For Boston: From Worst to First, the Improbable Dream Season of the 2013 Red Sox

When John Farrell was introduced as the new Red Sox manager in the fall of 2012, he took over a last-place team lacking talent and cohesion. A franchise that once made Boston proud had become an embarrassment. Just one year later, the Red Sox have won the World Series, their third title in a decade.

There were many keys to the team’s success: General manager Ben Cherington remade the roster with a series of mid-range free-agent signings. The returning players recommitted themselves, bonds w...