Dear Shipley Families:

Is it true? Did the Red Sox really overcome 86 years of frustration to win the 2004 World Series?

During the just completed League Championship and World Series I watched virtually every minute I could from the time the Red Sox were down three games to the Yankees until the end of the World Series. I saw the post-game celebration and the awarding of the World Series Trophy. I even caught some moments of the parade in Boston. Yet, I’m still unsure that it really happened. The theme song from “The Twilight Zone” keeps playing in my head. It still seems surreal. I keep thinking it’s a dream and that someone is going to wake me up and tell me it’s not true.

Having been a Red Sox fan my entire life, I can’t tell you how excited I am for the organization, the City of Boston, New England, and the generations of fans who have followed the Red Sox waiting for this to happen. As I sat watching the last moments of the game, forty years of memories flooded my mind. When the final out took place, our entire family exploded with glee and we had a huge family hug, one we will remember for our entire life. Immediately thereafter I spoke with three of my siblings. All of us were ecstatic. It was as though we had the weight of a mountain lifted from our shoulders.

As I thought about it in the ensuing days, I wondered how this game of baseball and one team, the Red Sox, carried such power over me and so many generations of New Englanders. While their home is Boston, they are truly a regional team. Moreover, their victory stirred interest across the nation. Numerous people—faculty members, parents, students, and others—took the time to email or call me and other Red Sox fans with their excitement and support. Even people who are not baseball fans connected with this win. What is it that kept me glued to the television, even when it looked as though they would lose to the Yankees? Why am I and so many other people loyal to the Red Sox (or any other team) after so many disappointments? Why is it that we feel so good?

In contemplating these questions, it is important to understand the role that sports play in American life for many people. For whatever reasons, when fans are at games or rooting for their teams, they tend to forget their concerns and are free of the responsibilities of their daily lives. They can openly dream about the potential of success with both their dearest friends and people with whom they have nothing else in common. Sports can bring the widest range of people together for a common cause. The bond that develops among fans of the same team grows stronger and stronger year after year.

As with many other fans, my love affair with the Red Sox began in childhood. I have vivid memories of going to games with my siblings and friends. I remember playing baseball in the street and park, pretending that I was a Red Sox player (Carl Yastrzemski was my favorite). I followed them religiously, and I compiled their statistics at night before I went to bed. With whatever else was going on, rooting for the Red Sox brought me happiness and was a basis for connection with many other people. In some ways, their victory renews that happiness, reinforces the innocence of those years, and validates our childhood.

Of course, there are times when our preoccupation with our team can become counterproductive. We fool ourselves into believing that we are more important to the process than we really are. In 1986 the Red Sox looked as though they were going to defeat the Mets. In anticipation of the win, I called one of my brothers before the game was over. When the Red Sox lost the game, he blamed me for the loss. It took this year’s win for him to forgive me.

In addition, following the Red Sox (or any other team) for so long gives one a sense of identity and appreciation. We feel their wins and losses as though we played the games ourselves. Some might refer to this as living vicariously. Nevertheless, it provides us with an opportunity to live in an imaginary world in the healthiest of ways. Last year, when my oldest son, Matt, and I were watching the Red Sox lose to the Yankees in the play-offs, he said to me, “Dad, I may not ever see them win in my lifetime.” I smiled and said, “You know, real Red Sox fans never give up. They keep rooting for the team, no matter what happens. Sure, when the team loses the fans get upset, thinking about what could have been. But they return in force the next year believing that this will be “The Season.”

On a different level, the Red Sox victory provided the best in sports. Their effort demonstrated the importance of resilience and playing together. When they were down 3-0 in games to the Yankees and 4-2 in the final game, things looked particularly dismal. Yet, the Red Sox had the fortitude and strength to grind things out. They never stopped believing in themselves or in each other. Each player had a role and did what was necessary to support the others and help the team. While the team had its leaders, there were many different heroes. Over the last few games the Red Sox were better than the Cardinals in every area of the game, leading me to wonder whether they were simply a better team. Their dramatic eight-game winning streak to end the season gave people something to be united about in a positive manner. It allowed families and friends to connect over many generations. Most importantly, it allowed people to put things into context and to share the excitement of the moment, the memories of the past, and optimism for the future.

What lessons can we learn from the experience of the Red Sox and their fans? We can learn about the importance of hope and resilience. No matter how bad things look, it is important to be upbeat and optimistic. Being resilient and persevering allows us to see the most difficult of situations as an opportunity for growth. We can learn about teamwork, passion, and commitment. Here at Shipley, we want our students to develop the resilience and perseverance necessary to deal with the challenges of life. We encourage them to dream about high goals and to be passionate about them. And we help them to develop the commitment to reach them. It is the balance and integration of the hope, commitment, and resilience that provides the greatest opportunities for real growth and achievement.

While I will continue to root for the Red Sox and Phillies, there is a side of me that would love to see the Cubs win next so that their fans can have the same experience. And locally, I cannot help but think that if the Eagles continue to play well and find a way to win the Super Bowl, the reaction in this area will be similar to the one just experienced in New England. With New England having won two of the last three Super Bowls, I will be rooting for the Eagles to do it here.

I will never forget this year. Thank you to the 2004 Red Sox for letting a lifetime dream become a reality! As you put your children to bed at night, be sure to let yourself dream with them and about them. Most importantly, let us all do what we can to keep their dreams alive.

Warmest regards,

Steven S. Piltch
Head of School