The 2004 Boston Red Sox season was a historic and legendary campaign that saw the franchise finally break the 86-year-old Curse of the Bambino to win their first World Series title since 1918. Under first-year manager Terry Francona, the team finished with a strong 98-64 record and secured the American League Wild Card berth fueled by a high-powered offense featuring David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, along with the dominant pitching of Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez. The postseason was defined by a miraculous comeback in the ALCS, where the Red Sox became the first team in Major League history to win a series after trailing three games to none against the New York Yankees. This momentum carried them into the World Series, where they completed a dominant four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals to cement their place as one of the most resilient and beloved teams in baseball history. A nine-time Silver Slugger and 2004 World Series MVP, Manny Ramirez was a legendary Red Sox outfielder who hit 274 home runs in Boston and helped lead the franchise to two world championships.