2004. A lot of things happened that year: Bridget, Graduation from UNR, 1880 Simpson, watching a game at Fenway for the first time, and the Red Sox won the World Series for the first time in 86 years.
Bill Simmons, a writer at one point for Jimmy Kimmell and now writes for ESPN, compiled his published stories together from his early days to the memorable 2004 season. His fan perspective and Kimmell-esque humor made this a hard book to put down.
Even some of the names that were brought up during the book were a trip down memory lane: Shea Hillenbrand, Troy O’Leary, Rich Garces, Brian Daubach, Carl Everett.
Overall, the book gave a quality analysis of the death of Roger Clemens in Boston, the real… or not-so-real Nomar (which I was able to see that 2004 season before he got traded. I have a picture with him that says it all. Frown included), the “old” Pedro vs. old Pedro, and the craziness of the 2004 season which included the A-Rod trade falling through, the Yankees then making the move, Manny being put on waivers, Nomar pouting, Schilling signing and the blogosphere helping him to accept the trade, and Schilling’s sock. Great stuff.
Here’s a great quote from Steinbrenner after trading for A-Rod. This is right after the Red Sox deal fell through:
“We understand John Henry must be embarrassed, frustrated, and disappointed by his failure in this transaction. Unlike the Yankees, he chose not to go the extra distance for his fans in Boston.”
Later that year, the Red Sox would go through the Yankees for one of the biggest comebacks in sports history.
Thanks OB for the read. Good stuff.