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
Master of the Bambino Vispo Master of the Bambino Vispo The Master of the Bambino Vispo was a central-Italian painter active in the early 15th century. In the early 20th century, the art historian Osvald Sirén identified a group of unsigned paintings as being by the same artist. Sirén designated the artist as the Master of the Bambino Vispo (Master of the Lively Child) due to the unusually lively expression and movement of baby Jesus in these paintings. The paintings Sirén wrote about are: Three painters, Pietro di Domenico da Montepulciano (active 1418-1422), Parri Spinelli (1387-ca. 1453), Miguel Alcanyis (active 1408-1447) and Gherardo Starnina (1354–1403),