The flag covers the Green Monster as the national anthem is played before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on April 16 at Fenway Park in Boston.
text size A A A April 19, 2012
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about Fenway Park. A century after it was built, fans still gush about this "lyric little bandbox," as John Updike called it. To guys like Ed Carpenter, Fenway is history and home, magic and mystique.
"I love this place," he says, tearing up. "I mean, it's not mortar and bricks and seats."
Carpenter first started coming to Fenway with his dad in 1949, when he was 6.
"We walked up this ramp right behind this home plate," he recalls. "I can still see everything was green, emerald green. It was love at first sight."
Those were the years of the "Ted Sox," when the famous lefty Ted Williams consistently slugged 'em up and over Fenway's right field wall, until his very last at bat in 1960.
"This is pretty cool. I got goose bumps," says 19-year-old construction worker John Corbett, trying to bang out a kink in one of Fenway's cranky old garage doors — the very same doors that now open for Big Papi once opened up for Pedro and the Babe.
"There's a lot of history here," he says from the top of his ladder. "That's what's the cool thing about it. It's one of a kind."
There's a very nice picture of the Fenway Park infield at that link, full color with a Centennial logo and all. But for some reeason I couldn't get it to allow itself to be copied and brought over here. Dunno why.
You know what I really love - when I bring some one to Fenway Park for the first time and they are walking up ramp and then they see the park. I've never been disappointed with the look on their face the first time they see it in person.
0 Replies
Linkat
1
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Fri 20 Apr, 2012 06:39 am
@Region Philbis,
I won't be there - but I can't wait until Terry Francona shows up - the fans will go wild. I am glad he changed his mind and will be there. I am sure it for the fans.
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Joe Nation
1
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Fri 20 Apr, 2012 08:05 am
yeah, yeah, yeah.....nice grass.
Can we pleeeeeesssee beat the crap out of the yankees today?
The storied home of the Red Sox for a century, “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark’’ also is the oldest in the major leagues, and the most famous. From the classic brick entrance on Yawkey Way to the unique left-field wall with its manual scoreboard to Pesky’s Pole in right field, its timeless features are recognized from the Bronx to the Dominican Republic to Japan.
John Updike’s “lyric little bandbox,’’ which he likened to “an old-fashioned peeping-type Easter egg,’’ is so linked with Boston and baseball history that it is a destination in itself, equal to the Freedom Trail and the swan boats, with visitors taking guided ballpark tours even during winter. In “Cheers,’’ the long-running situation comedy based in a Back Bay tavern, bartender Sam “Mayday’’ Malone was a former Sox relief pitcher. The fan film “Fever Pitch’’ is based around Fenway, where Kevin Costner also took James Earl Jones for an inspirational outing in “Field of Dreams.’’
Fenway’s field is like no other. Because the park was jammed into a city lot bounded by narrow streets, its dimensions are a crazy confluence of oblique angles, like the three-sided oddity in centerfield that can turn the game into Pachinko, with the ball bouncing and rattling about. There is so little playable foul territory that dozens of balls end up in the stands, which are so close to the diamond that fans can hear the players’ chatter.
Fenway is a charmingly auditory experience, from the scalpers on Brookline Avenue (“Who needs tickets?’’) to the fans singing “Sweet Caroline’’ during the eighth inning to the playing of “Dirty Water’’ over the public address system after victories.
Fenway’s endearing quirkiness is much of its allure. Except for some increased seating and creature comforts, the park has remained largely unchanged since it opened in 1912 in the same week that the Titanic sank.
“When I brought my kids to Fenway, they never complained about the inconveniences of the ancient ballpark,’’ wrote Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, who confessed that he still took “some weird comfort in the knowledge that the poles that occasionally obscured our vision of the pitcher are the same green beams that blocked the vision of my dad and his dad when they would take the trolley from Cambridge to watch the Red Sox in the 1920s.’’
Babe Ruth threw his first pitch and Ted Williams hit his last home run at Fenway. From Christy Mathewson, to Ty Cobb, to Satchel Paige, to Joe DiMaggio, to Hank Aaron, most of baseball’s greatest names have appeared on Fenway’s stage, which also has accommodated an extraordinary variety of athletes, politicians, and entertainers.
Three of Boston’s professional football teams - the Redskins, the Yanks, and the Patriots - performed at Fenway. The Bruins and Flyers, two of hockey’s fiercest rivals, played in the Winter Classic there on New Year’s Day. Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his final campaign address at Fenway. The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and Bruce Springsteen all sang there.
Every significant moment from every year is here, and then some. The dramatic World Series victory over the Giants in 1912. The 1934 fire that scorched Tom Yawkey’s renovated park. Ted Williams’s “Great Expectoration’’ of 1956. Jim Lonborg’s “hero’s ride’’ after putting the Sox in position to secure the Impossible Dream pennant in 1967. Carlton Fisk’s dramatic “is-it-fair?’’ homer in the 12th inning of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series against the Reds. Bucky “Bleeping’’ Dent’s heartbreaking screen shot in the 1978 divisional playoff game with New York. Roger Clemens’s record 20 strikeouts against the Mariners in 1986. Dave Roberts’s stolen base against the Yankees in 2004 that was the beginning of the end of 86 years of October frustration.
