“From Cursed to First!” tm
Trademarked in 2004, this slogan helped rally the Boston Red Sox fans and their players to win a World Championship and end the 86 year old "Curse of the Bambino" for good. “From Cursed to First!” shirts, hats, and bumper stickers became as much a part of New England last fall as the foliage.

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(Scroll down this page for 2004 highlights)

Here’s a shot of one of our shirts making an appearance on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" last week:

Bruce and Gabriel, chilling on the stoop...Gabriel dons World Champions shirt at 19 months.

The Boston Red Sox celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 to
win game four of the World Series on October 27, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

2004 WORLD
SERIES CHAMPIONS!
We did it!  The Red Sox went "From CursedTo First!" 
Now is the time to get these original collectible items. 
Wear your pride.  You were there for Boston Red Sox history in 2004. 
Eighty-six years in waiting!
To recognize the "From Cursed To First!" season in 2004, all Tee-shirts are now $20.04

Get  geared up.  This was the year!  How 'bout those Red Sox!

*Clearance*
2 for 1 on entire ORIGINAL STORE.
Whatever you order, you get two!

click here to order

$20.04	$15.99	$25.99

This site was opened on March 30th, 2004.  We always believed!

Welcome
to the home of "From Cursed To First!™". 
This is the spot where Red Sox Nation can purchase all "From Cursed To First!" merchandise, hear a sample of the 2004 "anthem", and post Red Sox chatter. 
 
We must collectively acknowledge that there is a curse...but it is about to end!  This is definitely our year.  We know it, and the players know it.  It will be an unbelievable summer.  We are on a mission.... This is the year we go "From Cursed To First!" 

Let's Go Red Sox!!!
 
See you at City Hall Plaza in October.

click here for photo gallery

 Updates: 

12/30 UPDATE
Happy New Year everybody! Thank you all for your support throughout this amazing year. The mere mention of the year 2004 will always bring a smile to the face of every member of Red Sox Nation!

We will be announcing our slogan and shirts for the 2005 Red Sox season in February, when ST starts. Special thanks to Theo and the ownership for “Tekking” care of business.

Thanks to Lee Ostaszewski (and you thought Mientkiewicz was a tough name) for the nice words in his year round-up column.
Click here:

And also Dave “The Rambler” Lindberg for his revelation.

The Real Reason the Sox Won

The truth must come out. Following the 19-8 shellacking, the Rambler told the V.O. he had had it with the Sox. “They quit on me, I’m quitting on them. From now on I’m rooting for the Devil Rays. Low expectations and no disappointment.” Those were my exact words. In fact, I threatened to buy a TB hat when I returned to Fenway for Game #4. But the Rambler couldn’t pull the trigger at Twins Souvenirs. Instead, I broke out the secret weapon. After waking up the Red Sox gods with his Tampa Bay threat, the Rambler donned, for the very first time, his “From Cursed to First” t-shirt. Given to me by my friend, Bruce Fine, proprietor of www.fromcursedtofirst.com, the Rambler had been saving it for just the right moment. Trailing the Yankees 3-0 in the ALCS seemed like the right time.

After the Game #4 win, the V.O. was under strict orders not to wash the shirt. The Rambler wore the shirt the remainder of the ALCS and the World Series. The shirt went 8-0, testimony to the power of the phrase. The Rambler is just thankful it wasn’t 8 straight games in July or August. Not sure I could have taken that!

More great “Ramblings from Section 32” at:
http://www.redsoxrambler.com/html/current_ramblings.html

In case you were wondering what the top Sports story of the year was, according to all newspaper writers across the country, read here:

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/sports/article.adp?id=20041229123609990001

Peace, love, and championships…

Bruce

UPDATE 11/ 22



From Cursed To First! is proud to sponsor and support The Jimmy Fund. You can support this great organization and get this fantastic holiday ornament now.

