Happy 7th anniversary to David Ortiz’s game tying ALCS grand slam!

CaptainLaddie

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Probably my favorite Ortiz homer ever. I ran into my kitchen and punched the trash can in celebration so hard everything went flying. I have no excuse. It was just so fucking awesome.

This was the same Sunday as the Brady --> Thompkins last second TD versus the Saints which prompted Zolak's "UNICORNS! SHOW PONIES! WHERE'S THE BEEF!?" adlib, and honestly, it was one of the best non-title-winning days in Boston sports history. Just a spectacular day for Boston sports.
 

ernieshore

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I spent all day in a bar in Delaware watching both games. As Ortiz came to the plate, I said “if he hits this out, we are buying the bar a round of shots.”

What a great day and night.
 

cannonball 1729

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Yes!

My friend also pointed out that it's the 60th anniversary of Bill Mazeroski beating the Yankees with his game 7 walk-off home run (and still the only game 7 walk-off homer in World Series history). Clearly a good day for baseball!
 

Beomoose

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Every once in awhile, when I need a pick-me-up, I pull up that second video of Papi's slam with the various calls. I'm not the largest Dave O'Brien fan, but his radio call of that hit combined with the visuals of the ball clearing Tori's glove make for a moment of pure joy for me.
 

Archer1979

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LeoCarrillo

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I fell asleep on the couch and missed it. After watching every damn game that season, even the midseason extra-inning garbage from Oakland or Seattle that went till 2 am.
 

Jim Ed Rice in HOF

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This was the same Sunday as the Brady --> Thompkins last second TD versus the Saints which prompted Zolak's "UNICORNS! SHOW PONIES! WHERE'S THE BEEF!?" adlib, and honestly, it was one of the best non-title-winning days in Boston sports history. Just a spectacular day for Boston sports.
It truly was awesome. My son and I watched the end of the Patriots game with a couple thousand of our closest friends in the concourse beneath the bleachers and the place erupted for what would end up being the second loudest sound I would hear that day.
 

Kliq

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Probably my favorite Ortiz homer ever. I ran into my kitchen and punched the trash can in celebration so hard everything went flying. I have no excuse. It was just so fucking awesome.

This was the same Sunday as the Brady --> Thompkins last second TD versus the Saints which prompted Zolak's "UNICORNS! SHOW PONIES! WHERE'S THE BEEF!?" adlib, and honestly, it was one of the best non-title-winning days in Boston sports history. Just a spectacular day for Boston sports.
Yup, watching the final drive, Brady throws passes to Edelman, Aaron Dobson, Austin Collie and then the game-winner to Thompkins. I remember watching both games with my dad, just a great day for Boston sports. Here is the final drive:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5slWZkVvVCo
 

DJnVa

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Yup, watching the final drive, Brady throws passes to Edelman, Aaron Dobson, Austin Collie and then the game-winner to Thompkins. I remember watching both games with my dad, just a great day for Boston sports. Here is the final drive:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5slWZkVvVCo
Why does the NFL freaking care if I watch the video embedded here or on Youtube. That never pops up with anyone else, at least on videos I watch.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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It's my understanding that had Hunter caught the ball while leaping and fallen over the fence, it would still have been ruled a home run. However, how does that jibe with Donaldson's catch where he is out of the field of play? View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1iSsL5-3wk
I don't believe that would have been the case. If you leap from an in-play location, make the catch, and then land out-of-play, it's an out. That's how the Donaldson catch worked, and how a hypothetical Hunter catch would have worked.

What Hunter (or anyone) could not do is hop the fence, stand in the bullpen, and then make the catch. At that point, he's standing out of play and it would have been a home run.
 

Bunt4aTriple

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Yeah, that's what additional research has lead me to believe. Fortunately, my buddy was too hesitant to take my bet, so I saved myself $10.
 

Max Power

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I was in the bleachers directly up from the bullpen, so I had the exact opposite view as seen on TV. After almost two full games of offensive frustration, seeing that ball fly out of the park was an explosion of relief.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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Red Sox scored 1 run through the first 16 innings of that series. Facing an 0-2 series hole with Verlander going in Game 3. Ortiz broke the dam and turned that whole series around with one swing.
 

nayrbrey

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I had fallen asleep getting my then 3 year old to bed, with the Sox offense so anemic I didn’t think I would miss much. I woke up in time to get back downstairs to catch the Sox loading the bases.
For as much crap that Buck gets, that call is perfect.
“Hard hit into right. Back, at the wall....TIE GAME!”
 

InstaFace

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I still cannot believe we won that fucking ALCS. It was highway robbery. Other than the first Pats-Rams SB, I have never seen a guttier display of an outgunned Boston team with a talent disadvantage who just fired on all cylinders and put a better team to the sword. Justin Verlander, HOF-bound though he may be, couldn't be blamed if he had a lifelong grudge against the Boston Red Sox.

