'Sporting News' misses out on Red Sox Iconic Moment
Ben Whitehead
Contributing Writer
When Sporting News released its MLB Iconic Moments piece, it struck me as odd when I came across the Boston Red Sox “moment.” Maybe it’s because I like to erase the 86-year curse from my memory and think of the Sox not as loveable losers, but as the team of the last decade. Three World Series titles will do that, I guess, but I know the history of the Red Sox between 1918 and 2004 was a mixed bag of emotions – mostly those associated with losing in the most, um, err, iconic and excruciating ways.
I was hoping to see Keith Foulke flipping the ball to Doug Mientkiewicz just before being mobbed by the ’04 Idiots and reminiscing the calls by a couple of Joes – Castiglione and Buck, to be exact. Or maybe “The Bullpen Cop” photo, although I realize the significance there was more for 2013 than an entire franchise’s history.
Instead, Sporting News chose Carlton Fisk willing the baseball fair just before it clanked off the foul pole atop The Wall. You can browse each MLB team’s “Iconic Moment” here (Note: They are listed in alphabetical order by team name).
Of course, with a history like Boston’s, there are plenty of moments to be argued here. The Fisk moment, to me, reminds me of just another “What if?” A lot of people outside New England forget Fisk’s homer only knotted the series at three-apiece, sending it to Game 7 where the Reds won the World Series. For 86 years, it probably was one of the greatest, most team-defining moments in Red Sox history. However, it's still a What-if moment. What if the Sox won that series? What if Billy Buckner fielded the ball in '86. What if Grady Little takes out Pedro Martinez in 2003?
We’re in 2014 now and the Red Sox have three championships in 10 years. They have eight overall, good for fourth in MLB and just three behind the Cardinals for second place all-time. Maybe it's my fan bias, my red-colored glass, my red Kool-Aid ... everything is unicorns, rainbows and strawberry ice cream after another World Championship. I like to think of this franchise with a "better" iconic moment.
Some moments that stick out to me and define what this franchise is about are:
I’m sure there are many more, so let’s hear your most iconic Red Sox moment. Do you agree with Sporting News? Tweet us @RedSoxLife!
Like what you read? See more from Ben here.
Have a question or comment for Ben? Give him a shout on Twitter: @thebenwhitehead
Contributing Writer
When Sporting News released its MLB Iconic Moments piece, it struck me as odd when I came across the Boston Red Sox “moment.” Maybe it’s because I like to erase the 86-year curse from my memory and think of the Sox not as loveable losers, but as the team of the last decade. Three World Series titles will do that, I guess, but I know the history of the Red Sox between 1918 and 2004 was a mixed bag of emotions – mostly those associated with losing in the most, um, err, iconic and excruciating ways.
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| The final out of the 2004 World Series is the most iconic moment in Red Sox history, in my opinion. What's yours? |
Instead, Sporting News chose Carlton Fisk willing the baseball fair just before it clanked off the foul pole atop The Wall. You can browse each MLB team’s “Iconic Moment” here (Note: They are listed in alphabetical order by team name).
Of course, with a history like Boston’s, there are plenty of moments to be argued here. The Fisk moment, to me, reminds me of just another “What if?” A lot of people outside New England forget Fisk’s homer only knotted the series at three-apiece, sending it to Game 7 where the Reds won the World Series. For 86 years, it probably was one of the greatest, most team-defining moments in Red Sox history. However, it's still a What-if moment. What if the Sox won that series? What if Billy Buckner fielded the ball in '86. What if Grady Little takes out Pedro Martinez in 2003?
We’re in 2014 now and the Red Sox have three championships in 10 years. They have eight overall, good for fourth in MLB and just three behind the Cardinals for second place all-time. Maybe it's my fan bias, my red-colored glass, my red Kool-Aid ... everything is unicorns, rainbows and strawberry ice cream after another World Championship. I like to think of this franchise with a "better" iconic moment.
Some moments that stick out to me and define what this franchise is about are:
- Dave Roberts and “The Steal” in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS
- Curt Schilling’s bloody sock and win in Game 6
- The next night in Game 7 when the Red Sox reversed the curse at Yankee Stadium
- Heck, any moment from Games 4-7 of that ALCS
- The aforementioned 2004 World Championship
- Big Papi – Yeah, just anything with Big Papi
- Pedro Martinez striking out 5 of 6 batters in the 1999 All-Star Game
- Ted Williams hitting a home run in his final at-bat at Fenway Park
I’m sure there are many more, so let’s hear your most iconic Red Sox moment. Do you agree with Sporting News? Tweet us @RedSoxLife!
Like what you read? See more from Ben here.
Have a question or comment for Ben? Give him a shout on Twitter: @thebenwhitehead
