Game 14: Boston Red Sox

There's something magical about this place that makes you wonder if this will be the last place on Earth to host a baseball game.  Before you even enter the ballpark you are thrust back in time as you stroll down Yawkee Way.  We arrived early to attend the batting practice tour at 4:00 pm for a 7:00 game.  We were lead through the main concourse down to the field just behind the batting cage where we could see some sluggers take some whacks.  I was in awe knowing I was treading the same ground as so many great players of the past, including Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Cy Young.

View of the Press Box.

After strolling past the visitors' dugout we made our way to the seats near the left field pole that have remained since 1933, making them the oldest out of all of the major league ballparks.  It was here we were given a quick glance of Fenway's history of their great success during the first 20 years of the 1900s and then the dreaded 1920s which didn't treat them nearly as well.  Everyone blames the curse of the Bambino where Babe Ruth was traded to the Yankees which brought about the 86-year World Series drought.  What I did not know was that the owner not only traded away the Babe but practically the entire team: about 15 of the 17 players who won the 1923 World Series for the Yankees were originally from the Red Sox who won the 1918 World Series for them!

On the field in front of the visitors' people.

We concluded the history part of the tour in about 20 minutes with the tour guide inquiring the antsy crowd if they would like to move atop the 'Green Monstah' and every cried "YES!" in unison, unable to wait any longer.  The view from the seats on the Green Monster were incredible, gazing down some 35 feet down to the warning track.  Home run balls whizzed by our heads off the bats of Red Sox power hitters.  At one instance, a grounder was hit to shortstop and usually they will just toss it back to the pitcher.  However, in this case he turned and faced the crowd looking for a grateful recipient.  Everyone raised their hands including myself and tossed it my way, landing right in my outstretched glove!  Later during the Marlins batting practice we were sitting in Right Field and a zinger was hit right to Jake's glove!

On top of the Green Monster after batting practice.

Even before the game the festivities surrounding Fenway were buzzing with excitement as if it were Opening Day.  Yawkee Way is closed to the outside public to allow patrons to escape the scene at the yard if they wanted to enjoy some grub or grab a drink from a nearby hot dog stand or bar, respectively.  Right outside the entrance on Yawkee Way is a guy dancing on stilts to the tunes played by a four-person street band, who were fantastic.

Dancing on stilts!

The game moved along slowly with Boston's starter Dice-K on the mound, spending 25 seconds in between each pitch (we timed it).  The best part of the game for me was the entire crowd singing "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond in the middle of the 8th at the top of their lungs to pump up their team to come back from a 3-5 deficit and take the lead.  I happened to be standing behind home plate when they were singing and a nice usher offered me a seat 12 rows behind home plate, noticing my marveling of the park.  From there I witnessed the awesome comeback and save from Boston's closer.  Fenway was the best all-around baseball experience for me so far and I can't wait to make it back here!

The view from my new seat behind home plate.