The 2013 edition of a tradition dating back to 1903 begins Wednesday night at Fenway Park in Boston, where hometown fans will cheer the Red Sox in Game 1 of the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. They’ll play up to seven games to determine the champion of “America’s pastime” after a 162-game regular season that began six months ago.

TV viewers who aren’t familiar yet with this year’s Red Sox will see something striking -- bushy beards, scary beards neat beards, and frizzy beards. The players all stopped shaving in recent weeks – or months in some cases – as a kind of good luck quirk.

More than pride is at stake in the series. Each city benefits from millions of dollars in extra spending by local fans and visitors. Players get tens of thousands of dollars in salary bonuses, with a larger share going to the winners – who also get World Series championship rings.

It's the 12th World Series appearance for the Red Sox, who last played in (and won) the 2007 World Series. It's the 19th appearance for the Cardinals, who also won in their last appearance two years ago. The teams have met in the World Series three times before, most recently when the Red Sox swept the Cardinals in 2004. The Cards won the previous two meetings in 1946 and 1967. If this year’s showdown stretches to all seven games, it’ll end on Halloween.

Red Sox player says: “What makes it more special is that nobody thought we were going to go this far." -- David Ortiz, designated hitter

Cardinals’ pitcher says: "A lot of hard work was put into getting to where we are right now. So we got one more series to win.” – Adam Wainwright

Sportswriter says: “Few thought they were capable of this type of season. . . . The Sox have given us something to believe in.” – Christopher Gasper, Boston Globe