The Comeback: Where Are the 2004 Boston Red Sox Players Now? Inside Their Lives 20 Years After Breaking the 'Curse of the Bambino'

Mar. 15, 2025

Boston Red Sox players celebrate on the field after their 10-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium.Photo:Getty

Getty

Cowboy Up!

Netflix’s sports docuseriesThe Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox, which premiered on Oct. 24, offers an electric retelling of the team’s path to a World Series win.

Diehard Boston fans are all too familiar with the “Curse of the Bambino,” an 86-year drought during which the Red Sox tried and failed to win the World Series between 1918 and 2004. The team came devastatingly close in 2003 when they lost to their biggest rivals, the New York Yankees, in the American League Championship Series.

In 2004, the team roster — which includedDavid Ortiz,Curt Schilling, Kevin Millar,Pedro Martinezand Manny Ramirez — was stacked and their chemistry was undeniable.

“We were just a bunch of guys, our team, just ballplayers,” Millar said in the series. “But we were like brothers, and that’s hard to do.”

The Red Sox earned a chance at redemption when they faced the Yankees again in the 2004 ALCS. However, fans feared the curse would never be broken when the first three games went to New York. Then, the unbelievable happened: the Red Sox became the first MLB team in history to come back from a three-game deficit and win.

“It felt like the greatest possible catharsis you could ever have,” former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said of his team that went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series.

So where are the 2004 Boston Red Sox players now? Here’s everything to know about the legendary champs.

David Ortiz

David Ortiz.Jim Rogash/WireImage; Lloyd Bishop/Getty

Jim Rogash/WireImage; Lloyd Bishop/Getty

David Ortiz, affectionately known as “Big Papi,” was a phenomenal designated hitter for the Red Sox. He played 20 seasons of professional baseball — 14 of which he played for Boston — before he hung up his bat in 2016. The Red Sox retired his No. 34 jersey in 2017 and Ortiz wasinducted into the Baseball Hall of Famein 2022.

Three years prior, Ortiz nearly lost his life when he wasshot during a burglary attemptin his hometown of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, perESPN. Today, he is an MLB studio analyst for FOX Sports.

As for his personal life, Ortiz was married toTiffany Ortizfrom 2002 to 2023. The couple share two children: daughter Alexandra and son D’Angelo. Ortiz also has a daughter named Jessica from a previous relationship.

Curt Schilling

Curt Schilling.Ezra Shaw/Getty; Cindy Ord/Getty

Ezra Shaw/Getty; Cindy Ord/Getty

Curt Schilling was a pitcher in the MLB for 20 seasons and is well known for heroically playing in the 2004 World Series with a tendon injury.

The former baseball player married his wife, Shonda, in 1992, and they share four kids: Gabriella, Garrison, Gehrig and Grant.

Manny Ramirez

Manny Ramirez.Ron Vesely/Getty; Paul Drinkwater/Getty

Ron Vesely/Getty; Paul Drinkwater/Getty

Manny Ramirez, an outfielder and one of the greatest hitters in MLB history, played professional baseball for 19 seasons. He abruptly retired in 2011 after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, rather than face a 100-game suspension. It was his second league offense, according toESPN. Ramirez went on to play internationally in China and Japan.

Ramirez married his wife, Juliana, in 2001, and the couple went on to welcome two children, sons Manny and Lucas. The former MLB player also has a son named Manuelito from a previous relationship.

Kevin Millar

Kevin Millar.Ezra Shaw/Getty; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

Ezra Shaw/Getty; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

Kevin Millar, known for being the “loud, funny guy” in the clubhouse, primarily played first base in the MLB for 12 seasons. He concluded his career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009. Millar now hostsIntentional Talk— the MLB Network’s longest-running talk show.

In 1999, Millar married Jeanna. Together, they have four children: twins Kiley and Kashten, son Kanyon and daughter Karis.

Jason Varitek

Jason Varitek.Jason Szenes/Shutterstock; Paul Marotta/Getty

Jason Szenes/Shutterstock; Paul Marotta/Getty

Catcher Jason Varitek, nicknamed “Tek,” spent his entire 15-year MLB career with the Boston Red Sox. Today, he is the team’s game-planning coordinator and catching coach.

