Holt Sox

Christian Century, Sept 20, 2005

HOLT SOX: Of all major league baseball teams, the defending champion Boston Red Sox have the most players who claim the Christian faith--a dozen, plus an equal number of coaches and staffers. Before each game they gather for prayer and Bible study led by a chaplain from Baseball Chapel, an organization that serves all major league teams.

The players' faith reportedly has not been divisive, but has helped team cohesion. Says player Gabe Kapler, a Jew: "Everyone is very respectful of one another and what they choose to believe in." The team's cohesiveness was a factor in its come-from-behind victory last fall against the archrival New York Yankees, and in its sweep of the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. When asked if it was God's will that the Sox win the World Series last year, pitcher Mike Myers averred that if he knew the answer to that question he'd be God (Boston Globe, August 31).