Boston Red Sox: Keith Foulke on the 2004 World Series

Keith Foulke recalls a postseason run for the ages for the Boston Red Sox in 2004.

“We had everything we needed and we made quick work of that series,” Foulke recalled of Boston’s sweep of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2004 ALDS. Foulke pitched in two games during that series and didn’t allow a run.

Boston was set to face the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series in the following days. Games 1, 2, and 3 all resulted in Boston losses. Losing 7-10, 1-3, and 8-19 over those three games, it appeared as if Boston fans were on the doorstep of yet another year of heartbreak.

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Although this tight-knit group of “Idiots” struggled both at the plate and on the mound during the first three games of the ALCS they couldn’t let previous games affect their current play.

“One of two things is going to happen. One, we’re going to pack our stuff, go home and start our offseason. Two, we’re going to win and come back and play another day,” Foulke explained about the mentality of the Boston Red Sox clubhouse.

Down zero games to three to one of the best teams in baseball, Foulke and the Red Sox portrayed the same demeanor they had all season. “It was just win today, win today, win today, win today and keep that mentality throughout the playoffs,” he said.

With the pressure to win off Foulke and company went on to win the next four games of the series will Foulke putting up a postseason performance that could have earned him ALCS MVP honors if not for teammate David Ortiz. Boston had done it. They eliminated the Yankees and were four wins away from ending more than eight decades of pain and suffering.

"“It’s probably the best sports city on the planet.”- 2004 World Series Champion Keith Foulke on the city of Boston"

The rest of the story, as they say, is history. Boston went on to reverse “The Curse of the Bambino” with a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Foulke was the player to make the last out of the series after getting Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria to ground out.

“I didn’t think he was going to swing at it because the ball was kind of up and away from him. A lazy fastball. So when he hit it, it kind of caught me by surprise,” Foulke recollected.

Again, smiling ear to ear the retired closer went on.

“I catch the ball and it’s a snow cone on the end of the glove and at that point, s*** is starting to speed up pretty quick. So I finally gather it up and I take off for first and I remember I was going to underhand it and told myself ‘one more step’.”

Foulke underhanded the ball to teammate Doug Mientkiewicz and watched as it sailed through the air seemingly in slow-motion. The hopes of Red Sox fans all over the country were held in one throw. One throw that would rewrite history.

“As soon as I let it go it’s like one of those things as soon as I see him catch it, everything just went at light speed and the weight of the world was lifted off of my shoulders,” he said while visualizing the ball disappearing into Mientkiewicz’ glove.

The famous picture that captured that moment will grace the hearts of Boston Red Sox fans young and old for decades to come. That picture will hang in every bar in Boston for years to come. It’s a piece of history that few forget and many will learn about.

Many remember, but few were there. Many supported but few performed. Foulke performed and then some. Posting a 1.80 ERA throughout the postseason over 14 innings pitched, there is no doubt Foulke played a vital role in one of the most captivating and odds-defying teams in sports history.

With the sun shining light in his face while lounging on the patio of his Arizona home Foulke squints for a moment and says “It may not have been the best team of all time, but it was as good as the best team of all time. I’ll let you think about that for a little bit.”