Limited, special edition, 24 karat gold plated, handcrafted World Championship 2004 Red Sox Ornament. All proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund. $20.

click here to order: www.jimmyfund.org/holiday
The Boston Red Sox are unequalled champions in the fight against cancer. For more than 50 years, the Red Sox have teamed with the Jimmy Fund to save lives, find cures, and dramatically change the quality of life for children and families in New England and around the world.

The Red Sox adopted the Jimmy Fund as its official charity in 1953, and since then, the two have established a deep bond — unlike any other in professional sports.

Matt Fine with World Champion and Lefty specialist Mike Myers, who's rocking his Majestic "From Cursed To First!" T-shirt.

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Also, we are pleased to announce that the "From Cursed To First!" Song CD and bumper stickers are now available at the Spin Street store at the Retail Shops at The Mohegan Sun in CT.

Our complete line of shirts, sweatshirts, hats and stickers are available to Los Angeles area Sox fans at:

SCORECARD - the Sports Fan Store
12306 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604 818-761-0090

Alan Embree, Jerry Remy, and Kevin Millar signed the Majestic "From Cursed To First! Big Shirt" outside of Modell's. They, along with thousands of fans, helped raise money for the "Jimmy Fund". Thank you!

UPDATE 10/29
Duh-nuh-nuh, duh-nuh-nuh...

ESPN SPORTSCENTER GRAPHIC SAYS IT ALL

As Celtics announcer Johnny Most used to shout out from the rafters of the “Gahden”, “It’s all over. It’s all over!”

It is. Hard to believe. In less than two weeks our 2004 Red Sox officially went “From Cursed To First!” World Champion Boston Red Sox. The Wheaties Box, The White House, and Disneyworld will all get a visit from our beloved “idiots”.
Doesn’t the Bankees series seem like a month ago already? If the bitter NY fans think its hard now, wait until they are subjected to the end of the year sports re-cap highlights that run over and over again at Christmas and New Years. ESPN Classic is sure to show games four through seven a few thousand times in their lifetime. Let’s not forget the wonderful graphic that will pop up every time any team in any sport is down 0-3. “The only team to ever come back from 0-3 and win was the 2004 Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees.” These guys didn’t just beat NY; they did it in a way that will torture their team and fans mercilessly. Great job, boys. We love you idiots so much for this!

Don’t buy this ridiculous notion from some media types that the Cardinals choked. That’s an insult to the outstanding job the Red Sox pitching staff did to make the Cardinals look bad. It was great pitching and timely hitting that won it for us. Exactly what Theo and company went out and got.
The truth is, despite some rocky times during the season’s first half, our twenty-five guys were the best team in baseball.
They believed, and they achieved. And Red Sox Nation is finally relieved.

This “relief” list was compiled by crack staff researcher David Carabello and friends at ESPN's research department :

Top ten living former Red Sox players/managers who can sleep better now that the Red Sox have won the World Series:

10. Carl Yastrzemski - Red Sox captain made last out in 1975 WS and 1978 1-game playoff

9. Bill Lee - throws infamous blooper pitch to Tony Perez in 6th inning of Game 7 of 1975 WS. Perez hits a 2-run HR as Reds win 4-3.

8. Mike Torrez - served up Bucky Dent's HR

7. Grady Little - blamed for leaving Pedro in too long in 2003 ALCS Game 7

6. Rich Gedman - Failed to catch Bob Stanley's wild pitch allowing tying run to score in 10th inning of '86 WS Game 6. Many think pitch could've have been caught by Gedman.

5. Bob Stanley - uncorked wild pitch in '86 WS (see Gedman)

4. John McNamara - made numerous questionable moves during '86 WS involving bullpen and leaving Dave Stapleton on bench for Buckner

3. Johnny Pesky - has been blamed for 58 years, possibly unfairly, for holding the ball on relay throw in 1946 WS.

2. Calvin Schiraldi - couldn't get final out of '86 Game 6 and losing pitcher of Game 7

1. Bill Buckner - E-3 in Game 6 of 1986 WS

Some site and other news:

To whomever the fan is that made this sign and got on FOX in front of 40 million or so viewers…we cannot thank you enough!

