trade.  Without that trade they don't win that year and who knows we might still be talking about the curse.

[Donoghus]

The whole month of July really impacted what ended up happening that October.

-You had the Nomar incident at Yankee Stadium.  That epic game where Jeter went into the stands.  In contrast, you had Nomar sitting on the bench when his teammates were up in the railing.  Might have been the final straw or close to it in terms of Nomar in a Red Sox jersey.

-July 24th:  Sox comeback against the Yankees at Fenway.  I think the Sox ability to get at Rivera this game helped them down the road.

-July 31st:  The Nomar trade.  Sox don't make that trade, they don't win it all.  It significantly improved their team defense which had been poor to that point in the '04 season.  It also changed the chemistry and really lit a fire under a team that was pretty much underachieving to that point in the season.

An amazing season.

[Redz]

From a philosophical standpoint I will just point out that history never changes.  Before this date mentioned in the OP it was what it was and still is what it is.  The Red Sox have just been having success, so enjoy it in the present, McFly. 

The history books won't change just because of the last several years. 

Ah, but from a practical standpoint history is guided by perspective.  History will record it as a changing of the guard.  A vanquishing of a long superior nemesis.  A victory for the underdog, and a colossal collapse by a fading force.

[libermaniac]

To me, the evidence that things had changed and the curse was lifted was when A-Rod slapped the ball out of Arroyo's glove and the ball when skidding down the line.  I was shocked as the Sox seemed destined to blow yet another one.  But, the umpires REVERSED THE CALL!  Truly a new day!

Thanks Tek for making it all happen!

[Donoghus]

Gotta love the urban legend about Varitek telling A-Rod that "we don't throw at .220 hitters"

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

Gotta love the urban legend about Varitek telling A-Rod that "we don't throw at .220 hitters"

That was a favorite line in college... We used variations on that all the time. I honestly hope to god that was truly said.