Fenway is all about lore. The Royal Rooters torturing visiting ballplayers with incessant renditions of “Tessie.’’ Williams’s monster bleacher shot knocking a hole in a fan’s straw hat. Manny Ramirez’s mystery disappearance inside the belly of the Monster. Jimmy Piersall oinking like a pig on the basepaths. Luis Tiant’s rhumba windup that the New Yorker’s Roger Angell dubbed “Call the Osteopath.’’ Pedro Martinez playing matador to former skipper Don Zimmer’s enraged bull during a brawl with the Yankees. A midget coming out of the stands to cover third when the Indians used the “Williams Shift.’’
I loved going there a couple of years ago for the Fathers Day walk in Fenway. It is great you get to walk the bases/see Wally/the Trophy/touch the green monster. Great stuff.
I knew it ---- 2:32 p.m.: Kevin Millar, the fans love him. Huge, huge cheers and a standing ovation for Terry Francona. "Tito, Tito," they're chanting.
BOSTON — In what was surely the largest number of Red Sox ever assembled, 212 former players gathered Friday afternoon to help 36,770 fans celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. But, as has often happened here, 25 Yankees spoiled the party.
They hit five home runs — two by Eric Chavez — to beat the Red Sox, 6-2, and ruin a long-anticipated day for the hosts.
“Before the game was spectacular,” Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine said. “It was a well-orchestrated, major-league presentation of pride and glory. It’s a downer now.”
FORMER SOX IN ATTENDANCE
Don Aase 1977
Israel Alcantara 2000-2001
Luis Alicea 1995
Gary Allenson 1979-1984
Abe Alvarez 2004-2006
Kim Andrew 1975
Ken Aspromonte 1957-1958
Jose Azcue 1969
Carlos Baerga 2002
Bob Bailey 1977-1978
Jeff Bailey 2007-2009
Jack Baker 1976-1977
Scott Bankhead 1993-1994
Gary Bell 1967-1968
Dick Berardino 1989-1991
Tim Blackwell 1974-1975
Greg Blosser 1993-1994
Bob Bolin 1970-1973
Tom Bolton 1987-1992
Dennis Boyd 1982-1989
Darren Bragg 1996-1998
Ed Bressoud 1962-1965
Tom Brewer 1954-1961
Dick Brodowski 1952, 1955
Mike Brown 1982-1986
Don Bryant 1974-1976
Bill Buckner 1984-1987, 1990
Al Bumbry 1988-1993
Bob Burda 1972
Tom Burgmeier 1978-1982
Rick Burleson 1974-1980
Mike Burns 2006
Mike Cameron 2010-2011
Jose Canseco 1995-1996
Bernie Carbo 1974-1978
Jerry Casale 1958-1960
Sean Casey 2008
Rick Cerone 1988-1989
Wes Chamberlain 1994-1995
Mark Clear 1981-1985
Bill Conigliaro 1969-1971
Alex Cora 2005-2008
Jim Corsi 1997-1999
Steve Crawford 1980-1987
Bob Darwin 1976-1977
Ike Delock 1952-1963
Brian Denman 1982
Steve Dillard 1975-1977
Pat Dodson 1986-1988
Bobby Doerr 1937-1951
Jim Dorsey 1984-1985
Denny Doyle 1975-1977
Dick Drago 1974-1980
Bob Duliba 1965
Mike Easler 1984-1985
Dennis Eckersley 1978-1984, 1998
Alan Embree 2002-2005
Nick Esasky 1989
Vaughn Eshelman 1995-1997
Dwight Evans 1972-1990
Carmen Fanzone 1970
Joel Finch 1979
Mike Fiore 1970-1971
Hank Fischer 1966-1967
Carlton Fisk 1969-1980
Keith Foulke 2004-2006
Terry Francona 2004-2011
Phil Gagliano 1971-1972
Nomar Garciaparra 1996-2004
Rich Gedman 1980-1990
Dick Gernert 1952-1959
Don Gile 1959-1962
Wayne Gomes 2002
Nick Green 2009
Pumpsie Green 1959-1962
Guido Grilli 1966
Garry Hancock 1978-1982
Carroll Hardy 1960-1962
Tommy Harper 1972-1974
Greg Harris 1989-1994
Richie Hebner 1989-1991
Bob Heffner 1963-1965
Dave Henderson 1986-1987
Joe Hesketh 1990-1994
Eric Hetzel 1989-1990
Paul Hinrichs 1951
