SI's Sportsmen: Red Sox and their fans

Selecting the 2004 SI Sportsman of the Year was a tough choice -- until Curt, Pedro, Manny, Johnny and the rest of those goofy, gritty Red Sox rewarded Boston's loyal and long-suffering fans with their first World Series championship since 1918.

  Verducci: Why the Red Sox are more than a team to Boston
•  Reactions: Your Sportsman thoughts  | SI Covers Search: Through the years
•  SI's MLB Player of the Year: Red Sox ace Schilling fights off injury, makes history
•  2003 Sportsmen of the Year: Spurs stars Tim Duncan and David Robinson 
•  Get your FREE Boston Red Sox World Series Championship Package!