Thanks to Darren Rovell for the article for ESPN…

Marketing 'The Curse' far from over

By Darren Rovell
ESPN.com

On the very day the Boston Red Sox acquired Keith Foulke, Bruce Fine called a lawyer and told him he needed help trademarking a phrase.

With the arrival of the Sox closer, and Curt Schilling two weeks before, the displaced New Englander turned West Coast comedian was confident that 2004 would be the year the Red Sox would beat the Yankees, win the World Series and lift the famed "Curse of the Bambino."

He was right. But, over the past few years, a cottage industry has emerged thanks to the curse, which is linked to then-Red Sox owner Harry Frazee selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919. And while the Red Sox winning the World Series title on Wednesday night means that "Reverse the Curse" paraphernalia and memorabilia will go on the discount rack, new phrases are, not surprisingly, popping up everywhere.
Among them? "From Cursed to First," the Bruce Fine special that can be found on hats, t-shirts and bumper stickers he started selling earlier in the season.

"Everyone asked me, 'Don't you want them to continue to lose so that people can continue to dream and buy your stuff?'" said Fine, a third-generation Red Sox fan. "And I said, 'No way. I want to be a one-hit wonder.'"Fine recently stuck a deal with Majestic Athletic, who he says will use the phrase on officially-licensed World Series champions gear....

Also....the new Majestic shirt is getting a “little” publicity at Modell's in Medford, Mass

And today's Lowell Sun front page....

Thank you for your support all season...this is so wonderful and overwhelming it just might take another 86 years to all sink in...
Bruce

UPDATE 10/26

THE MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR CONTINUES

Wednesday night, in Los Angeles, I watched the Red Sox finish off the Bankees. Friday I flew to Boston, and this weekend I attended Games 1 and 2 of the World Series. As much I believed that this would happen, it all still seems surreal.
I went to Game 2 with my Dad, who was at a 1967 WS game at Fenway, against the Cardinals. The look on his face when Foulke closed it out was, as they say, priceless.

This, reminds me of my favorite fan sign at Fenway:

World Series Tickets $1,000
Beer $50
NOT having to listen to McCarver during the game...PRICELESS

I'm guessing FOX didn't show that one.
Two down, two to go. C'mon Pedro, one last game of brilliance and you can help us close this thing out without having to put Schill back on the mound again!

Bruce and team owner John Henry after World Series Game 1 at Fenway

Bruce and super fan on Yawkey way celebrating Sox victory

10/21 UPDATE

Check-mate…From Cursed to First becomes fate

I believed, yet I still can’t believe it. I dreamed it many times, yet it all still seems like a dream. I called my Dad as soon as Sierra grounded out to Pokey, at 12:01 on October 21, 2004. There was no conversation at first, just two men yelling, “Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God.” They did it!

The lesson for you kids out there. Two hundred million dollars can’t buy heart! No other team in baseball could do what this 2004 Red Sox team accomplished this week. They conquered the mighty Bankees with heart, and with class. Game six forever will be etched in my mind as the prime example of the difference between the Red Sox and the Yankees. On one side, Curt Schilling, the horse, with a blood-soaked sock. The poetic symbol of the blood and sweat sacrificed for all things Red Sox. Seven strong innings to lead his team, ignoring pain. On the other side, the best player money can buy, A-Fraud, (the ass) trying to cheat his way on base with a bush-league move. And whining when the umps had the gall to get the call right. Horse vs. Ass. And the horse won.

They did it. And we helped. Needing motivation, it was the fans who were the spark. After the humiliating Game three loss, “Senor Octobre” and the “Idiots” looked out at the stands.

