The Most Famous Stolen Base in Red Sox History: 12 Years Today

The curse of the Bambino may still be going strong today if not for the most famous steal of second base in Red Sox history, which occurred 12 years ago today.

With the Red Sox trailing the Yankees, 3-0, in the ALCS, and trailing, 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth inning at Fenway Park, Roberts got the call to pinch run for Kevin Millar, who had just drawn a leadoff walk from New York closer Mariano Rivera.

Everyone in the park knew Roberts would try to steal second in an effort to tie the game at 4 and extend the Red Sox season, if just for one more night. Rivera tossed over to first base a few times, almost nailing Roberts sliding back in.

Finally, Rivera delivered his first pitch Bill Mueller, who took it up and away. Yankees catcher Jorge Posada delivered a throw which looked to be in time to catch Roberts. Derek Jeter applied the tag a fraction of a second too late - every time you rewatch it seems like this is the time Roberts will be out.

Mueller followed with game-tying single up the middle, Roberts slid into home with an emphatic pop-up, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Image courtesy of MLB YouTube screengrab