Major League Baseball 21st Century World Series Champions, Ranked: 2013 Red Sox Are No. 8
Updated Oct 33 niceph. 22, 2025, 11:43 a.m. ET
Among the 25 World Series champions since 2000, how did the 2013 Red Sox land in this spot?
2013 Red Sox: A New Era Under Ben Cherington
The 2013 Red Sox marked the first team under general manager Ben Cherington. This wasn’t just about his first year as Boston’s GM; it was the first time he had full control over roster decisions. The disappointments and high payroll of 2011 and 2012, remnants of the Theo Epstein era, were behind him once Cherington traded away a quarter-billion in future contracts to the Dodgers in August 2012. This move allowed him to acquire players like Mike Napoli, Stephen Drew, Ryan Dempster, Shane Victorino, Koji Uehara, David Ross, and Jonny Gomes. All of them, with the exception of Dempster, performed above expectations. With Dustin Pedroia’s exceptional offense and defense, David Ortiz’s power and patience, and a pitching rotation featuring Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, and John Lackey, the team’s worst-to-first turnaround made complete sense.
Star Performances and Lineup Strength
Pedroia, Ortiz, and Victorino delivered star-level performances. Victorino not only became a fan favorite with his high-energy play at Fenway’s unique right field dimensions but also posted impressive numbers, hitting .294/.351/.451, leading the team in steals (23 for 27), and outperforming even standout players like Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury in defensive wins above replacement. Apart from Ortiz, this lineup wasn’t solely built on power; the Red Sox ranked second in overall hits, third in walks—just eight behind the league-leading Rays—second in batting average, and first in on-base percentage. Despite leading in slugging, it wasn’t due to home runs; they led in doubles with 363, 41 more than the next best team, and were just sixth in home runs. It was a collective effort: the lineup’s lack of easy outs posed a persistent challenge for opposing pitchers.
Pitching Depth and Bullpen Strength
While the Red Sox didn’t receive ace-caliber performances from Lester or Lackey, the two Boston veterans still served as the kind of No. 2 starters essential for a championship team. Dempster had a disappointing season but managed to pitch 171 innings, while 25-year-old Félix Doubront rose to the occasion with the offense helping out. Clay Buchholz was the ace when healthy, boasting an impressive 1.74 ERA across just 16 starts, earning a 12-1 record in 13 decisions. Though he missed the middle of the season, he returned before the postseason, making another five starts. simply thai makati menu The bullpen, anchored by Koji Uehara—who garnered both Cy Young and MVP votes—also included Junichi Tazawa (3 cc9 online casino.16 ERA), Craig Breslow (1.81), Andrew Miller (2.64), and former closer Andrew Bailey (3.77). Although there was limited relief depth, Boston didn’t require much help, especially after moving Doubront to the bullpen in October.
World Series Rematch Against St. Louis
In the World Series, Boston faced St. Louis once again, clinching the 2004 rematch with a four games to two victory. jl slot login Starting out 2-1 down, the Red Sox responded by winning Games 4, 5, and 6 in succession, earning their third World Series title in ten seasons 77jl online casino.
What are your thoughts on the legacy of the 2013 Red Sox?
