Former Gator David Ross Claims World Series Championship With Boston Red Sox
Thursday, October 31, 2013 | Baseball
Former University of Florida catcher David Ross (1998) and the Boston Red Sox claimed the 2013 World Series on Wednesday night at Fenway Park with a 6-1 triumph that sealed a 4-2 series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the eighth World Series crown for the Red Sox in franchise history (1903-12-15-16-18-2004-07-13) and the team's third title in the past 10 seasons.
Having completed his 12th Major League season, Ross played in 36 regular-season games this year and hit .216 with 11 runs, 10 RBI, five doubles and four homers. In the Red Sox A.L. Divisional Series triumph over Tampa Bay, he was 1-for-5 (.200) with a double and scored a run and then went 2-for-4 (.500) against the Tigers in the A.L. Championship Series, highlighted by an RBI double in Boston's 4-3 win in Game 5 that secured a 3-2 series advantage. In the World Series versus the Cardinals, Ross started the final three games of the Fall Classic behind the plate and delivered a tie-breaking double in the seventh inning of the Sox 3-1 win in Game 5 at Busch Stadium. He caught the final out of the World Series when Koji Uehara struck out Matt Carpenter to trigger a massive celebration.
Ross batted .332 with 69 RBI, 21 doubles and 19 round-trippers in helping the Gators to the 1998 SEC Championship and a berth at that season's College World Series. He now joins six other former Gator players who have earned World Series rings – David Eckstein (2002, 2006), Witt “Lefty” Guise (1940), Steve Lombardozzi (1987), Randy O'Neal (1984), Lance Richbourg (1924), Al Rosen (1948).
Former Gators in the World Series (years at Florida in parentheses)
Lance Richbourg (1919) – Washington Senators, Chicago Cubs
1924 World Series: Washington 4, New York Giants 3
1932 World Series: New York Yankees 4, Chicago Cubs 0
Witt “Lefty” Guise (1929-30) – Cincinnati Reds
1940 World Series: Cincinnati 4, Detroit 3
Al Rosen (1941-42) – Cleveland Indians
1948 World Series: Cleveland 4, Boston Braves 2
1954 World Series: New York Giants 4, Cleveland 0
Randy O'Neal (1981) – Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals
1984 World Series: Detroit 4, San Diego 1
1987 World Series: Minnesota 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3
Marc Sullivan (1977-79) – Boston Red Sox
1986 World Series: New York Mets 4, Boston 3
Steve Lombardozzi (1980-81) – Minnesota Twins
1987 World Series: Minnesota 4, St Louis 3
Robby Thompson (1983) – San Francisco Giants
1989 World Series: Oakland 4, San Francisco 0
Herbert Perry (1998-91) – Cleveland Indians
1995 World Series: Atlanta 4, Cleveland 2
David Eckstein (1994-97) – Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals
2002 World Series: Anaheim 4, San Francisco 3
2006 World Series: St. Louis 4, Detroit 1
Josh Fogg (1996-98) – Colorado Rockies
2007 World Series: Boston 4, Colorado 0
Darren O'Day (2003-06) – Texas Rangers
2010 World Series: San Francisco 4, Texas 1
David Ross (1998) – Boston Red Sox
2013 World Series: Boston 4, St. Louis 2
