Cross one off the bucket list - watching the Red Sox play at Fenway


"What kind of clothes should I pack for my trip to Paris?" That's the first question that people usually ask as soon as they've booked their plane ticket to France. With hindsight, I wish that I would have asked for some local advice on what to wear in Boston because I neglected to bring anything that's red, blue or looks remotely like Red Sox gear, which is why I ended up at Fenway Park in a black cotton dress that's more suitable for a café on the Boulevard Saint-Germain than the oldest Major League Baseball stadium in the country.

For as long as I can remember, seeing the Red Sox play at Fenway Park has been on my 'bucket list" and yesterday's game against the Texas Rangers didn't disappoint. As the refrain from "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" played in my mind, I was proud to share my superior knowledge of the sport, gleaned from one summer of playing softball, with Philippe. I can only imagine what the die hard Red Sox fans behind us thought as I tried to remember the term for the pitcher who finishes a game and the tactics involved with base running.


Fortunately, the crowd of 37,000 spectators was in a jovial mood and I had a good time chatting with the proud Bostonians about "America's National Pastime". While munching on an over sized Italian sausage topped with jalapenos, ketchup and mustard and guzzling an icy cold beer, it occurred to me that watching a baseball game with my son was the best way to spend my first full day back in the United States. There's no place like home!

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack.
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.


Put on your Red Sox baseball cap for an afternoon at Fenway! Please click on any of the photos that you would like to enlarge.


Texas Ranger outfielders in front of the high wall known as "The Green Monster".


"Daddy 1" - I'm kind of surprised that Philippe didn't make a "Mom 1" shirt for me to wear!
Movies filmed at Fenway
Boston policeman are a special breed! Here's one joking with the Red Sox fans standing next to the Texas Rangers' dugout.
The fans heading home after a disappointing 10-9 loss to the Rangers.
For Tom. Congratulations on catching a foul ball at the Brewers' game. I thought of you when I saw all of the people, including the man in the above photo, who caught balls at Fenway. I wish that I would have brought my glove! ;)

Comments

  1. Fun Day! I've gone to one Cubs games at Wrigley Field, so that's off my list. Now to get around to the White Sox field. What's it called? Now here's something I never told you--I kept score for a competitive softball team for three seasons--I used to know the game inside and out, but it goes quickly if you don't stay on top of it.

    It looks like a sunny day, good for you both.

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    1. Lucky you to have gone to a Cubs game! I always wanted to go to one when Sara lived in Chicago. I don't know what the White Sox field is called, although I should because we used to drive past it whenever we visited your city. You continue to surprise me, Joseph. I would have never guessed that you used to keep score for a competitive softball team!

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  2. Fenway Park turned 100 this year...Did you know that the green paint is specially mixed for the Green Monster and is trademark protected?
    My dorm at BU (700 Comm Ave, affectionately called "the Zoo") is around the corner. My room had a bird's eye view into the stadium. We would gather at the large windows, radios tuned to the game and watch from our own "cheap seats"....
    Ah, MK you have managed to bring to light many happy memories as a student in Boston.

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    1. ....Italian sausage? You didn't have a "Fenway Frank"....shame on you.

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    2. Thanks for the info about the Green Monster. I had no idea that the green paint, which is a unique shade of green, is trademarked! I'll look for 'the zoo" the next time that I'm on Com Ave. I wonder if it's where Philippe stayed when he did a summer program at BU. His freshman dorm room overlooked the soccer field.

      Fenway Franks - another thing that I wish that I would have known before going to the game! It sounds like I'll have to go back for a repeat experience. I wouldn't want to disappoint you!

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  3. I've only just learnt that expression - the bucket list (you'd wonder where I've been all these years!) and am delighted that you have finally got to see the Red Sox, even though, as an Australian, I'm obviously not a fan. It certainly is a pity you didn't have the right colours though ...

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    1. Now you've got me wondering about which ball sports Aussies play besides rugby and tennis. Oh, that's right - there's also "Aussie rules" football.

      I can't remember when I first heard "bucket list" but it has been used more frequently ever since the movie "The Bucket List" came out. It's a movie that I still have to see...but it's not on my bucket list!

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  4. Two questions: did you sing Sweet Caroline during the 7th inning stretch and what else is on your bucket list?

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    1. We did! I sang "Sweet Caroline" at the top of my lungs, well at least the chorus, and stretched along with the rest of the crowd. It was lots of fun! And fortunately, my son is past the age of being embarrassed by me...or maybe he's so used to it by now that he doesn't tell me anymore! Do they always play Sweet Caroline after the 7th inning at baseball games? I'll have to see if I can find the answer on google because I can't remember if they played it at the Indian games in Cleveland.

      What else is on my bucket list? Hmm, I have a confession to make - I don't really have an official list, only a vague mental list of things that I hope to do at some point in the future - liking meeting you.

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    2. I've never heard of Sweet Caroline being sung during the 7th inning stretch. I think they play, Take Me Out to the Ball Park here at Wrigley. Sweet Caroline is a weird song anyway.

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    3. After reading Anne's comment, I did some "research" and discovered that playing Sweet Caroline at some point between the 7th and 9th innings has been a Fenway tradition since 2002. Even though it's supposed to bring good luck to the Sox, it didn't help them in their game against the Rangers. I agree that the song is kind of weird, but in an effort to convince you that it's a fun one to sing at a game, I'm going to post a video of it on facebook.

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  5. Sadly we can't get tickets foe a baseball game when I am in Boston. I wanted to compare to rounders. The Englush game I used to play.

    If we are lucky enough to get tickets. I will be sure to wear red.

    You have got me thinking about my bucket list now!

    Love Denise

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    1. Will the baseball season be over when you're in Boston? Normally, you can purchase tickets online or at the field right before the game, unless it's sold out.

      I'll have to ask Philippe how baseball compares with rounders. He used to play cricket at school when we lived in Trinidad and rounders when he went to a British school in Switzerland. That's why he doesn't know very much about baseball.

      I really hope that you can go to a game. They're a lot of fun!

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  6. Great shots again Mary Kay. You have really captured the flavours of the moment. I particularly like the shot of the lemonade vendors.

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    1. Thank you! The shot of the lemonade vendors was my favorite and one that I was really pleased to get.

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