“We saw a lot of fans crying and feeling hurt and I think myself and all of my teammates, we were worried about it and kept that for ourselves. And that's one of the big reasons for us to come to the field and represent the way we did the last four games.”

-- ALCS MVP David Ortiz on what motivated the Red Sox, after last season's heartbreaking loss, to win four straight games to strangle the pennant away from the Yankees.

Papi, you represented us in ways sports fans only dream of. Thank you, gracias; we will always remember what you did for us in 2004.
There are some things in life that seem to happen in slow motion. For me it was my wedding, my son’s birth, the first time I did stand-up, and….Johnny Damon’s grand slam in Game seven last night. As it happened, I jumped up and down and pumped my fists wildly, knowing that Red Sox fans across the nation were doing the same thing, and knowing that we had the lead we needed to kill the curse. The game took forever after that, but worth every second.
From 0-3 to 4-3. From Cursed To First!

Some thoughts before I go watch ESPN highlights for the fifth and sixth time:

I remember when the Sox and Bankees were playing during the season a reporter asked Mariano Rivera about the Red Sox. He arrogantly snorted, “I don’t worry about the Red Sox.” Last night, a reporter asked Mr. Worry-free, “What do you think happened?” Rivera replied, “I would like to know”, and then he put his head down and walked away. Have a nice winter, Mo. Don’t worry about the Red Sox, especially Billy Mueller.
Two more reasons to smile: No ring for Giambi, no ring for Pay-Rod. And to think they could have been Red Sox. Bummer, guys. Have some Anabolic Hot Chocolate to warm you up this winter.

Redemption is the best word to describe last night. Derek Lowe, Johnny Damon, Mark Bellhorn all got it. Bucky “F-ing” Dent threw out the first ball last night, and then watched along with 58,000 shocked NY fans as our Red Sox celebrated on their mound. They said Tim Wakefield stayed on that mound a little longer than most. Like I said, REDEMPTION!

I wonder what all the NY fans will do with their “Who’s your Daddy” T-shirts? Can you say, “Who’s your car wash rag?
One thing about Red Sox Nation that infuriates me is seeing fans wearing Garciaparra shirts. To me, that is an insult to Orlando Cabrera, who has been outstanding and who, by the way, is our shortstop now. It’s also an insult to the entire team out there that Nomar turned his back on. If you see someone wearing one, please, give them twenty bucks to buy a new shirt of a player who is ON THE TEAM.
All I could think about during Jackie Autry’s ALCS Trophy presentation was how that Trophy was at Fenway for two games, ready to be given to the Bankees.

Every Sox starter had a hit last night. Now that’s a team effort.
Doug Mientkiewicz is like having an extra closer on the field. He should have “Saves” added to his stats.
Most amazing stat to me: Manny Ramirez had zero RBI in the ALCS. Wow, and we were all over Bellhorn for five games.
In the sixth inning last night, George Steinbrenner went in his office and locked the door. In the ninth inning last night, Timlin and Embree closed the door on the 2004 Bankees.

Bring on the National League, four more wins!

Bruce

In response to some emails regarding “From Cursed To First!” merchandise besides the website, we wanted to let you know the “FCTF” song CD is available at most Newbury Comics locations, www.newburycomics.com.

We are still trying to get the clothing into stores near you, and will keep you posted on future updates. RSN in the Los Angeles area can find it at :

SCORECARD, the Sports Fan Store
12306 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604 818-761-0090

Previous Updates

  Check out our new links.
 

 
In 1918 the Boston Red Sox won the World Series,
beating the Chicago Cubs in 6 games. 

Click here:
NCBuy Weird News: Red Sox Fan Helps Team Get A Rap Sheet - 2004-04-06

Copyright © 2004 From Cursed To First!tm. All rights reserved. All merchandise, designs, images and text are trademarked or copyrighted property of  Be Fine Productions, Inc. Unauthorized reproduction, use, or sale of our products is against the law.