out to be the last manifestation of the "Curse of the Bambino", costs Little his job. October 22 - Roger Clemens of the New York Yankees starts Game 4 of the World Series and pitches seven strong innings before exiting the game to a standing ovation from both the crowd in attendance and the Florida Marlins (who left their dugout to join in), presumably because it was to be his final career start, having announced his retirement at the start of the season. The ovation would prove premature as Clemens came out of the retirement to sign with the Houston Astros before the 2004 season. The Marlins would eventually win the game 4–3 on a 12th inning walk-off home run by Álex González to even the series at 2 games apiece. October 25 – In Game 6 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, Josh Beckett, on three days' rest, pitches a 2–0, five-hit shutout over the favored New York Yankees, to give the Florida Marlins their second championship in 11 seasons. Beckett receives Series MVP honors. November November 22 – 46–year old relief pitcher Jesse Orosco agrees to a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and earns an $800,000 salary if he is added to the big league roster. He retires before the start of the 2004 season. November 26 – Hoping to add punch to their lineup, the Oakland Athletics trade catcher Ramón Hernández and disgruntled outfielder Terrence Long to the San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielder Mark Kotsay. November 28 – The Boston Red Sox send pitchers Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, Jorge de la Rosa, and a minor leaguer (Michel Goss) to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for starter Curt Schilling. December Books Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, written by Michael Lewis, is an examination of the present-day Oakland Athletics as run by their general manager Billy Beane, and how the application of sabermetric principles has allowed the A's to be competitive despite having one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches, and Baseball, written by David Wells Births January 6 - Andry Lara February 7 – Jasson Domínguez April 10 - Andrew Painter (baseball) Deaths January January 2 – Bud Metheny, 87, World War II-era New York Yankees' outfielder who played all but three of his 376 big-league games during the wartime seasons of