Tim Wakefield

Tim Wakefield.John G Mabanglo/Shutterstock; Paul Marotta/Getty

John G Mabanglo/Shutterstock; Paul Marotta/Getty

Tim Wakefield was a pitcher in the MLB for 19 seasons — 17 of which he spent with the Red Sox. He was best known for mastering the knuckleball.

Pedro Martinez

Pedro Martinez.Scott Rovak/Shutterstock; Gene Wang/Getty

Scott Rovak/Shutterstock; Gene Wang/Getty

Starting pitcherPedro Martinezplayed for 18 seasons in the MLB. He hung up his glove in 2009, ending his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2015, Martinez was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He now serves as a studio analyst for TBS and the MLB Network.

Martinez has been married to his wife, Carolina, since 2005. He has four children — Pedro Martinez Jr., Enyol, Pedro Isaias and Nayla – from previous relationships.

Theo Epstein

Theo Epstein.Bob Gevinski/WireImage; Raymond Boyd/Getty

Bob Gevinski/WireImage; Raymond Boyd/Getty

At 28 years old, Theo Epstein became the youngest general manager in baseball history. He was with the Boston Red Sox from 2003 to 2011 before joining the Chicago Cubs as their president of baseball operations. While there, he helped lead the team to their first World Series in 108 years.

Epstein left the Cubs in 2020 and went on to consult for the MLB. Today, he is part owner and senior advisor of Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Red Sox.

In 2007, Epstein married his wife, Marie Whitney. The couple share two kids, Jack and Andrew.

Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts.Al Bello/Getty; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Al Bello/Getty; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Dave “Doc” Roberts, was an outfielder in the MLB for 10 seasons. He announced his retirement in 2009 after ending his playing career with the San Francisco Giants.

Roberts went on to join the coaching staff for the San Diego Padres before becoming manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. His time with the team has been impressive, having led the Dodgers to the postseason every year since taking the helm in 2016.

The former MLB player married his high school sweetheart, Tricia, in 1997. The couple share a son, Cole, and a daughter, Emmerson.

Johnny Damon

Marc Andrew Deley/Getty; Cassidy Sparrow/Getty

In 2021, the athlete wasarrested for allegedly driving under the influencein Florida. According to theNew York Post, prosecutors agreed to drop the case following Damon’s completion of a pre-trial diversion program.

Damon was married to Angela Vannice from 1992 to 2002. Together they welcomed twins Jackson and Madelyn. In 2004, Damon wed Michelle Mangan. The couple share six children: Devon, Danica, twins Dasha and Daliah, Dreanna and Dash.

Derek Lowe

Derek Lowe.Andrew Gombert/Shutterstock; Romeo Guzman/Shutterstock

Andrew Gombert/Shutterstock; Romeo Guzman/Shutterstock

Derek Lowe was a pitcher in the MLB for 17 seasons. He retired in 2013, ending his career with the Texas Rangers.

Keith Foulke

Keith Foulke.Elsa/Getty; Billie Weiss/Getty

Elsa/Getty; Billie Weiss/Getty

Keith Foulke was a pitcher in the MLB for 11 seasons. He ended his playing career with the Oakland Athletics in 2008.

Foulke has been married to his wife, Mandy Whitted-Foulke, since 1997. The couple went on to welcome three sons: Kade, Kyler and Kasen.

Terry Francona

Terry Francona.Focus on Sport/Getty; Rob Kim/Getty

Focus on Sport/Getty; Rob Kim/Getty

Terry Francona, affectionally known as “Tito,” was the manager of the Boston Red Sox from 2004 to 2011. He went on to manage the Cleveland Guardians for a decade and is currently the head coach for the Cincinnati Reds.

In 1982, Francona married Jacque Lang. The couple, who divorced after nearly 30 years together, share four kids: Leah, Jamie, Alyssa and Nicholas.

Nomar Garciappara

Nomar Garciappara.Focus on Sport/Getty; Jerritt Clark/GC Images

Focus on Sport/Getty; Jerritt Clark/GC Images

The former shortstop has gone on to have a successful career as a sports analyst. He currently works for SportsNet LA.

Garciappara married U.S. soccer iconMia Hammin 2003. The couple share twin daughters, Grace Isabella and Ava Caroline, and a son named Garrett Anthony.

source: people.com