How a 33-to-1 underdog faced a historic four-game sweep
In short: In 2007, the Colorado Rockies arrived at the World Series following an improbable, dominant postseason run. Yet, they met a Boston Red Sox juggernaut that refused to let them compete, resulting in a clinical sweep that rewrote the record books for both franchises.
The 2007 postseason was a study in extremes. The Colorado Rockies entered the series as massive longshots, with 33-to-1 odds at the start of the season. They had surged through the playoffs, winning 21 of 22 games between September and mid-October, including sweeps of the Phillies and Diamondbacks. However, their momentum hit a wall against the Boston Red Sox, who completed a four-game sweep from October 24 to October 28.
Boston’s dominance was statistically staggering. Led by manager Terry Francona, the Red Sox outscored their opponents 59–15 over a seven-game stretch spanning the ALCS and World Series. The team featured a mix of legendary veterans and rising stars, including rookie Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury. The series was marked by historic individual performances, such as Daisuke Matsuzaka becoming the first Japanese pitcher to earn a World Series win, and Pedroia and Ellsbury becoming the first rookie duo to each record at least three hits in a single game.
The sweep also carried heavy historical weight. The Rockies became the first National League team to be swept immediately after winning their League Championship Series, a feat previously achieved only by the 1990 Oakland Athletics. For Boston, the victory secured their seventh championship and their second in just four seasons. The series concluded with a dramatic final out by Jonathan Papelbon at 12:06 a.m. EDT on October 29, cementing a period of unprecedented success for the franchise.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2007 World Series
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