Kevin Millar stood out as a marquee voice in the clubhouse that powered the 2004 Boston Red Sox to a historic World Series championship.
Championship seasons always feature massive moments that tell the tale of the journey and the Red Sox certainly had one on July 24, 2004. The Red Sox hosted the New York Yankees in a game that featured a fight ignited by Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez. Ultimately, Boston rode that momentum to an impactful 11-10 victory in dramatic fashion at Fenway Park.
The night before the 20th anniversary of that game, Millar explained the impact of that matchup for Boston.
“When Billy Mueller hit a walk-off home run, a game-winner off of Mariano Rivera,” Millar shared on NESN’s Red Sox broadcast on Tuesday. “Varitek and A-Rod got in the fight at home plate. That game was such a turning point because we weren’t supposed to play that game.”
You can watch Millar’s analysis below:
Video Credit: NESN
The Red Sox ultimately went on to win their first championship since 1918 later that season, which marked the beginning of a new era of success for the franchise. That fateful July game against the Yankees boosted the ballclub to that potential.
“We played it and we won it,” Millar said. “We went 2-0 that night, I always tell joke around. We won the fight. We won the game. That game, you clicked. Sometimes, little skirmishes out there, it brings everybody together. Usually, it’s between the pitcher and the batter. It kind of feel’s good like, ‘Alright, here we go.'”
You can read NESN’s oral history of the game, “Rivals Rumble,” here.
