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Ryan Dempster knew something was up when the motorcade escorting the Red Sox sped away.
He had just thrown seven strong innings and picked up a Patriots Day win against Tampa Bay on April 15, 2013. Between fans leaving the ballpark and people in town to watch the Boston Marathon, the area was packed with people.
It seemed like a routine postgame trip away from the ballpark on one of the most celebrated days on Boston’s sports calendar until word began to spread that two bombs went off at the marathon finish line.
“We were like, ‘What’s going on?’” Dempster said. “And this was when Twitter had just kind of started taking off. Social media wasn’t as much of a thing yet. There was no Snapchat, there was nothing like that. Will Middlebrooks was the young, hip guy on the team with all us old dudes, and he was like, ‘Hey dude, there’s a bombing’.”
There were a lot of emotions during that time. There was shock and sadness that the event took place. There was the feeling of camaraderie at a team dinner once the Red Sox reached Cleveland. And there was a feeling of duty and privilege to help bring joy to a wounded city.
In the aftermath of the bombing, the Red Sox produced magical moments en route to a World Series title. David Ortiz reminded the world that “this is our city and nobody is going to dictate our freedom.” Daniel Nava crushed a three-run home run and pumped his first during the Red Sox’ first game back at Fenway. A photo of Jonny Gomes flexing on second base made the cover of Sports Illustrated.
“It was one after the other, somebody making a great play every night,” Dempster said.
