Boston's victory for the ages

Obeline Biron remembers the 1918 World Series when the Boston Red Sox last won a decisive World Series game at home in historic Fenway Park. “I was 12 years old, and, of course, all the kids in the neighborhood went crazy,” he said of the Red Sox’s Game 6 victory over the Chicago Cubs 95 years ago.

Now 107 years old, Biron got to see thousands of Red Sox fans go “crazy” all over again Wednesday night when Boston defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to clinch the World Series in another Game 6 at the oldest ballpark in the major leagues.

“It was crazy, absolutely crazy,” Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia agreed. “It was just an unbelievable feeling to do this in front of our fans. … To be honest with you, it was hard to keep the emotions down.”

The Red Sox’s two other World Series titles since 1918, in 2004 and 2007, were four-game sweeps clinched on the road.

Boston’s impressive run—which included the best record in baseball during the regular season—was even more astounding in light of their performance last year when the team went 69-93 and finished last in the American League East.

“When the fireworks went off at the presentation of the trophy out there, when the ballpark was filled with smoke, it was completely surreal,” first year Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “To be in this position, given where we’ve come from, reflecting back a year ago at this time, there’s been a lot that’s happened in 13 months.”

Throughout the season, the Red Sox served as a healing balm for the city of Boston in wake of the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15. The team adopted the slogan “Boston Strong,” the rallying cry for the city in the months following the tragedy.

“This is for you, Boston. You guys deserve it,” said Red Sox designated hitter/first baseman David Ortiz, who was named the World Series Most Valuable Player after batting .688 against the Cardinals. “We’ve been through a lot this year, and this is for all of you and all those families who struggled.”

Hundreds of Red Sox fans gathered at the site of the Boston Marathon’s finish line Wednesday night to celebrate. On Saturday, the team’s parade route will carry the players across that finish line as well.

“I don’t think a win-loss record sums up how we care about this city and what we rallied around,” Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes said. “I’ll tell you what, I don’t think we put Boston on our back, I think we jumped on their back. They wouldn’t let us quit.”