It’s Boston Week on the Four + One Blog! Check back all week to get the full scoop on ‘What Three Guys Think’ Boston baseball weekend trip.
Niel and Yoon from our ‘What three guys think’ series joined me for our annual baseball weekend trip. This year we did Boston. And as you’ll see it ranks right up there with the best. Here’s a re-cap of the highlights of our experience. Fortunately, we resisted the temptation to buy a pre-worn in green Red Sox hat and left with our dignity more or less intact.
We caught two games on our stay. Thursday the Sox played Toronto. We got there early enough to enjoy the scene. Outside the park on Yawkee Way it’s practically a carnival atmosphere. Hot Dog vendors (no Polish Sausage, ‘we do sweet Italian Sausage here.’ said the vendor. Fully loaded is the way to go), crowds of people drinking, man on stilts, a band playing, and tv cameras doing the pre-game show. Tons and tons of Red Sox gear. You really get the feeling that Boston loves its baseball team.
Can you spot the Dodger fan?
This part of the experience crushes Dodger Stadium. With the no tailgating rule that is heavily enforced and the lack of public transportation, there’s no pre-game arrival festivities to be enjoyed at all. The festive atmosphere was definitely a good start for Fenway.
Entering Fenway Park is a bit like walking onto the set of a tv show you’ve watched every week for the last decade. Because over the last 10 years the Red Sox and Fenway have become so ingrained in the consciousness of baseball fans with a string of playoff runs and championships that all of us envy (and many of us cheered for in 2004). The Green Monster. That little cove in center field. I’ve even seen Blair Witch-esque footage of Big Papi’s hit in 2004 from about the angle of my photo below. It wasn’t a surprise to arrive there, it was very familiar. But it was still impressive. That’s the sign of a great baseball stadium experience. You feel something every time you go. Here’s my first glimpse of the stadium.
The second thing about Fenway that’s impressive is the bustle. It might be because it’s small compared to other newer stadiums, but having everyone crammed in there creates a feeling of constant motion. It’s a good thing.
A few other things about Fenway and the crowd that were very impressive on Thursday evening:
1. They knew what to do and when. Standing O for Jon Lester after going 6 ⅓ scoreless is a great example. Even the more fashionable members of Red Sox Nation (read: young females and anyone wearing non-traditionally-colored Red Sox garb) joined into it.
2. They know how to sing it. I can’t say enough about this one. Singing “Sweet Caroline” in the middle of the eighth was a highlight of the weekend. We need more singing by crowds in our American sports. I don’t know how to make this happen authentically, but I’m in full support of it. Dodger stadium still beats them on “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, although I can’t blame them for saving something for the eighth.
3. It may be old, but it’s aged well. The seats are old metal folders, there are pillars partially blocking your view, and the pathways leave something to be desired in terms of passing space. But it doesn’t really detract from the experience. We’ll call it character. That’s a description you can’t give every baseball stadium you enter these days.
In fairness we need to mention a few areas where the Fenway faithful fell a bit short:
1. I assumed it was only the Dodger Stadium crowd who would do the wave in crucial defensive moments late in a ball game. It turns out, the Fenway crowd isn’t above this. In their defense the top deck held perfect sync all the way around the stadium, one of the more impressive feats I’ve seen at a game.
2. Beach ball. Along with the wave I assumed the beach ball was a Southern California phenomenon. It’s not. They brought out the beach ball, and I thought to myself, they’re just like everyone else.
3. The final let down on Thursday came when we saw Red Sox fans heading for the exits early to beat traffic. Another thing Dodger fans have been notoriously (and correctly) criticized for. It turns out Red Sox fans do it as well.
Papelbon came out to finish off a 5-1 victory. This first night encapsulated everything you’d want from an evening game at Fenway: Papi hitting a non-crucial yet solid single to right (that’s as much as we can ask of him these days), a little tale wag from Youkilis, and the closer coming in to “Shipping Up To Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys. Not a bad day at the ballpark.
After the game we walked down to the area right behind home plate. One day I’ll be able to catch a game from right here:
A great day at the ballpark. But it was Friday that things got really interesting. Stay tuned.
Tags: baseball, boston, stories
blog home | « What three guys think, in boston, ma | Fenway Park: The Real Deal (Game 2) »