I bet there are Sox fans living in Michigan who every year make a tradition of going to Mike Ilitch's grave, playing this clip, and then listening to see if they can hear him rolling over.
 

Unin10D

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Watched that game in a bar in Lowell on my way to New Hampshire for some training. A week later I rallied down for Game 6 to watch another grand slam. Not bad for my only game I've ever seen from Fenway.

There was one douchecanoe rooting for Detroit at the bar. He was talking trash until the slam, then he got up and left. At Game 6, I was two rows behind the Detroit WAGs and they got shut up too
 

tims4wins

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Red Sox scored 1 run through the first 16 innings of that series. Facing an 0-2 series hole with Verlander going in Game 3. Ortiz broke the dam and turned that whole series around with one swing.
I think they only had like 3 hits or some such nonsense through those 16 innings

Edit: confirmed. They had 1 hit through the first 14 innings of the series, and 3 hits in 16 innings total heading into that 8th inning.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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A few small thoughts.

1. That might not have been David Ortiz's best moment but it is certainly close and there is no doubt that it was Dave O'Brien's best moment.

2. I was jarred when watching the Fox broadcast of the Saints game this time because it's being called by Thom Brennaman. I've watched it a bunch of times, but not since his slur. It's harder to watch highlights with his voice.

3. Also about that game -- under the new clock rules I think Dobson would have been ruled stopped in the field of play and the clock wound even though he landed out of bounds. Funny how these big moments can really depend on the rules.
 

Ferm Sheller

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It's been 7 years, so I feel that I can admit this now...

I was battling a severe case of jock itch on this day and, not being able to stand it anymore, got in our jacuzzi tub to soak my Misters in an epsom bath sometime in the fourth quarter of the Pats game, and so I missed the Pats' comeback. For the Sox game, I ended up falling asleep during the half-inning before Papi's home run. Not my finest day of fandom. :rolleyes:
 

Bergs

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It's been 7 years, so I feel that I can admit this now...

I was battling a severe case of jock itch on this day and, not being able to stand it anymore, got in our jacuzzi tub to soak my Misters in an epsom bath sometime in the fourth quarter of the Pats game, and so I missed the Pats' comeback. For the Sox game, I ended up falling asleep during the half-inning before Papi's home run. Not my finest day of fandom. :rolleyes:
Too soon.
 

Max Power

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It's been 7 years, so I feel that I can admit this now...

I was battling a severe case of jock itch on this day and, not being able to stand it anymore, got in our jacuzzi tub to soak my Misters in an epsom bath sometime in the fourth quarter of the Pats game, and so I missed the Pats' comeback. For the Sox game, I ended up falling asleep during the half-inning before Papi's home run. Not my finest day of fandom. :rolleyes:
Nuts.
 

luckysox

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It's been 7 years, so I feel that I can admit this now...

I was battling a severe case of jock itch on this day and, not being able to stand it anymore, got in our jacuzzi tub to soak my Misters in an epsom bath sometime in the fourth quarter of the Pats game, and so I missed the Pats' comeback. For the Sox game, I ended up falling asleep during the half-inning before Papi's home run. Not my finest day of fandom. :rolleyes:
I'm going to teach my son to use the term "Misters" when referring to his...Misters. It's fantastic.
 

Nator

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This was the one time I scared the shit out of my family by screaming and running around like an incoherent jackass. It was awesome.

This along with NFL Week 1 in 1999 are my two favorite non championship Boston Sports days.

That was the weekend of the Pedro 17K at performance culminating in a sweep of the Yankees on Sunday. The Patriots beat the Jets on a late field goal to open the season, and the USA won the Ryder cup.
 

Archer1979

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It's been 7 years, so I feel that I can admit this now...

I was battling a severe case of jock itch on this day and, not being able to stand it anymore, got in our jacuzzi tub to soak my Misters in an epsom bath sometime in the fourth quarter of the Pats game, and so I missed the Pats' comeback. For the Sox game, I ended up falling asleep during the half-inning before Papi's home run. Not my finest day of fandom. :rolleyes:
I refer to it as the "Engine Room".

I missed the grand slam live too. It wasn't until it was mentioned in this thread that I remembered that the Pats were on then. Like most, I was flipping back and forth and switched back just in time to see Ortiz touching home plate and seeing Fenway go nuts. I don't think I switched back to the Pats (or at least until after Salty got that hit through the shortstop hole to win it).

Just had to look it up in YouTube. Totally forgot about the fans that helped Salty out in that at bat.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmaqY6_-VdQ
 

Papito

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Papi was heaven sent to Red Sox nation. The greatest Red Sox player in my lifetime! Case closed!!
 

joe dokes

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McCarver was right. The manager left Buchholz in far too long.
And it's amazing that all it took was the first hit in the 6th inning for the crowd to be all "we got this."
 

pk1627

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It was damn cold in the wind in the rf grandstand. Tight seats. Not happy at all with the couple who got these god-awful seats and I wanted to bail after Papi struck out to end the 6th. Tired of watching the Detroit bullpen celebrate.

