It’s now going on nine years since the Red Sox broke the Curse of the Bambino and captured the franchise’s first World Series title in 86 years.
While David Ortiz remains the last Red Sox from the 2004 team, on Thursday it was announced that Pedro Martinez would be returning to Boston as a special assistant.
With Jason Varitek also joining the front office last season, it begs the question whether there is room for more.
Trot Nixon spent 10 seasons in Boston, becoming a fan favorite for his scrappy play and his consistent hustle. Nixon embodied the “dirt dog” attitude that helped lift the Curse of the Bambino. During his time in a Red Sox uniform, Nixon tallied 133 home runs and 523 runs batted in, while compiling a .278 batting average.
The Red Sox may have never won the World Series in 2004 if it wasn’t for Dave Roberts, the speedster the Sox picked up at the trade deadline. In Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, Roberts stole second off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Roberts tied the game when Bill Mueller knocked him in and Boston won the first of four straight against New York. Roberts, who like Nixon retired in 2008, is currently the first base coach for the Padres.
For 19 seasons, Tim Wakefield, fooled hitters with his knuckleball, winning 200 career games on the mound. Wakefield won 186 games for Boston, putting him behind only Roger Clemens and Cy Young on the franchise’s wins list. In 2012, Wakefield served as a studio analyst for Red Sox games.
Maybe the only “idiot” you’d want working for your MLB franchise is Kevin Millar. In his three-year stint in Boston, Millar kept the clubhouse loose and sparked the phrase “Cowboy Up” during the 2003 playoffs. He followed it the next year by calling his team a bunch of idiots. He has also gone the analyst rout, doing work for NESN, Fox Sports, and currently MLB Network.
Who, from 2004, would you like to see return to Boston and join the Red Sox staff?
