At Last, Sox Take Series

Curse? What curse?

As soon as the final out was recorded at 11:40 p.m., cheers, church bells, and car horns resounded along the empty streets as the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-0, to win their first World Series title in 86 years.

Crowds of screaming Red Sox fans spilled out of the dorms into Harvard Yard and Harvard Square, where the Harvard University Band members climbed on top of the T shelter and led the crowd in triumphant, horn-heavy choruses.

In the Yard, students dressed the John Harvard statue in a Red Sox cap and t-shirt.

“It’s like I’m in the eye of the storm,” said Joanna R. Miller ’08, standing beside the statue.

Eli M. Levenson-Falk ’08 ran three-fourths of a lap around the Yard with only a ski mask and shoes.

“I was planning on two laps, but I realized it was too much,” he said.

After falling behind three games to none to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, the Red Sox won four straight and then swept their best-of-7 series with the Cardinals, four games to none, to set a Major League Baseball record of eight straight post season victories.

Though the celebrations in Harvard Square were largely peaceful, one student was injured by a hit-and-run vehicle, and another was taken to the hospital for intoxication. According to Cambridge Police Department (CPD) spokesman Frank T. Pasquarello, no arrests were made in the Square.

Police radio reports indicated police used tear gas to restrain crowds at the Landmark Center in Boston.

These rowdy celebrations, however, didn’t take the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) or the CPD off guard. Even before the Red Sox won, dozens of police were stationed throughout the Square.

Earlier that day, HUPD spokesperson Steve G. Catalano said that “the police are at full force” in case anything happens, but had full confidence in the students. “Students have acted maturely and properly in the past and I’m confident this will continue,” he said.

Following the death of an Emerson College student last week at the ALCS celebration outside Fenway Park, House Masters and resident deans coordinated venues where students could watch the game. Snacks included cookies, cold vegetables, dips, chips, and salsa.

“I’m hoping to keep a lot of students happy here instead of out in the streets,” Georgi said. “But Harvard students have enough sense not to do something stupid.”

Students crowded into Loker Commons to watch the game on two large projection screens at an event organized by the office of the Dean of the College and the Committee on Campus Life. Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) provided free popcorn and cracker jacks.

Luca Candelori ’08 was in Loker watching the game with some friends.

“I’m a Red Sox fan cause that’s how I learned about baseball,” said Candelori, who is not from the United States.

Knowing the Red Sox secured a World Series win, many students were relieved that they could finally get some sound sleep. Others, however, could not let go of the excitement.

“I have about three hundred pages of history reading due tomorrow,” said Aidan E. Tait ’08. “But this is too important.”