OCTOBER
24, 2004 --
In
1949, the Red Sox came to Yankee Stadium to play the Yankees in
the last two games of the season. They led the Yankees in the
then-eight team league by one game. The Yankees won that two-game
series and the American League pennant, finishing one game ahead
of
the Red Sox.
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"1949
World Champions"
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By winning the last
two games of the
2004 playoffs against the Yankees -- in Yankee Stadium - -the Red Sox finally
got even for their 1949 great disappointment, a disappointment that was a factor
in creating the legend of "The Curse of the
Bambino," It is too early to tell if that mythical "curse" has
been removed from Boston.
LPR notes that the last time the Red Sox were in the World Series was 1986 --
and it is 86 years since they won a World Series. LPR believes, however, that
the "curse" now also covers the Yankees -- for the indications during
the playoffs
with Boston, this year, that "The House the Ruth Built" will soon cease
being the Yankees' home field.
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"Our
House" hand-made sign, taken before Game Seven.
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For evidence that
the Bambino's curse is now with the Yankees -- LPR would cite the 2004
playoffs against the Red Sox --New York dropping four straight games
after winning the first three, with the third game giving the Yankees
a 19 to 8 victory. It might also be noted that the Yankees have not
won a World Series since 2000.
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Kevin
Brown, arriving for Game Seven, where he was starting pitcher
for the Yankees
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Kevin
Millar, signaling to Yankee fans, outside Yankee Stadium
for Game Seven, that the Red Sox are
number one.
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The Red Sox were
clearly looking forward to that Game Seven in the Bronx, October 20,
resulting in a 10 to 3 blowout over the Yankees. Boston first basemen
Kevin Millar raised his index fingers to Yankee fans -- kept some distance
back from
the players arriving at the Stadium for Game Seven.
Arriving at Fenway Park, October 23 for Game One of the World Series against
the St. Louis Cardinals, Millar raised a thumb. Asked by LPR why he did not
also raise his index fingers at home, Millar indicated that the different symbol
was "for the Sox nation"
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David
Ortiz, arriving for Game Seven, where he hit a two run
homer for the Red Sox.
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After Red Sox slugger
David Ortiz arrrived at the Stadium for Game 7, a relative (seen in
photo to left of Ortiz) predicted to LPR that he would hit two home
runs. But it was Johnny Damon who got two home runs in that game, including
a grand slam; Ortiz got one homer in that game -- and another one in
the Sox 11-9 win over the St. Louis Cardinalos in Game One of the
2004 World Series.
After the game, LPR got a photo of a very pleased Sen. Chris Dodd, who wanted
to see his Red Sox team play St.Louis and was looking forward to being at Fenway
Park for the start of the World Series.
LPR did not see any of New York's U.S. senators at Game 7-- or either of the
Massachusetts senators for that matter.
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Connecticut
Senator Chris Dodd was
photo'd after the game, and he is a happy Red Sox fan.
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Sen. Dodd did
suggest that one of the New York senators is a Chicago Cubs fan.
He also said, in response to a question from LPR that he supports
"Senators" as the name of Washington's new team, indicating that he
could not do otherwise -- as a U. S. Senator Dodd appears regularly on the Don
Imus morning program. Imus has also expressed sympathy for former New York Stock
Exchange president Richard Grasso, also in attendance at Game 7.
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Former
head of the New York Stock Exchange Richard Grasso.
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Perhaps the pay
package Mr. Grasso has been criticized over would not seem quite
so large when considered against the contracts of major league baseball players
like Alex Rodriquez and Jason Giambi of the Yankees.
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Disappointed
General Manager Brian Cashman day after.
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LPR photographed
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman as he told reporters outside
the Stadium, October 21, that he was disappointed by the Yankees' loss.
A radio reporter inquired about Cashman's future and he noted that
he has one year left on his Yankee
contract. By week's end, there was a report that Yankee boss George Steinbrenner
said that Cashmann would return as Yankees' GM.
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George
Steinbrenner arriving for Game Six.
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There is no word,
however, if his Yankees' contract will be extended, next year. Nor
is there any word if the future of "The House that Ruth Built" is
secure.
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Actor
Bill Murray.
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Penny
Marshall.
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Police
with plasticuffs before start of Game Seven.
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Arrest
near end of Game Seven.
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Fans
watching game at River Avenue bar.
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Disappointed
Freddy the day after.
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