Curt Leskanic will take a few moments on Sunday to reminisce.
He will be joined by a good chunk of the 15,000,000 or so New Englanders who claim the Boston Red Sox as their team and celebrate the anniversary of one of their most memorable days: October 27, 2004.
The day that alleged “curse” was officially buried and put to rest and the Red Sox were, as long-time radio play-by-play man Joe Castiglione said, “World Champions.”
The Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals, winning the final game, 3-0, ending an 86-year streak without winning a World Series.
There were few “carpet-baggers” on that team, wearing the Red Sox uniform for only a few months of their long baseball careers.
The most famous one was Dave Roberts who, of course, had “The Steal” of the century in Game 4, eventually tying the game in the ninth inning.
Roberts has done enough interviews and stories on that “steal,” which was arguably the catalyst to the four-game streak to beat the Yankees, to fill a library.
Well, I’d like to introduce you to another, lesser-known “carpet-bagger,” whose relief appearance after Roberts’ “steal” was every bit as important.
Leskanic, a right-handed reliever, came into the game in the top of the 11th inning with two outs and the bases loaded, facing five-time All-Star and four-time World Series champ, Bernie Williams.
He got Williams to hit a soft fly ball to center field to end that rally.
Then in the 12th inning, after a leadoff single to Jorge Posada, Leskanic got Ruben Sierra, Tony Clark and Miguel Cairo to end the inning.
About 10 minutes later, David Ortiz hit a booming two-run homer to right field … and the rest is history.
Red Sox all-in on Leskanic
Which brings us to Leskanic, whose last pitch in the majors was his strikeout of Cairo in Game 4.
Leskanic was signed on June 22, 2004 by Theo Epstein four days after being released by the Kansas City Royals.
He was in his 11th major league season having 571 appearances, which included only 11 starts early in his career. Most of his career was as a hard-throwing, one-inning setup guy.
The former LSU star spent his first seven seasons with the Colorado Rockies, then 3½ seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers and nearly a season – between 2003 and 2004 – with the Royals.
By the time of his release, his left shoulder was a mess.
“The year I was signed in Kansas City [in 2003], after getting traded from Milwaukee I had sustained a labral tear in my shoulder,” said Leskanic. “I already had five surgeries. I didn’t even know how I’d get through the year.”
The Royals used him “perfectly,” he noted, in tight games, twice a week. He couldn’t go more than that.
The “lesser” work allowed his fastball, which was mid-to-upper 90s, to remain sharp.
As the early 2004 season took shape, he wasn’t performing well. His ERA ballooned to 8.04.
“My shoulder was bad, but I didn’t want to go DL,” said Leskanic. “They wanted to make a move with me, but ended up releasing me.”
Leskanic, though, still believed he had something “in the tank” under the right circumstances.
“A number of teams contacted me after the Royals released me,” recalled Leskanic. “The Red Sox were the most adamant. I talked to Terry [Francona] and Theo and told them about my shoulder. I was up front with them and how I believed I could help. Theo was all-in and signed me.”
Solid start with Sox
Leskanic’s start was rock solid with the Red Sox, early getting innings in blowouts before getting some high leverage innings, allowing earned runs in four of his first 14 appearances.
With his shoulder acting up after a relief appearance in which he didn’t get a batter out, he was placed on the disabled list from July 25 to Aug. 18.
The rest was more than worth it.
Leskanic went the remainder of the regular season allowing earned runs (2) in only one of his next 18 appearances heading into the postseason.
“No matter what the circumstance was, up 10 or runs or whatever, I tried to bring a closer mentality to the mound every time,” recalled Leskanic. “It wasn’t easy. My shoulder was not great. But we made it work.”
Leskanic had no expectations of the playoffs, whether he’d be on the roster or not. When Francona informed him he’d be on the roster his reaction was, “Oh my God!”
His only other postseason experience was in his third season with the Rockies, the year he led all of majors with 75 relief appearances.
“I told Terry, ‘I don’t know how much I have to offer, but I will try my best,’” recalled Leskanic. “By then my fastball was about 92 or 93 miles per hour. I used to throw in the upper 90s. But I loved the opportunity.”
Leskanic rested for ALCS
Like Roberts, Leskanic didn’t see any action in the three-game sweep of the Angels, which ended on a Manny Ramirez walk-off homer over the Green Monster.
Leskanic saw action in two of the first three games against the Yankees, all Red Sox losses, including the 19-8 debacle in Game 3.
In the fourth inning, Leskanic faced four batters, getting one out before allowing a single, a homerun [Gary Sheffield] and a double.
