Boston had one giant Red Sox party for the third time in a decade following Wednesday night's World Series win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Here are eight reasons this was an epic World Series Red Sox fans will never forget.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him @JHelmuth or "like" CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
Red Sox World Series Champs
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David Ortiz Played Like Babe Ruth
...You know, like the greatest hitter of all-time? David Ortiz pretty much single-handedly won the Red Sox's third title this decade by smashing the cover off the ball. The last remaining member of the 2004 World Series championship team, Ortiz won the 2013 World Series MVP Wednesday night after hitting .688 (11-for-16) with two home runs, six RBIs and eight walks -- including four in Game 6 -- for a .760 on-base percentage in 25 plate appearances in the six games played -- second best in the history of the World Series.
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Boston Strong
The Red Sox became the city's emotional haven and back-bone following the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy this past Spring. "Boston Strong" became the city's theme and the slogan was cut into the grass at Fenway Park for the playoffs. Boston and the Red Sox had something to truly fight for. Talk about a metaphor.
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Boston Marathon Survivors....and James Taylor
And of course you can only imagine what the team and the Series meant to the actual survivors of the Boston Marathon -- many of whom got to sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" with James Taylor to open Game 2 at Fenway Park. Some may even remember Taylor's minor mix-up to begin the national anthem when he started playing "America The Beautiful" instead. Either way, Boston was Strong... and Taylor still sounded amazing.
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They Survived The Infamous "Obstruction" Call
Turns out the runner is rewarded the next base whether there was intent to obstruct or not. In the Sox's case it was their third basemen Will Middlebrooks -- who lied in the basepath following an attempt to catch a badly thrown ball by catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia -- that tripped up Cardinals runner Allen Craig while attempting to score at home at the end of Game 3 in St. Louis. Craig was automatically awarded home plate and the Cardinals won 5-4. Red Sox manager John Farrell didn't put up much of an argument with umpire Dana DeMuth once he was given an explanation on the call -- it doesn't mean Red Sox nation liked it too much. Still, with the Sox World Series win, this is call that will be talked about for years.
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Fear The Beards!
Rumors say it was outfielder Johnny Gomes' idea. First baseman Mike Napoli also hadn't shaved since Spring Training -- No matter who's brain child it was, nearly every single Red Sox player donned mountain man rally beards that would make Grizzly Adams jealous. Even Red Sox fans got in on the action and wore their beards to the ball park. The 2013 World Series champion Red Sox will always be remembered for their beards.
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Koji Uehara -- Relief Superman
He was the most dominant reliever in baseball and it really wasn't even close. One Red Sox fan I know said it was like having an Asian Randy Johnson. Only he's much shorter... and he only throws 88 MPH. Yet, no one could hit him. The ALCS MVP shattered MLB records during the second half of the season, literally having possibly the best performance by a reliever we've ever seen. At 38-years-old and coming off a rather mediocre year as a Oriole, Koji went over 34 innings without giving up a single run at one point down the stretch. He retired 37 batters in a row and became the first major league reliever to strikeout 100 batters and walk less than 10. Not shocking the Cardinals had no chance against him and he got the last out of the Series via strikeout.
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Going From Worst To First
Hard to believe it was just months ago the Red Sox were reeling off one of their worst seasons in history. The 2013 Red Sox became just the second team in MLB history and first since the 1991 Minnesota Twins to win the World Series following a year in which they finished in last place.
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The Red Sox Celebrate!...At HOME!
For the first time since 1918 -- nearly 100 years -- the Sox clinched the World Series title at home. To put that time into perspective, the last home World Series win for the Red Sox featured a Babe Ruth being used as a defensive substitute in the outfield.
