Fans across Massachusetts celebrated last week as the Boston Red Sox won the World Series for the first time in 86 years. Defeating the Saint Louis Cardinals in four straight games, the Red Sox fulfilled the dreams of thousands of loyal supporters.
Many fans cried with joy. They remembered parents and grandparents who had cheered for the team for decades without a championship. "I've been rooting for this day since I was a kid," said Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.
This year’s champions will be remembered for their great hitting as well as silly antics. Before the final World Series game, pitcher Derek Lowe sang, "If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands." Other players sported wild haircuts and shared zany high-fives.
Because the Red Sox had gone so long without a championship, some people believed the team was cursed. They blamed the curse on the trade that sent Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees after the 1918 World Series.
In the end, players like Manny Ramirez, the Series’s most valuable player, conquered the curse with their terrific playing. Said Red Sox manager Terry Francona: "There are a lot of people in New England dancing in the streets right now."