The Boston Red Sox clinched the World Series title in 2004, ending an 86-year championship drought.
Diehard Boston fans are well-acquainted with the “Curse of the Bambino,” an 86-year period during which the Red Sox struggled to win the World Series from 1918 to 2004. The team came heartbreakingly close in 2003, losing to their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, in the American League Championship Series.
By 2004, the roster was filled with talent, featuring players like David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, Kevin Millar, Pedro Martinez, and Manny Ramirez, all showcasing remarkable team chemistry.
“We were just a group of guys, just ballplayers,” Millar reflected during the series. “But we felt like brothers, and that’s rare.”
The Red Sox had a chance at redemption in the 2004 ALCS when they faced the Yankees again. After losing the first three games, fans feared the curse would remain intact. But then, in a stunning turn of events, the Red Sox became the first team in MLB history to come back from a three-game deficit to win the series.
“It was the greatest catharsis imaginable,” said former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein about the team that went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series.
So, what are the 2004 Boston Red Sox players up to now? Here’s a look at the lives of these legendary champions.
David Ortiz
David Ortiz, affectionately known as “Big Papi,” was an outstanding designated hitter for the Red Sox. He enjoyed a 20-season professional baseball career, with 14 of those years spent in Boston, before retiring in 2016. In 2017, the Red Sox honored him by retiring his No. 34 jersey, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.
Three years earlier, Ortiz faced a life-threatening situation when he was shot during a robbery attempt in his hometown of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, according to ESPN. Today, he serves as an MLB studio analyst for FOX Sports.
On the personal front, Ortiz was married to Tiffany Ortiz from 2002 until 2023. They have two children together: daughter Alexandra and son D’Angelo. Ortiz also has a daughter named Jessica from a previous relationship.
Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling pitched in the MLB for 20 seasons and is famous for his remarkable performance in the 2004 World Series despite dealing with a tendon injury.
He retired in 2007 and subsequently became a baseball analyst for ESPN. However, he was let go in 2016 following controversial anti-transgender remarks, according to The New York Times.
Schilling married his wife, Shonda, in 1992, and together they have four children: Gabriella, Garrison, Gehrig, and Grant.
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