Joey: "Finally!"
October 24, 2004
Now that the World Series is over, I'm free to record the story here.
On August 23, 2004, Joey, the girls, and I went to the Yankee Stadium as a family for the first time. New York Yankees vs. Anaheim Angels. It was the game with the "weirdest, one of the longest rain delays in Yankee Stadium history" (that's a quote from a radio announcer we listened to on the drive out of the Bronx).
The rain delay stretched to over 3.5 hours. At some point, from Row W way up in the nosebleed section steep above third base, Joey lifted his arms to the dark turbulent sky. He thundered, "Babe Ruth... leave this place! Break the curse you have over the Sox!" He waved a Yankees mustard pack in the air to make the whole thing official.
The Yankees got beaten badly that day by the Angels. And the Red Sox started winning again. Coincidence? We think not.
For the past three months, Joey has guarded the mustard pack with his life. He's kept it at work, where it's been revered by fellow Red Sox loyalists - and in turn scoffed and threatened by Yankees fans.
Then they barreled through the St. Louis Cardinals. Last night, in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series, the Red Sox clinched their eighth straight win - and were crowned World Series Champions for the first time since 1918.
The Curse of the Bambino is no more.
Today, the mustard pack (now leaky and reeking, it's been rubbed so much) comes home. It's stuff of legend now.
(mirrored from Haemi's family blog)
I've mentioned the mustard pack in previous posts, but never elaborated. I didn't want to risk compromising its magic (not that I'm superstitious, mind you).
Last week, the boys of Boston did the unthinkable: after being down three games, they went on to beat New York in the next four. The American League Pennant was theirs.