Boston Red Sox fans haven’t
had this much fun since
the first 5 games of
the 1986 World Series
against the New York
Mets. And now,for
the third time Boston
will face St Louis
in baseball’s Fall
Classic.

By Amaury Pi-GonzálezFenway Park, Boston
Saturday October
23rd. Boston vs
St Louis. Play Ball !

Maybe the best
two pure cities
for baseball in
America. Boston
and St Louis, these
fans never give up,
never leave in the
7th inning and always
live and die with
their teams.
There is no Dot-Racing
in the scoreboards
in these two towns
because these are
real baseball fans.
You do not have to
tell people when to
applaud or when
to make noise.
It is hard to find
a town with more
knowledable baseball
fans than St Louis, Mo.
And even harder to
find more passionate
fans than those at
Fenway Park in
Boston, Mass.
For many decades
St Louis and Boston
fans have been
attending their games
and supporting their
teams not because
of bat day, helmet day,
fireworks on Labor Day
and/or half prize tickets.
You do not see people
at Busch stadium on
their cel phones,
passing the pizzza
or falling asleep in
the 6th.
If for one reason I
like to see this
World Series is
because I have been
many times to these
two cities and If you
really like the game
of baseball Boston
and St Louis is as
‘good as it gets’.

For Boston a chance
to exorcise their
devils and the
always present
Curse of the Bambino
which since 1918
they have not been
able to kill.

I witnessed with my
own two eyes the
1986 World Series
between Boston and
the New York Mets,
I remember the suffering,
the crying, the agony
of Red Sox fans
after that 6th game
and “The Error”by
Bill Buckner at
first base. I worked
those games as
a broadcasters and
have fond memories
of that year 1986.
The ’86 All Star Game
was held in the
Houston Astrodome
and the two young
players in each league
were: José Canseco
(A’S)American League
and Darryl Strawberry
(Mets)National League,
they put a display of
power in one of the
firsts and more
“primitive”Home Run
Derbys in All Star
competition.
But the 1986 World
Series was one of
the most remembered
by Red Sox fans.

Before we go back
to this 2004 World
Series let’s look at
some of the performances
during these Championship
Series:

FACTS ABOUT
ALCS AND NLCS
MVP’S were both
from the Dominican
Republic.
David Ortíz(Boston)
Albert Pujols(St Louis)

MOST INSPIRATIONAL
PLAYER ?
Curt Schilling(Boston)
he pitched and won
the 6th game
hurt and inspired his
team to victory in
game 7.One of the
real gutsy performances
in history.

THE YOUNGEST TO MAKE
A STATEMENT ?
Carlos Beltrán(Houston)
the Puertorican outfielder
is one of the premier
Free Agents. There
is little doubt that
George Steinbrenner
is going to seek his
services for his Yankee
ballclub. Beltrán knows
it and there is a great
chance he will wear
pinstripes in ’05.
Scott Boras just
bought a new
calculator. Carlos
prize went through
the roof.
Do I hear $18 million
per year for 6 years?
George…answer the
phone !

MOST UNDERRATED
PLAYER ?
Cardinals shortstop
Edgar Rentería. He
is one of the most
steady defensively
at this key position
and as a hitter one
of the most clutch
for Tony LaRussa.

RAN OUT OF GAS ?
Yankee pitching without
a doubt. For a team
that won 100 games
this season the
Yankees had one of
the worse pitching
staffs in recent
memory during the
ALCS against Boston.
Without Mussina and
Lieber the Yanks might
not have won one game.

ODD:
Mariano Rivera, arguably
the best closer in the
game, for the first
time blew consecutive
saves.

Johnny Damon(Boston).
Couldn’t buy a hit for
6 games, he was hitting
for such a low average
that even his hair
weighted more
than his average.
And then exploded
in game seven:
with 2 Home Runs
(one a Grand Slam)
and tied the ALCS
with 6 RBI in game
seven.

TOUGHEST EXIT ?
Roger Clemens lost
game 7 of the NLCS
in what could have
been his last ever
game in MLB. He might
retire with another
Cy Young his 7th !
————————————

NOTES ABOUT THIS
2004 WORLD SERIES:

-If Tony La Russa can
win he will become only
second manager in MLB
history in winning World
Series in both leagues.
He won with A’S in
1989 against Giants.
The only manager to
ever win WS in both
leagues was Sparky
Anderson with Reds
in 1975 against Boston
and then again in 1984
with Detroit against
San Diego Padres.

-FOR THE FIRST TIME:
Two shorstops from
Colombia are in a
World Series:
Edgar Rentería(St Louis)
Orlando Cabrera(Boston)

-THIRD TIME AROUND:
1946 World Series
St Louis beat Boston
in 7 games. 1967 WS
St Louis beat Boston
in 7 games.

-LAST TIME THEY WON:
Boston won their last
World Series in 1918
in 6 games against the
Chicago Cubs.

St Louis won their last
World Series in 1982
against Milwaukee.

-LAST TIME THEY WENT:
St Louis in 1987 lost
in 7 games to the
Twins

Boston in 1986 lost
in 7 games to the Mets.

—————————-
HOW DO I SEE THIS SERIES:

I like Boston.
I like Boston.
I like Boston.
I like Boston.
I like Boston
You got it ! Boston in 5 !

However, not too fast
Red Sox fans:

HITTING:
St Louis lineup is much
more balanced than
the Sox. The Cards
can beat you with the
Home Run and also
with the steal, hit
and run and squeeze
(suicide)play.
Cardinals lineup has
great power, but they
have more speed
than the Sox.
The Power:
Sox: Ramírez-Ortiz.
Cards:Pujols-Rolen-Edmonds
and don’t forget Larry Walker.
Advantage: Cardinals

St Louis has better
defense with such
great fielders
as Jim Edmonds
in center and Scott Rolen
at third.
Advantage: Cardinals.

But Boston has the
pitching. With Wakefield,
Schilling,and Pedro in the
first three games,
then probably Derek
Lowe(who will not be
with Sox next year)
to pitch the fourth game.
And Boston has the
better closer in Keith
Foulke, over Isrinhausen.
Advantage: Red Sox

MANAGERS: Tony LaRussa
has all the experience in
the world. But Terry Francona
managed the ALCS like
he had over 1,000
victories as a manager,
although in his first
season with the Red Sox.
Advantage: Cardinals.

If the Cardinals pitchers
can survive the first
weekend at Fenway
Park for games 1 and 2,
this series could even
get to 6 maybe 7
games.

DH: Of course no DH at
Busch Stadium in St Louis
for games 3,4 and 5(if nec)
Kevin Millar is an excellent
DH with lots of power that
would could be in the bench
in Busch Stadium.
Advantage: Cardinals.

SURPRISES ?
There are always some
during the World Series.
Look for guys like
John Mabry, Marlon
Anderson, Doug Mirabelli
and such to hit a Home
Run to win a game.

CARDS THE FIRST:
St Louis Cardinals are
the first team from
the National League
Central to advance
to a World Series.

ONE WILD CARD:
The Red Sox

ONE DIVISION CHAMP:
The Cardinals.

THIRD TIME IN A ROW?
If Boston wins this
World Series it
would be the third
consecutive Wild Card
team to win the
World Series:
-2003 Marlins
-2002 Angels

May we have a great
World Series. Let’s
hope is a good one.
###