For the entire month of October, the Red Sox kept grinding with the type of tunnel vision that allowed them to prevail in every big situation imaginable.
But during the final chapter — the one that solidified that their season will be remembered forever — they finally had a chance to soak it all in. And ditto for their rabid fan base, which was able to cheer on a World Series clincher at Fenway Park for the first time since 1918.
In winning the World Series with a 6-1 victory over the Cardinals in Game 6 on Wednesday night, the Red Sox claimed their place in history in emphatic fashion.
By the end of the fourth inning, they led, 6-0, turning the rest of the night into joyous anticipation for the celebratory pile-up of players that occurred once it truly was over.
“To be honest, the game, it was kind of hard for me to keep my emotions down,” said second baseman Dustin Pedroia. “You always want to win in front of your home fans. It didn’t happen for that long. It’s just special. This whole year, the way it all ended, the way we came back in some of these playoff games, it’s just unbelievable to think about.”
After once going 86 years without a World Series title, the one the Red Sox clinched Wednesday was their third in the past 10 seasons, the most of any team in the Majors over that span.
The one common thread to all three titles won in the last decade? David Ortiz. Even though the Cards finally elected to pitch around Papi in the clincher, he did more than enough to bring home the World Series MVP.
“You know, winning this World Series is special,” said Ortiz. “I think it might be the most special out of all the World Series that I have been part of, to be honest with you.”
