Editing Boston Red Sox (section)

====Boston Strong: 2013 World Series Champions====
{{main|2013 Boston Red Sox season|2013 World Series}}
Boston, which finished last in the American League East with a 69–93 record in 2012 (26 games behind the [[New York Yankees|Yankees]]), became the 11th team in major league history to go from worst in the division to first the next season when it clinched the A.L. East division title on September 20, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ringolsby |first=Tracy |date=September 21, 2013 |title=Worst to first finishes becoming more coming |work=MLB.com. |url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130921&content_id=61302802 |access-date=July 14, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004212639/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130921&content_id=61302802 }}</ref>  Many credit the team's turnaround with the hiring of manager [[John Farrell (pitcher)|John Farrell]], the former Red Sox pitching coach under Terry Francona from 2007 to 2010. As a former member of the staff, he had the respect of influential players such as Lester, Pedroia, and Ortiz.<ref name="browne">{{cite web |last=Browne |first=Ian |date=September 20, 2013 |title=Numerous reasons for Red Sox's turnaround |work=MLB.com |url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130920&content_id=61186228 |access-date=July 14, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214054/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130920&content_id=61186228 }}</ref>  But there were other moves made in the offseason by general manager [[Ben Cherington]] who targeted "character" players to fill the team's needs. These acquisitions included veteran catcher [[David Ross (baseball)|David Ross]], [[Jonny Gomes]], [[Mike Napoli]] and [[Shane Victorino]]. While some questioned these players as "re-treads", it was clear that Cherington was trying to move past 2011–2012 by bringing in "clubhouse players". Essential to the turnaround, however, was the pitching staff. With ace veteran [[John Lackey]] coming off [[Tommy John surgery]] and both Jon Lester and [[Clay Buchholz]] returning to their prior form, this allowed the team to rely less on their bullpen. Everything seemed in danger of collapsing, however, when both [[closer (baseball)|closers]], [[Joel Hanrahan]] and [[Andrew Bailey (baseball)|Andrew Bailey]], went down early with season-ending injuries. Farrell gave the closing job to [[Koji Uehara]] on June 21 who delivered with a 1.09 ERA and an MLB record 0.565 [[Walks plus hits per inning pitched|WHIP]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Uehara Phenomenon |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/18/the-uehara-phenomenon/ |work=MSNBC Sports |last=Posnanski |first=Joe |date=October 18, 2013 |access-date=July 14, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018190705/http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/18/the-uehara-phenomenon/ |archive-date=October 18, 2013 }}</ref> On September 11, the 37-year-old right-hander set a new Red Sox record when he retired 33 straight batters.<ref>{{cite web |last=Browne |first=Ian |date=September 19, 2013 |title=Uehara hit the ground running as Boston's closer |work=MLB.com |url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130919&content_id=61080784&vkey=news_bos&c_id=bos |access-date=July 14, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926203619/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130919&content_id=61080784&vkey=news_bos&c_id=bos }}</ref>  Other reasons include the trade deadline acquisition of pitcher [[Jake Peavy]] when the Red Sox were in second place in the AL East, the depth of the bench with players such as [[Mike Carp]] and rookies [[Jackie Bradley Jr.]] and [[Xander Bogaerts]], and the re-emergence of players such as [[Will Middlebrooks]] and [[Daniel Nava]].<ref name="browne"/> On September 28, 2013, the team secured [[home field advantage]] throughout the American League playoffs when their closest competition, the [[Oakland Athletics]], lost.<ref>{{cite web |last=Browne |first=I. |date=September 28, 2013 |title=Red Sox secure home-field advantage throughout playoffs |work=MLB.com |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/bos/red-sox-secure-home-field-advantage-throughout-playoffs?ymd=20130928&content_id=62065434 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213409/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/bos/red-sox-secure-home-field-advantage-throughout-playoffs?ymd=20130928&content_id=62065434 }}</ref> The next day, the team finished the season going 97–65, the best record in the American League and tied with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] for the best record in baseball.<ref>{{cite web |last=Browne |first=I. |date=September 29, 2013 |title=As playoffs loom, Sox get in final tune-up |url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_09_29_bosmlb_balmlb_1 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 30, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213648/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_09_29_bosmlb_balmlb_1 }}</ref> They proceeded to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in the [[2013 World Series]], four games to two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1825511-world-series-2013-schedule-where-and-when-to-catch-remaining-games|title=World Series 2013 Schedule: Where and When to Catch Remaining Games|website=Bleacher Report|date=October 26, 2013|access-date=October 27, 2013}}</ref> The Red Sox became the first team since the [[1991 Minnesota Twins season|1991 Minnesota Twins]] to win the World Series a year after finishing in last place, and the second overall. The 2012 Red Sox's .426 winning percentage was the lowest for a team in a season prior to a World Series championship.

Throughout the season, the Red Sox players and organization formed a close association with the city of [[Boston]] and its people in relation to the [[Boston Marathon bombing]] that occurred on April 15, 2013. On April 20, the day after the alleged bombers were captured, David Ortiz gave a pre-game speech following a ceremony honoring the victims and the local law enforcement, in which he stated, "This is our fucking city! And nobody is going to dictate our freedom! Stay strong!" For the entirety of the season, the team wore an additional arm patch that exhibited the Red Sox "B" logo and the word "Strong" within a blue circle. The team also hung up in the [[dugout (baseball)|dugout]] a custom jersey that read "Boston Strong" with the number 617, representing the city of Boston's [[area code]]. On many occasions during the season, victims of the attack and law enforcement involved were given the honor of throwing the ceremonial [[first pitch]]. Following their victory in the 2013 World Series, the first one clinched at home in Fenway Park since 1918, Red Sox players Jonny Gomes and Jarrod Saltalamacchia performed a ceremony during the team's traditional [[duck tour|duck boat]] victory [[parade]], in which they placed the [[World Series trophy]] and the custom 617 jersey on the [[Boston Marathon]] finish line on [[Boylston Street]], followed by a moment of silence and the singing of "[[God Bless America]]". This ceremony helped the city "reclaim" its spirit that was lost after the bombing.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/02/us/boston-red-sox-parade/ | title = Boston Red Sox parade reclaims marathon finish line | work = [[CNN]] | date = November 2, 2013 | access-date = November 7, 2013 | first = Michael | last = Martinez }}</ref> Overall, the Red Sox team and organization played a role in the healing process after the tragedy, owing to the team's unifying effect on the city.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Moroney|first1=Tom |last2=Linskey |first2=Annie|title=Red Sox Homage to April Bomb Victims Drives World Series Win|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-31/red-sox-homage-to-april-bomb-victims-drives-world-series-win.html|access-date=December 26, 2013|newspaper=Bloomberg News|date=October 31, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Karlamangla|first=Soumya|title=Boston celebrates Red Sox win, remembers marathon bombings|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-boston-red-sox-marathon-20131102-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229092446/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/nov/02/nation/la-na-nn-boston-red-sox-marathon-20131102|url-status=live|archive-date=December 29, 2013|access-date=December 26, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 2, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Boston fans converge on bombing site|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/boston-strong-red-sox-fans-celebrate-marathon-finish-line-after-world-series-game-6-win-st-louis-cardinals-fenway-park-103013|access-date=December 26, 2013|newspaper=Fox Sports|date=October 31, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Martinez|first=Michael|title=Saturday's Boston Red Sox victory parade to heal city's marathon wounds|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/31/us/boston-red-sox-win-meaning/|access-date=December 26, 2013|newspaper=CNN|date=November 2, 2013}}</ref>