The Boston Red Sox are the MLB World Series Champions. They battled through adversity and finally triumphed thanks to their determination, their heart, their clutch hitting, and…their beards?

Yes, their beards.

The story starts at the end of the 2012 season, when the Red Sox were at their lowest point. The season was supposed to be a celebration of the 100^th season of Fenway Park baseball, but instead turned into a season scrutinized by the media and filled with internal turmoil.

“I was so disappointed [in 2012] because I thought we were going to be able to turn our team around,” said senior AJ Koo. “Instead the season was more about Bobby Valentine than the actual team”.

The future seemed bleak for Sox Nation, as they fired their self-destructive manager Bobby Valentine and cleaned out the big contracts such as Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Josh Beckett, setting the stage for a few rebuilding years ahead.

But things started to change when new free agents were picked up and changed the atmosphere in the clubhouse. These new guys included first baseman Mike Napoli, outfielders Shane Victorino and Jonny Gomes, pitcher Ryan Dempster, shortstop Stephen Drew, and catcher David Ross, who all sported their own beards by the end of the year.

The beards started with Napoli and Gomes deciding to not shave their faces to start the year. But what began as a few guys messing around turned into a trend for the new-look 2013 Red Sox.

“I didn’t understand the beards at first, but as the season went on they became a sign of unity between the players” said Junior Connor McKinnon.

The bearded warriors started winning, all sporting their own variety of facial hair by the end of the year. The Red Sox fan base even gave them names including “The Sick Flow” (2B Dustin Pedroia), “The Blue Collar” (RHP Brandon Workman), “The Buck” (RHP Clay Bucholtz), and many others. If you could grow a beard, you did.

“My favorite was either ‘The Wolf’ (David Ross) or ‘Ironsides’ (Jonny Gomes)” said junior Adham Nabhan.

They even started their own unique celebration after big hits, tugging hard on the beard of the hero who came up clutch. Even though it seemed to hurt, the adrenaline made it worthwhile.

But the players’ razor avoidance not only united the team, but also the city after the Boston Marathon Bombings.

From the scruff that started in Spring Training to the full out bushes that emerged during the postseason, the facial hair that the Red Sox dawned provided the city of Boston something to cheer for while they overcame the tragedy on their way to a World Series victory.

“The team took on the persona of all-in for the city and not just for the team” said Nabhan. “They had the Boston Strong mentality and overcame adversity to come out on top”.