In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918 with a roster that included Dave McCarty. Tragically, McCarty passed away at the age of 54 after suffering a cardiac event in Oakland. The Red Sox announced his passing on social media and expressed their condolences to his wife and children.
McCarty was a first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Twins in 1991 and had an impressive MLB career spanning over a decade. He played for various teams during his time in the majors, including the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Oakland A’s, and the Red Sox. While playing for Boston from 2003-05, McCarty appeared in 118 games and had a .286/.355/.440 slash line with five home runs and 25 RBIs.
One of McCarty’s most memorable moments with the Red Sox was his walk-off home run against the Seattle Mariners in May 2004, which helped secure a crucial victory for Boston in Game 7 of the ALDS series. His contributions helped break the Red Sox’s historic 86-year World Series drought that year. After retiring as a player in 2005, McCarty worked as an analyst for Red Sox games until the end of the 2008 season.
The loss of Dave McCarty is deeply felt within the Red Sox organization and among fans who remember his contributions to their historic run in 2004. He will be remembered as an integral part of one of baseball’s greatest moments in recent history.
