Former Red Sox World Series Champion Reflects On Playoff Heroics

Nobody expected the 2013 Boston Red Sox to win the World Series. They finished with 69 wins the year prior and were largely picked to finish outside the playoff picture.

Of course, that didn’t happen. The team, comprised of veterans like Johnny Gomes, Mike Napoli and Stephen Drew, went on a magical run and beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. David Ortiz carried the team at times, but it was the contributions from role players that made the whole thing come together.

One of those players was outfielder Shane Victorino. Victorino quickly became a fan favorite. His walkup song, “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley, echoed throughout the stadium each time he came to hit.

Victorino played eight seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. In the 2008 National League Divisional Series, he belted a grand slam off C.C. Sabathia to give the Phillies an early lead in game two on their way to winning the World Series. In his first season with Boston, he had a similar moment when he hit a grand slam late in game six of the American League Championship Series, giving the Red Sox a lead over the Detroit Tigers.

Victorino appeared on the Pardon My Take podcast on Wednesday, and the hosts asked Victorino about his two postseason grand slams. He reflected on those moments.

“When I hit that grand slam and jumped around the bases with Boston and I pounded my chest,” Victorino said. “I literally went back to my childhood days, like playing in my backyard, and you go like, ‘Bro, this [expletive] is real.”

Victorino isn’t wrong — any of us who grew up playing baseball dreamed of hitting a grand slam in the playoffs. The only difference between his and the dream is that the dream usually comes in the bottom of the ninth inning. You can relive the outfielder’s heroics here.

Aside from his heroics, Victorino told other stories about being ejected from games, his childhood, and other funny anecdotes from his time in the big leagues.