Harley Hisner 1951
Sam Horn 1987-1989
Wayne Housie 1991
Chris Howard 1994
Terry Hughes 1974
Buddy Hunter 1971-1973; 1975
Bruce Hurst 1980-1988
Daryl Irvine 1990-1992
Ron Jackson 2003-2006
Kevin Jarvis 2006
Ed Jurak 1982-1985
Russ Kemmerer 1954-1957
Dana Kiecker 1990-1991
Hal Kolstad 1962-1963
Rick Kreuger 1983-1984
Randy Kutcher 1988-1990
Rene Lachemann 1985-1986
Roger LaFrancois 1982
Joe Lahoud 1968-1971
Dennis Lamp 1988-1991
Bill Landis 1967
Bill Lee 1969-1978
John Leister 1987, 1990
Ted Lepcio 1952-1959
John Lickert 1981
Skip Lockwood 1980
James Lofton 2001
Steve Lomasney 1999
Jim Lonborg 1965-1971
Mike Lowell 2006-2010
Lou Lucier 1943-1944
Bill MacLeod 1962
Keith MacWhorter 1980
Pat Mahomes 1996-1997
Jerry Mallett 1959
Frank Malzone 1955-1965
Josias Manzanillo 1991
Anastacio Martinez 2004
Pedro Martinez 1998-2004
Dave McCarty 2003-2005
Jerry McNertney 1988
Lou Merloni 1998-2003
Kevin Millar 2003-2005
Rick Miller 1971-1977, 1981-1985
Dick Mills 1970
Bill Monbouquette 1958-1965
Bob Montgomery 1970-1979
Dave Morehead 1963-1968
Joe Morgan 1985-1987
Jerry Moses 1965; 1968-1970
Rob Murphy 1989-1990
Joe Nelson 2004, 2010
Reid Nichols 1980-1985
Al Nipper 1983-1987
Merlin Nippert 1962
Syd O’Brien 1969
Tomo Ohka 1999-2001
Marty Pattin 1972-1973
Don Pavletich 1970-1971
Johnny Pesky 1942-1952
Rico Petrocelli 1963-1976
Ed Phillips 1970
Calvin Pickering 2001
Jeff Plympton 1991
Joe Price 1989
Chuck Rainey 1979-1982
Jerry Reed 1990
Jerry Remy 1978-1984
Jim Rice 1974-1989
Allen Richter 1951, 1953
Mike Roarke 1994
Billy Jo Robidoux 1990
Bill Rohr 1967
Ed Romero 1986-1989
Brian Rose 1997-2000
Ken Ryan 1992-1995
Joe Sambito 1986-1987
Ken Sanders 1966
Jose Santiago 1966-1970
Tom Satriano 1969-1970
Dave Schmidt 1981
Scott Schoeneweis 2010
Don Schwall 1961-1962
Diego Segui 1974-1975
Phil Seibel 2004
Bill Selby 1996
Danny Sheaffer 1987
Chris Smith 2008
Peter Smith 1962-1963
Reggie Smith 1966-1973
Mike Smithson 1988-1989
Bill Spanswick 1964
Jack Spring 1957
Bobby Sprowl 1978
Lee Stange 1966-1970
Dave Stapleton 1980-1986
Mike Stenhouse 1986
Gene Stephens 1952-1960
Adam Stern 2005-2006
Dick Stigman 1966
Marc Sullivan 1982-1987
LaSchelle Tarver 1986
George Thomas 1967-1971
Luis Tiant 1971-1978
Mike Timlin 2003-2008
Tony Torchia 1985
Mike Trujillo 1985-1986
John Tudor 1979-1983
Dave Valle 1994
Jason Varitek 1997-2011
Mo Vaughn 1991-1998
Gil Velazquez 2008-2009
Wilton Veras 1998-2000
Tim Wakefield 1995-2011
Gary Waslewski 1967-1968
Ray Webster 1960
Fred Wenz 1968-69
Mark Whiten 1995
Dana Williams 1989
Ted Wills Jr. 1959-1962
Rick Wise 1974-1977
Larry Wolfe 1979-1980
Rob Woodward 1985-1988
Jim Wright 1978-1979
Carl Yastrzemski 1961-1983
Bob Zupcic 1991-1994
0 Replies
Region Philbis
2
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Sat 21 Apr, 2012 09:19 am
Quote:
NOTABLES MISSING FROM CEREMONIES
Marty Barrett (in Mexico on family vacation)
Wade Boggs (at Don Shula charity golf classic in Key West)
Roger Clemens (had expressed hope to attend but was not here)
Scott Hatteberg (in Hawaii)
Grady Little (Sox didn't hear from him)
Fred Lynn (in France on 25th wedding anniversary)
Trot Nixon (son had first Little League game)
Manny Ramirez (team never heard from him)
Dave Roberts (is a coach in Padres system)
Curt Schilling (out of town on business)
Jimy Williams (Sox didn't hear from him)
Don Zimmer (has bronchitis)
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