Red Sox hero Dave Roberts is now playing the role of villain
Dave Roberts became a Red Sox legend with his steal of second base in 2004. Now he’s back at Fenway Park as the manager of the opposing Los Angeles Dodgers.
Everyone on the field, watching from the stands or at home on television knew what was about to happen that night in Fenway Park. The Boston Red Sox, trailing the New York Yankees three games to none in the 2004 American League Championship Series, and down a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, needed a miracle.
Red Sox fans will never forget what happened next. After Kevin Millar worked a walk off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, speedy Dave Roberts came off the bench to pinch-run. The fact that Roberts was about to attempt to steal second base was clear to everyone, even the Yankees. On Rivera’s first pitch to Bill Mueller, Roberts took off and beat the throw. Mueller then singled to center to bring in Roberts with the tying run.
The Roberts steal was just the sort of spark Boston needed. They ended up coming back to beat the Yankees before winning the franchise’s first World Series title in 86 years, ensuring that Roberts will forever live on in Red Sox lore.
Roberts, however, returns to Fenway Park in 2018 in a different capacity: manager of the opposing Los Angeles Dodgers, who face the Red Sox in the World Series beginning on Tuesday. Suddenly Roberts, the Red Sox hero, is playing the role of villain.
For him personally, though, coming back to Boston at this time of year only brings back good memories of that memorable series 14 years ago.
“It is great coming back to this great city,” he said at his press conference on Monday. “I’ve got nothing but great memories. Just this time of year, this city, the leaves changing. Then you drive up to Fenway Park. It all just kind of comes back to 2004 and the teammates that I had, the coaches, and that energy that only Fenway Park has.”
A familiar face will be staring back at him from the opposing dugout during this World Series. Alex Cora, now the Red Sox manager, remembers well that night in 2004. He and Roberts had been teammates with the Dodgers that year before Roberts was traded to Boston at the July 31 trade deadline. He recognized right away how big of a hero his friend would become with that stolen base.
“That night I texted him,” Cora said on Monday. “Right after he stole second base I was like, I don’t know what’s going to happen here, but if this happens you’re going to become a hero. And he is here in this city.”
Roberts and Cora first became teammates with Los Angeles in 2002. Since then their career has taken different paths. Roberts won the World Series with Boston in 2004, Cora three years later in 2007. Roberts became manager of the Dodgers in 2016, guiding the team to within a game of winning the championship last year against the Houston Astros. Celebrating with the Astros after beating the Dodgers in Game 7? Their bench coach, Cora.
Cora got his shot at managing this year in Boston, and in his first season led the team to a franchise record 108 wins and the AL pennant. Despite the different journeys each has taken to this Fall Classic, Cora admits he and Roberts remain good friends and cheer each other on.
“Great guy, great family guy. A friend of mine,” he said. “I’ve been pulling for him for a while. He’s done an outstanding job with an outstanding organization. I’m very proud that he’s here in the World Series.”
That feeling of mutual respect is echoed by Roberts.
“You take it on another level of, Alex and I were former teammates and very good friends,” he said. “Competing with each other, against each other. To kind of see our different paths and where we’ve come, it’s really exceeded all our dreams.”
Beginning on Tuesday in Boston, Roberts and Cora will finish off the journey they began together in 2002 and now sees them competing on baseball’s biggest stage. For the next week, at least, Roberts will have to pay for his own drinks in Boston for the first time in 14 years.