During the weekend, I twice told stories of the 2004 Red Sox season and cemeteries. Yea I know it sounds like a weird combination but in the story of the Red Sox and Fenway Park, it all makes sense.
In an earlier post I wrote about and showed photos of graves decorated with Red Sox regalia following the 2004 World Championship. I loved it because I got it and understood it perfectly. And the simple reason for that is I watched my father live and die and he did so without ever having seen his Red Sox win a World Series. As that 2004 team stood on the threshold of that championship I knew that it was essential to connect the generations of Red Sox fans. So when Edgar Rentaria stepped into the batters box as the only thing standing between the Red Sox and that long-awaited Holy Grail; I took my Dad’s ashes from their hallowed place in my home and set them on my lap while simultaneously placing a call to my son who was away at college. We watched together 150 miles apart as Joe Buck called the play Red Sox fans “longed to hear”.
I don’t remember what we said to each other and it really doesn’t matter, what matters is that I connected to my Dad, and to my son and my son connected to his Papa in the most glorious moment in Red Sox history!
Well all those thoughts, all those feelings returned to Fenway last Friday as she officially celebrated her 100th birthday! The people places and things of the day were perfectly placed and the unifier of it all is that marvelous lyrical little bandbox, the guardian of the moments, the cathedral of history.
People of all ages came to play their part in this Fenway passion play.
This guy was first in line for any game day tickets that just might make it on sale. He spent the night on Lansdowne Street and the day in the park.
This couple arrived at 5:30 AM and was 13th on the list.
Angela came to share her memories of yesteryear and spoke of her love for Ted Williams. She was treated to Fenway’s birthday party by her son.
Nick came to work as did his father before him and his grandfather before that. He is the third generation peanut vendor whose roots go back to the earliest days of Tom Yawkey.
Danny and his daughter Jacqueline came because Dad knows the meaning and value of memories and how much it will mean to his girl when Fenway turns 125 and 150. And they ended up live on the Fox News noon report!
There were birthday hats.
T-shirts sporting a myriad of designs.
Most proclaiming Fenway Park’s century celebration.
Boston Baseball is the program sold on the streets which is not affiliated with the Red Sox. It used to be known as Underground Baseball and had its beginnings in the 1980s.
And there were those whose “memories were so thick they had to brush them away from their faces.”
And by days end, 36,770 people had a memory which will echo across the ages.
Yesterday in Minnesota the Red Sox battered the Twins 11-2 giving them their first back to back road wins since August of last year. They are now 5-10 in last place (5th) in the AL East 4 1/2 games out of first. One hundred years ago today, they beat the Washington Senators 4-1 at Fenway Park snapping a two game losing streak. They were 6-3 and in second place, a game out.
And so it was and so it is at this time in Fenway Park history, April 25, 2012 and April 25 1912.
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