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Throughout New England, thousands upon thousands of gifts bearing the "World Champion Boston Red Sox" logo were placed under trees this Christmas. Think about it. Until Oct. 27, nobody owned any hat, T-shirt, sweatshirt or baby bib bearing that inscription. (Rest assured the memorabilia and souvenir business was not as prolific in 1918, the last time the Sox won the title.)

It was a year unlike any we can remember, at least those of us under the age of 80. And 2005 is shaping up with the same storylines: the superpower war between the Yankees and the Red Sox, the practical and moral issues of The Steroids Era and the whereabouts of the Montreal/San Juan/Washington Expos/Nationals.

Meanwhile, here's a look back on the season that was. One size may not fit all.

Kevin Brown, New York Yankees

Brown won 68 games in the first six years of his seven-year deal while earning $90 million, or about $1.32 million per victory. He hasn't even pitched enough innings to qualify for the ERA title in three of the past four years. He turns 40 in March but -- based on his clubhouse temper tantrum, in which he broke two bones in his non-pitching hand when he punched a wall in the clubhouse, and the disdain with which his own teammates, coaches and training staff regard him -- Brown still hasn't grown up. And his gag-job in Game 7 of the ALCS last year -- after manager Joe Torre repeatedly told Brown not to take the ball if he wasn't fully healthy -- will never be forgotten by the organization, which does not want Brown to throw another pitch in pinstripes.

Mark Loretta, San Diego Padres

He finished third in the NL batting race and put together a better season than Ichiro Suzuki, including more runs, doubles, homers, RBI and walks, fewer strikeouts and a better OPS.

Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants

Bonds received the Hank Aaron Award -- given annually to baseball's best hitter -- prior to a World Series game. The way Bonds' handlers hustled him in and out of the interview room was embarrassing for Bonds and for baseball. They may as well have covered his head with a trenchcoat, so determined were Bonds and his handlers to avoid questions from the media about flaxseed oil, steroids and other performance enhancers. So, based on his grand jury testimony, Bonds' lifelong friend handed him stuff to put in -- and on -- his body and Bonds' explanation is that he said only, "Whatever" and went right on using the goods? This guy is good for the game? Whatever, dude.

Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox

Truth in advertising. He delivered, just as he and Boston said he would. Schilling was the first pitcher in the history of baseball to guide his new team to a world championship while leading the league in wins and winning a World Series game.

Adrian Beltre, Los Angeles Dodgers

The new Seattle Mariner lived up to the expectations of his former team, which has labeled him another Sammy Sosa waiting to happen. Beltre won the home run title (48) drove in 121 runs, batted .334 and played his typical expert third base, making him one of the five best all-around players in baseball.

The first Red Sox world championship in 86 years

Members of Red Sox Nation are still smiling two months later. It's a great example of the decent side of sports: when baseball brings people together and inspires them.

Steroids (continued)

When Bonds passes Babe Ruth, no one will be able to fully celebrate it. Bonds is a qualified fraud. It is up to each fan to decide how much he gained from his cheating. A little? A lot? Something in between? The fact is, no one knows, but Bonds has empowered everyone to forge his or her own guess. And let's see how much teeth the players put into the new testing procedures, which should be in place by Opening Day. Get ready to see more players shrinking back to normal size. And human growth hormone, which will not be part of the testing, will continue to be a popular performance-enhancing drug even with the new testing.