Strength in big numbers: the Red Sox continue to prove their best defense is a relentless offense.(The World Series)(Boston Red Sox)

Before Game 1 of the World Series, Johnny Pesky walked up to the batting cage at Fenway Park and gave a big ol' hug to a fellow octogenarian, Red Schoendienst. The scene added a nice feel--and a historic touch--to a Red October Series that began with all the ingredients for a classic:

* The two best teams. The Cardinals, picked to finish third in their own division before the season, won a major league-best 105 games. The Red Sox overcame a three-month stretch of mediocrity by going a major league-best 42-18 after July. That, however, served as a mere tuneup for the American League Championship Series, when they became the first team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven postseason series. Against the mighty Yankees, no less.

* Courageous performances. Red Sox starter Curt Schilling had a dislocated ankle tendon stitched down inside his skin just for the chance to pitch. The procedure worked well enough in Game 2 when the right-hander, even though he did not think he could take the ball earlier in the day, earned the victory by lasting six innings and allowing only an unearned run. Schilling, admitting he felt "beat up" after the game, left Boston hoping he…