The Trophy Tour Begins
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Rhode Island Convention Center
It’s only three weeks since the final game of the World Series, but the hectic pace of the so-called “off”-season has already begun. My first stop was Providence for the Rhode Island World Series rally. In past championship years, the Red Sox have held rallies in all New England states to celebrate, and this was the current year’s first stop.
The 2013 Commissioner's Trophy made its way to Rhode Island.
The appeal for me was the chance to get a picture with the latest trophy. My tradition after winning the World Series (and it really still amazes me that I can speak about that in the plural) has been to print off a picture of me with the trophy, bring it to Spring Training the next year, and try to get as many players from the Championship year as possible to autograph it. I intend to do the same thing this year, so the sooner I could get a photo op, the better.
Jenny Dell and Rico Petrocelli addressed the crowd.
The half-hour rally was hosted by NESN’s Jenny Dell, and featured Providence’s mayor and other dignitaries. Dr. Charles Steinberg of the Red Sox gave one of his usual glib speeches. Rico Petrocelli, a hero from the 1967 Impossible Dream team, was on hand to compare that historic season with the current one. And TV personality and Fenway Park P.A. announcer Dick Flavin recited a new poem:
Bring on the magic, trot out the reward,
The prize for all of those runs that we scored.
It’s the Oscar, the Emmy, all rolled into one.
It’s Big Papi’s earrings, the moon, stars, and sun.It’s the end of the rainbow, our own pot of gold.
It’s three in ten years, but it never gets old.
It’s the highest of honors, above all it towers.
It’s the World Series trophy, and by God, it’s ours!
Charles Steinberg showed off his 2004 and 2007 World Series rings.
Then everyone in line was able to get a picture with the World Series trophy. Now that I’ve got mine, I get to embark on my favorite winter/spring mission to get players from the ’13 team to sign it.
The newest trophy finally gets its picture taken with me, just like its two older brothers.
