ST. LOUIS, United States (AFP) - Trading an adored superstar just might have been the key move that enabled the Boston Red Sox to break the fabled jinx imposed upon them for banishing another beloved ballplayer.
The Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918 here Wednesday, beating St. Louis 3-0 to sweep Major League Baseball's best-of-seven championship final and set aside the Curse of the Bambino for all time.
In the biggest dumping of a Boston fan favorite since "Bambino" Babe Ruth was sold to the rival New York Yankees in 1919, the Red Sox dispatched shortstop Nomar Garciaparra in a four-team deal at the July 31 trade deadline.
Garciaparra, who missed 57 games with right Achilles tendinitis, spent more than eight seasons with the Red Sox before being sent to the Chicago Cubs in a deal that upset devoted fans, their accented yells of "No-mah" falling silent.
"I'm sure it was difficult, especially in an area like Boston where they latch onto their favorite players so much and there is so much passion," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.
"But again, our job is to win. It was a very tough move. I'm not talking about getting rid of Nomar. I'm talking about attaining the players we did."
By agreeing to the deal, Garciaparra helped bring Boston shortstop Orlando Cabrera, southpaw pitcher Mike Myers, versatile Dave Roberts and Doug Mientkiewicz, a defense-minded first baseman. All were key contributors.
"It not only made our starters better but it made our bench much more usable to win games," Francona said. "Everybody on the bench had a role that was very defined in how they were going to help us win.
"And the other part of it was we started playing better too. Guys that had struggled a little bit stopped struggling so it all came together."
Players voted to give Garciaparra a full share of playoff winnings even though he is no longer on the club.
"He was a big part of us getting to the poing we got and I think he deserves it," Boston pitcher Tim Wakefield said.
The Red Sox, 56-46 when the deal was made, went 42-18 over the final two months of the season, challenged the Yankees for the American League East division crown and made the playoffs as a wild-card entry.
Boston lost the first three games of the league final to the Yankees but made the greatest playoff comeback in baseball history to oust their hated rivals in seven games in the league final.
Making the controversial and courageous move was Theo Epstein, the whiz kid 30-year-old Red Sox vice president and general manager who deals and free agent signings built the lineup that brought long-suffering fans a Series title.
Epstein signed Curt Schilling, whose 21 triumphs this year led major league pitchers and closing ace Keith Foulke and almost landed star infielder Alex Rodriguez, who eventually signed with the Yankees.
A casual attitude to appearance led some players to have long hair and beards, symbolizing the free spirit nature of some players.
"If this was Cub Scout Troop 14, I would ask them to cut their hair. It's not," said Francona. "We're trying to play the best baseball we can and I think these guys have really come together as a ballclub.
"For the longest time this year I wanted our team to latch onto their personality. Finally we started kicking it into gear and people were commenting on their hair, their clothes. They seemed to come together with it.
"If it's the hair thing or whatever, that's not important. The fact they came together is what's important."
A relaxed atmosphere in the clubhouse led to disciplined men on the field, leadoff hitter Johnny Damon said.
"What the Red Sox are letting us do is letting us be men, be our own individual people," Damon said. "Just go out there and make sure you play well and you can grow whatever hair you want. It has been fun. The whole nation has taken watch.
"We're just being ourselves and having fun. The big thing is that when people look at our team, they can see we're having a lot of fun."
10/28/2004 - 13:58 GMT - AFP