WESTLAKE, Ohio, 29 October 2004 — US President George W. Bush yesterday congratulated Boston’s Red Sox on their World Series victory, which broke an 86-year drought many fans blamed on a curse, the White House said.
“The president is happy for the Red Sox and all their fans. This is a long time coming and he shares in their excitement about winning the World Series, for the first time since 1918,” Bush spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.
Bush congratulated team owner John Henry, team president Larry Lucchino, as well as pitcher Curt Schilling, who has urged voters to back the president’s bid for a second term in Tuesday’s election.
The president, a former baseball team owner, watched some of the game but went to bed before it was over, learning that the Sox had triumphed only on Thursday morning.
The Red Sox won five of the first 15 World Series titles, including the 1903 debut. But they had won none since star Babe Ruth was sold to the rival New York Yankees in 1920 to launch the fabled curse bearing his nickname.