My wife Christine looks at me and says, let’s stay another inning. And then it warms up a bit. And then the Sox load the bases. And then I’m watching that screaming liner and thinking, not high enough. I swear Hunter had a play but it just happened so fast.

Bottom line: I married well.
 

Coach Buttermaker

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What a great moment and series changer. My family exploded in our living room and everyone started shouting Papi! Papi! which scared the heck out of our border collie who the kids had named Lil Papi 3 years earlier . Dog was shaking in the corner wondering what he did wrong.

and lo and behold what turns up under the Christmas tree that year for me?

 

koufax32

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I had two baby girls in the house at that point so I had to grab a pillow and smother myself like a mafia hit man at a hospital so I could properly scream.
I think that level of adrenaline rush would kill me if it happened now.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I remember Benoit coming in and thinking “the thing the Sox really need is a right handed pitcher trying to sneak a fastball down and in on Ortiz” and the he did exactly that. Felt like the only thing that could save the Sox that game—and this series. Ortiz just killed that pitch so often in his Sox career and guys just kept trying it

Thanks Joaquin!
 

m0ckduck

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Was this the most exciting play in Red Sox history from a casual fan's perspective?

I mean, if you'd been suffering for 86 years with this team, then the Roberts steal (or one of many other moments from 2004 ALCS) was more important, for sure. But the excitement of those moments is largely dependent on the context of having been drenched in miserable Sox-Yanks rivalry for decades. If you brought an alien back to earth, gave them a rudimentary understanding of baseball and had them watch games with you, this seems like the play where they'd be jumping around the living room and waving their tentacles. Bases loaded... two outs... Benoit... BOOM... Hunter... Officer Whatshisface.... Pandemonium.
 

Lose Remerswaal

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I hate you for asking that question.

The Roberts Steal, well, without it the rest of it doesn't happen. So in and of itself it doesn't get those tentacles waving.

This play obviously ranks up there, too

34965

Probably worth a nominations thread and then a poll.
 

tims4wins

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Was this the most exciting play in Red Sox history from a casual fan's perspective?

I mean, if you'd been suffering for 86 years with this team, then the Roberts steal (or one of many other moments from 2004 ALCS) was more important, for sure. But the excitement of those moments is largely dependent on the context of having been drenched in miserable Sox-Yanks rivalry for decades. If you brought an alien back to earth, gave them a rudimentary understanding of baseball and had them watch games with you, this seems like the play where they'd be jumping around the living room and waving their tentacles. Bases loaded... two outs... Benoit... BOOM... Hunter... Officer Whatshisface.... Pandemonium.
I would pick the Victorino slam over this one to be honest. It basically clinched the penant.
 

Laser Show

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I was there that night. I had spent the entire game up until that point in the pavilion level, standing room, on the first base side, looking directly at the monster. I had an exam the next day, so I was feeling pretty pissy that I had spent so much time and money on the complete no-show to that point. Between the 7th and 8th innings I switched to standing room on the third base side pavilion level. I remember the whole inning I was thinking just get Ortiz up with a chance to do some damage, because I had zero doubt that he would make something happen. It felt like everyone there that night felt the same. The first split second after he hit that, I was a bit disappointed because after all the anticipation, on the very first pitch he "only" hit a low bullet that was a double in the gap at best and, to my eye, looked like it was headed for Hunter's glove. It quickly became apparent how hard it was hit, it hooked a bit, and I saw it land clearly out of Hunter's reach and I screamed and hugged several strangers.

In addition to several sentiments expressed above, I will say that my opinion of Joe Buck changed that night. I'd never heard him express such genuine, spontaneous emotion before. Just the opposite of what he'd been up to that point. Great call.
I don't dislike Buck like most do, but this call is the best I've heard from him imo. Listening to him yell tie game is the only time I've heard him calling something and thought "yea he's just as stunned as I am."
I would pick the Victorino slam over this one to be honest. It basically clinched the penant.
Not only did that one clinch the pennant, but if Victorino doesn't get anything done there, they're likely headed to Game 7 facing Verlander. I was just relieved he got it in the air for a sac fly to tie the game, forget the fact that it carried out.
 

Hendu for Kutch

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I won the ALCS lottery for Green Monster tickets and had my choice of Game 1 or 2.

34966

Game 1 was the biggest blue-ball game I've ever experienced in person. The Sox allowed 12 base runners in that game but stranded 11 of them. The way they were dancing through the minefield all game just felt like it was leading to a big Sox hit late to steal the game and the crowd was completely primed for it. They finally got a hit in the 9th, Quentin Berry stole second...the place was ready to explode. Then nothing. Not only did they not do anything, we didn't even get the cool slice of history of witnessing a playoff no-hitter.

With Game 2 going hitless for so long and Verlander on tap, it sure felt like we were going to blue-ball the entire series. Then that release - oh the glorious release.