Theo Epstein appointed Epstein to replace interim general manager (GM) Mike Port. Epstein is credited with initiating the trade of Nomar Garciaparra and making key contract acquisitions including those of Kevin Millar and Curt Schilling during his first tenure as Red Sox GM. The new players were regarded as instrumental in breaking the so-called "Curse of the Bambino" when the Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. It was the Red Sox' first World Series championship since 1918, ending what remains the third longest championship drought in the history of any Major League team, after the Chicago
Team Curse respectively, and so ended the season in fourth. On 20 April 2013, Elementz announced that he had stepped down from the team, and on 7 June 2013 the organization announced that they had acquired former Gambit Gaming member Edward "Edward" Abgaryan to replace him. This move made Curse the first team to import a player from Europe to play in the NA LCS. Despite the move, Team Curse struggled in the Season 3 Summer Split, ending the regular season in fourth place with a record of 13-15. In the playoffs, the team would lose consecutive series to Team Dignitas and