Pedro Martinez has a go-to line for Yankees fans that stops them dead in their tracks, even more than 20 years after the infamous 2004 American League Championship Series. This isn’t just about a win, it’s about one of the biggest embarrassments in sports history, and Martinez isn’t letting anyone forget it.
The Epic Comeback Nobody Believed
More than 20 years ago now, the 2004 American League Championship Series was arguably the greatest in Major League Baseball history. It was pure chaos, a chance for the Boston Red Sox to overcome a 3-0 series deficit against the New York Yankees, something that had never happened before in ALCS history. Nobody, and I mean nobody, expected this. That Yankees team was stacked, undoubtedly one of the best in Major League Baseball history. But the Red Sox wouldn’t quit. They clawed back to win Game 4 in extra innings, then stunned everyone again taking Game 5, also in extras. Then Curt Schilling put on a clinic in Game 6, and they just blew the Yankees out in Game 7. Unbelievable.
The Two Words That Shut Them Down
Even though he wasn’t at his absolute best in that series, former Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez was right there, part of that insane history. He pitched three times, struggling a bit in all three outings. He gave up three earned runs in his first start, four more over six innings in his second, and then two in a one-inning bullpen appearance. Not his best stat line for sure, but who cares? He was there, he saw it all, and he earned the right to talk smack for life.
Martinez recently spilled the tea on what goes down when he crosses paths with Yankees fans. He says the second he brings it up, they go totally silent. “For them to blow a three-game lead to none to us, and the way they did it against us, in their own park?” Martinez said, according to NJ.com. “The way we did it, it’s hard to imagine that you have to carry that on your shoulder for the rest of your career. I imagine how painful it was for the Yankees and their fans, to see now that I could ask them, ‘Who’s your daddy now?’” Then he drops the hammer, the actual words that make them fold: “When you tell them, ‘0-3, 0-3,’ they don’t talk anymore because it’s the biggest embarrassment in all of sports.” Boom. Mic drop.
A Storied Career, A Legendary Taunt
Look, even with those ALCS outings, Pedro had a storied career. That 2004 World Series win? It was the cherry on top. That year, he finished 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA, striking out 227 hitters across 217.0 innings. He helped the Red Sox throughout most of that postseason, rocking a 4.00 ERA despite those tough showings against New York. A legend, plain and simple.
So next time you hear a Yankees fan puffing out their chest about their history, remember Pedro Martinez’s two little words. Because sometimes, the past just hits different.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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