The rings themselves are cast in white gold, with 28 brilliant cut diamonds set around the bottom of the bezel. On top of the bezel, recessed in black letters, are the words "WORLD CHAMPIONS." The Red Sox logo, cast in white gold with four rubies mounted on a diamond base, are atop the rings.

The left side of the rings read "7th WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP." On the right, there are two versions, each with a maroon-enameled "B." Players who were with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007 have rings featuring two World Series trophies. Those who were only with the 2007 champs have one.

The parade of Boston sports legends ended as Curtis Leskanic, Dave McCarty and Brian Daubach hit the field, but the crowd saved its most emotional applause for the stars of last year's champs - Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Dustin Pedroia, Manny Ramirez, Jonathan Papelbon, Curt Schilling and David Ortiz, who led the entire team to the center field flag pole to raise the World Series banner.

The banner hung limp after Ortiz and Johnny Pesky raised it, unlike the giant 2007 World Series banner dropped from the top of The Wall, which caught a gust and slapped fans in the front row of the Wall seats.

The champions of yore - including Orr, Johnny Bucyk, Ken Hodge, Don Marcotte and Johnny McKenzie from the Bruins; Russell, K.C. Jones, John Havlicek, M.L. Carr and Danny Ainge from the Celtics; and Bruschi, Kevin Faulk, Larry Izzo and Lonnie Paxton of the Patriots - also carried in the Stanley Cup, an NBA championship trophy and the Lombardi Trophy. Leskanic, McCarty and Daubach brought in the 2004 championship trophy,

According to the Red Sox, it is the first time the four major sports trophies have appeared simultaneously at one venue.

- Alan Greenwood