History appears to be continuing in the 2004 ALCS game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox when several players wore pins.
Fortunately, the Yankees became the first, and only, team in MLB history to go 3-0, lose their final four games, and win the World Series in Boston.
Gary Sheffield made the next impression, starting in right field for the Yankees in all seven games of the 2004 ALCS.
“The most important thing is to give them a chance,"
Sheffield said Thursday on “Dirty Territory."
Gary Sheffield oddly stated the 2004 Red Sox "got lucky" against the Yankees in their ALCS comeback https://t.co/LgM6yPKD58
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 5, 2024
Many quotes from the series remain in Red Sox lore today, such as Kevin Millar writing “Let"s not win" to encourage his teammates during a 3-0 hole.
“On top of that, we lost because our pitching staff couldn"t close out games."
Later this fall, the Red Sox will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ALCS and their “first World Series championship since 1918."
Former New York Yankee Gary Sheffield sparked controversy when he dismissed the Boston Red Sox"s comeback in the 2004 American League Championship Series as pure luck winning Game 7 and securing their spot in the World Championship.
.@garysheffield says the 2004 Red Sox, who came back from down 3-0 to defeat the Yankees in the ALCS, "got lucky"
▶️ https://t.co/biZEGxe4jn pic.twitter.com/errUwyQSHL
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 4, 2024
According to him, the Yankees dominated the first three games, and this was their only loss when the relievers were unable to close out key games.
Sheffield dismissed the idea that external factors, such as Pedro Martinez"s comments, helped motivate the Red Sox:
What a loser way to look at it. 2004 Yankees got the biggest choke job in sports history and this is what Gary thinks lmao
— Jefe (@Yorealitycheck_) January 4, 2024
Bro salty! Lmfaoo take your L like a grown man it’s been 2 decades…. Enjoy your retirement buddy
— Johnathan (@SwagOutJay) January 4, 2024
During the interview, Sheffield accused Kevin Miller of the Boston Red Sox of being dissolute and drunken, showing that he was very nervous.
The Red Sox lost three games in a row, advanced to the World Series from a 3-0 deficit, and won. Their victory over the New York Yankees marked the team"s first comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the American League"s best-of-seven series:
You can get lucky one game but four straight, sounds like sour grapes to me.
— G H Hamilton (@Georgebravesfan) January 4, 2024
Crying 20 years later sheesh
— Raffy Big Scoops (26-7) (@NotRafaelDevers) January 4, 2024
Sheffield"s comments calling the Reds an opportunity drew widespread criticism from MLB fans.
The 2004 ALCS remains one of the most important series in baseball history, and opinion of the series remains controversial among die-hard fans.
The Boston Red Sox won the 2004 American League Championship Series after coming back from the New York Yankees. Many players, pundits and fans were in disbelief at what Boston did, including Gary Sheffield.
The former Yankees star gave a courageous speech at a 2004 rally in Boston after his team lost. The Yankees" relievers are believed to have played a major role in the team"s loss to the Red Sox. Again, he thinks Boston is playing in fear.
“[Boston] has a lot of depth, which will help them later,"
Sheffield said on TV.
The former New York star talked about how the demands of Red Sox players told him in Sheffield to “get it" This story shows Boston players are scared, but Baseball fans disagree:
Yea lucky four straight, Gary. And pigs fly dude. You blew two ninth inning leads and then proceeded to get smoked last two at stadium. But it was luck 🤣
— The Giant Insider Podcast and Newspaper (@GiantInsider) January 5, 2024
However, the 2004 ALCS debacle still haunts Gary Sheffield.
