With a dominating 6-1 victory over the Cardinals in front of a raucous Fenway Park crowd in Game 6 — and after an emotional season for the city and its fans — the Boston Red Sox won a World Series on their home field for the first time in 95 years.
The Prudential Center's usual cheer was on display from the game's first moments, but it took Boston until the third to get on the scoreboard.
That's when Shane Victorino, who was 0-for-10 with no RBIs in the World Series, knocked a bases-clearing double off the Green Monster and broke the game open.
Jonny Gomes (who had the deciding home run in Game 4) just barely beat the tag by Yadier Molina, and that was all the runs the Red Sox would need on this night.
Gomes' slide was instantly iconic from any angle.
So close.
The party at Fenway was officially underway.
A solo home run by Stephen Drew in fourth inning added a welcome insurance run.
Mike Napoli's RBI single later in the inning tacked on another.
Even Secretary of State John Kerry couldn't contain himself. The guy was out of control.
Red Sox owner John Henry was quite pleased.
Victorino's RBI single that followed ended the Sox scoring for the night — more than enough for the eighth World Series title in club history.
The Sox and their fans were all smiles.
Maybe that's because at that point the Red Sox were 97% favorites to win the game — and the odds held true the rest of the evening.
Winning pitcher John Lackey (who also won a ring with the 2002 Anaheim Angels) left in the seventh after tossing 6 and 2/3 effective innings.
David Ortiz, who hit .688 against the Cardinals with two home runs and seven RBIs, was named World Series MVP.
And finally, fans like Arthur D'Angelo — a season-ticket holder for 65 years — got to see the Sox clinch a World Series at Fenway Park.
It was the first time since 1918 that the Sox clinched at home, and times have sure changed since.
What was old was suddenly new again.
Here's the final out from Koji Uehara — and the citywide celebration that it spurred:
