Nomar Garciaparra on his transfer at the 2004 MLB trade deadline

Red Stockings

“There was some sadness there. But at the same time there was some joy, because I know what it meant.”

On July 31, 2004, the Red Sox took a major step toward winning the World Series for the first time in 86 years by striking a huge deal.

Of course, many Boston fans did not see the fact that then-superstar Nomar Garciaparra was sent to the Cubs as part of a trade deadline move as a step in the right direction.

But as beloved as Garciaparra was (and still is) in Boston, the deal ultimately worked out well for the Red Sox. Both players they received in return (Doug Mientkiewicz and Orlando Cabrera) helped the team win its first World Series since 1918.

But the decision to send Garciaparra out of Boston just before what would become an iconic championship run remains one of the few bitter pills for Red Sox fans looking back on that magical season.

What does Garciaparra think of the matter? The former shortstop recently discussed the trade — as its 20th anniversary approaches — in an interview with Sean McAdam of MassLive.

“To look back? I don’t know if I really have,” Garciaparra acknowledged. “People ask or talk about my time (in Boston), and I always say I have great memories. I’m grateful for that. I know what I did, what I gave, and that’s all I had.”

Garciaparra at the time refused to put the transaction in a broader context, preferring to focus on the short term.

“It’s just one of those moments where after it’s done, you can’t reflect right away,” he noted. “You get traded and it’s like, ‘OK, I gotta win, I gotta play.’ I remember doing that. That’s just the focus. It’s like, ‘OK, no looking back; I’m just looking forward.'”

Garciaparra, now a member of the Dodgers broadcast team, spoke candidly about the 2004 season.

Speaking of winning the World Series, Garciaparra provided some additional information about his relationships with teammates after the deal that sent him to Chicago.

“I feel a part of it,” he told McAdam of Boston’s 2004 title, “and what people don’t know is (former teammates) made me feel a part of it, too.

“They were calling me in the playoffs, on the bus, after they won a game. I was getting calls from the guys,” Garciaparra recalled. “Trot (Nixon) was calling me, I heard Johnny (Damon) in the background saying, ‘Did you see what we did?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I’m watching, guys. I know what you’re going to do.'”

Though he was off the roster months before winning the World Series, Garciaparra still sees the larger impact he made in Boston.

That said, he admitted he was a little disappointed not to have been part of the Red Sox’ title win.

“I was just happy, actually. Sad? Yeah, not being there, not being a part of it, not experiencing it, absolutely,” Garciaparra said. “There was some sadness. But at the same time, there was some joy, because I know what it meant.

“And I also know that winning the World Series isn’t done in one year,” he added. “The 2003 season was a big reason why they won it … 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998 … all the seasons that we were working toward. If we’re not good enough, you don’t get the (necessary) pieces in place for 2004 that are going to help you get there. Every one of those years was a highlight. And I know I was a big part of those years.”

What Boston fans may not have realized while he was in Boston (and throughout his career) is that Garciaparra was dealing with issues beyond just the usual injuries.

“In Boston, I gave it everything I had,” he said. “Some of the things I live with now, the aches and pains, are things I can’t do because of everything I’ve sacrificed and given. Would I do it differently? No.”

Garciaparra explained that he discovered he had Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome, a condition that affects blood flow to the lower body. The former shortstop explained what the syndrome means to him. Specifically, that he “physically can’t run anymore.”

But instead of feeling sorry for himself, Garciaparra took the opposite stance.

“Even with that, I was able to play (14 seasons) in the big leagues. So I don’t think, ‘What if I didn’t have this?’ I think, ‘Man, I’m so lucky! Even with that, I was able to play so damn long. It could have been shorter.’