Red Sox vs Yankees 2004 ALCS

Lore & Background

The series began with the Yankees taking a commanding 3-0 lead, seemingly ending Boston's season. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in Game 4 at Fenway Park.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Fenway Park was thick with anticipation on October 17th. As the Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera stepped onto the mound in extra innings of Game 4, the crowd fell silent. David Ortiz stood ready at the plate, bat resting on his shoulder. The pitch came in, and the crack of the wood echoed through the night as the ball soared into the stands, sending thousands of fans into a frenzy that would be remembered for generations.

Reader's Guide

The occasion was the American League Championship Series, the final hurdle to reach the World Series. What happened was nothing short of miraculous. After losing the first three games in New York, Boston returned home and won Game 4 in extra innings thanks to David Ortiz's heroics. They continued their surge by winning Games 5 and 6 at Yankee Stadium before closing it out in Game 7 back at Fenway Park. This is remembered because no team had ever overcome a 0-3 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series before, making this the greatest comeback in Major League Baseball history.

Did You Know?

• David Ortiz hit two walk-off home runs during the series to keep Boston alive.
• This was the first time any MLB team came back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game playoff series.
• The Red Sox went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series that year.