“That 19-to-whatever loss was tough,” recalled Leskanic. “I was trying as best I could. Physically, my time was definitely running out. But I figured we had four games left if we were lucky.”
Leskanic had no plans to pitch in the epic, Game 4. Until the incredible bottom of the ninth inning occurred, with the Sox down 4-3, and Mariano Rivera on the mound hoping to close it for the Yankees.
Then Kevin Millar walked. Dave Roberts replaced him and stole second base. And Bill Mueller ripped a single up the middle, past Rivera’s attempt at a kick save, scoring Roberts to tie the game.
“Then I knew I would be pitching,” said Leskanic. “I started to stretch immediately. I was focused on being mentally sharp. Physically, I didn’t know what I was going to have. I would be pitching on guts and determination.”
The teams didn’t come close to scoring in the 10th inning setting up Leskanic’s final curtain call in Major League Baseball.
‘Bases loaded, two outs’
The Yankees had men on first and second with two outs when Francona brought in left-handed reliever Mike Myers, who walked the left-handed Hidecki Matsui on four pitches.
Leskanic got the call to face the left-handed Bernie Williams, who flew out to center field.
With the Red Sox bullpen on fumes, Leskanic, also on fumes, returned for the top of the 12th inning.
“Knowing there was a good chance my career was going to end, there was so much weighing on my mind,” he said. “I remembered thinking I didn’t want my career losing a game like this, with so much on the line. It would’ve been something that lived with me forever.”
After Posada’s single, Leskanic nailed the final three outs of his career, setting up the Ramirez single and Ortiz walk-off home run.
Leskanic was credited with the win.
Guts and determination persevered.
“One of the greatest memories of my career, that game, the night,” said Leskanic. “Going in, you know all Sox-Yankees games go five hours. It’s just the norm. And to see Manny and Ortiz, the best one-two punch I ever saw in my years in the league, was magical.”
Per Kevin Millar’s promise – “Don’t let us win Game 4” he told the media after Game 3 – the Red Sox had Pedro Martinez in Game 5 and Curt Schilling in Game 6.
“He was right. We all knew that everything lined up for us if we won Game Four,” said Leskanic. “Who else would you want in Game Five other than Pedro? Who else would you want in a Game Six other than Schilling?
“Honestly, I believe the Yankees knew it, too,” said Leskanic. “Maybe there was extra pressure on them, even leading the series 3-1.”
Leskanic never pitched after Game 4 with the Red Sox, or anybody else for that matter.
‘Best seat in the house’
But he did have the best seat in the house watching one of the most magical playoff runs in the history of pro sports.
In fact, when the documentary “Four Days in October” came out there was a point when a fan said “Leskanic is the worst pitcher on the Red Sox.”
“I got about 700 text messages from friends saying ‘What’s up with that?’” said Leskanic. “What would you rather be the best pitcher on a losing team or the worst pitcher on a World Series champ? I’m OK being the worst pitcher on the Red Sox.”
Interestingly, one of the players Leskanic got close with as soon as he got to be Boston was Nomar Garciaparra. They were only teammates, though, for five weeks as Garciaparra was part of a big deal that sent him to the Chicago Cubs in late July of 2004.
Leskanic came to understand how tough it can be playing in Boston, particularly before any championships were won.
“What a great player he was and really a great guy,” recalled Leskanic. “But I could see how he was worn out in Boston, mentally drained. I was on there a few months, but the scrutiny is unbelievable. It can wear on guys.”
The “best parade in the world” met all expectations for Leskanic.
From his team pitching against the Red Sox and then for them, he came to understand the fanbase was not atypical.
“I get it. I grew up in Pittsburgh. My entire week is thinking about how the Steelers will do on Sunday,” said Leskanic. “I am a total jerk when it comes to being a Steelers fan.
“Red Sox fans took over road games in places like Tampa, Toronto and Baltimore,” recalled Leskanic. “I know the Patriots became a big deal, but back then, the Red Sox were Number One. The parade was incredible, but didn’t surprise me. I did remember seeing a lot of people with newborn babies, which is crazy. But the fans love that team, man. And they finally got that trophy they always wanted.”
Leskanic has been part of a few celebrations with that team. He returned to Fenway Park for opening day in 2005 to get his ring. On opening day in 2008, he carried the trophy as part of the celebration following the 2007 win.
And he was there last April when most of the team returned to officially celebrate the 20th anniversary.
“I am lucky and blessed to have been a part of something so special in Boston and really baseball,” said Leskanic. “I was literally pitching there with my arm hanging on by a string. To finish my career that way … I know it’s a cliché, but I feel like I walked off into the sunset with a perfect ending. I don’t think many players can say that. I know I can.”