Fenway Park Open House

I got home from Wednesday night’s game after 11:00, and less than 12 hours later I was headed back in to the old ballyard.  On the eve of the game marking Fenway Park’s 100th anniversary, the Red Sox had the day off, and they decided to open the park to the public.  Full of exhibits that made Fenway Park “a living museum,” the event was billed as a chance to explore the park at your own pace and get access to places that are normally off-limits to fans.  I had requested the day off from work back in the fall when I first heard that something was planned for that day, and the closer it got the more fun it sounded.  I planned to meet up with the friend I go to most of my games with as well as friends of mine who have three young boys.

My friend and I got to sit in the bullpen cart that used to drive pitchers in from the 'pen. Since he's the one behind the wheel, that must mean I'm the one who's coming in to pitch!

When I got to the T station and had to wait in line for half an hour to get to the front to pay, I started to realize how many people had the same plan as me.  It was school vacation week, and everyone getting on the train was wearing Red Sox attire.  I texted my friends: “It’s gonna be packed”, but I had no idea how packed until I arrived at Fenway and there was a line to get in.  I met up with my friends inside Gate A, where there was another line to sit in the cart that was used in the 1970’s and 80’s to drive pitchers in from the bullpen.

Fenway Park was ready for its centennial celebration, and fans packed the warning track for a chance to see the dugouts and Green Monster.

Next we headed out to see the field, where there was a long line of people walking around the warning track.  We got in line under the stands and came out to the field through Canvas Alley, where the grounds crew sits during the game.  As soon as we came out to the field, we saw shortstop Mike Aviles walking around and posing for pictures with fans, and we called him over for a picture with my friends’ kids.  I thought that meant there’d be other players around, but he was the only one we saw.  That probably means he was just passing through as he worked out on his off-day, which makes it even cooler that he took the time to greet fans.

A look inside the Green Monster. The "Caps" sign is so they could report on the Bruins' playoff series with the Washington Capitals. (Luckily there was no sign of the cup Manny Ramirez used to use on his bathroom breaks.)

Our first stop in our walk around the warning track was the home dugout.  It was really crowded, but we got the chance to sit on the bench and get a quick picture.  It’s too bad the bullpen phones were tied down, or that could have been another photo op.  From there, we walked around to the visitors’ dugout for some more pictures, and then around to left field.  Along the way there were cardboard cutouts of third basemen, pitchers, and left fielders, like Mike Lowell, Wade Boggs, Tim Wakefield, and Ted Williams.  The line slowed to a crawl as we approached the Green Monster, because everyone was getting the opportunity to peek inside the open door at the small room inside the wall where the scorekeepers sit.

Looking through the left field foul pole at the park, from the top of the Green Monster. All day I continued to be surprised at how many people were there.

It took well over an hour to complete the circuit around the field, and then we headed back around to the stands behind home plate to eat lunch.  I decided our next stop should be to take them up on the Green Monster, but first we had to wait in yet another line in the third base concourse.  I’ve been to open house type events at Fenway Park before (twice in 2004 and twice in 2005) but there have never been as many people as there were today.  I had come in thinking we’d have plenty of time to see all the behind-the-scenes pieces of Fenway, and I was still looking for as many of the new historical plaques as I could find.  (When we came in, they gave us a map that identified all 100 markers, which took some of the fun out of looking for them.  And some that I did see had so many people standing in front of them that I couldn’t get a picture, so I quickly retired that idea.)

We got to step inside - and outside - a couple of luxury suites.

After sitting on the Green Monster for a few minutes, we stayed on the upper level and walked through a hall lined with framed Sports Illustrated covers that had featured Red Sox players, past the entrances to the luxury suites.  One of the doors was open (and had only a short line) so we went in to take a look.  When we stepped outside, I liked that in addition to the rows of regular stadium seats, there was a row of stools at a countertop, and the stools were padded – even their seatbacks -  unlike the ones on the Monster.  A little further around we found another open suite.  This one was bigger, and I thought it was cool that they have scorecards available for their patrons, and that their dinner plates have Red Sox logos.  Eventually we came to the Red Sox Hall of Fame display and the luxurious EMC Club.  We got to step inside the EMC Club and see half of it, but the other half was blocked off and had a really long line to get in, because players were signing autographs throughout the day.  With the kids having already walked all over for hours, we decided to forgo this line, and instead checked out the right field roof box seats and sat at tables on the roof deck.

We got a look at the visitors' clubhouse and walked down the tunnel that leads out to the dugout.

We went up to the Pavilion level – the fifth and highest floor at Fenway – but there was another really long line that would have been too much for the kids.  It was almost 3:00 and they had been there since 10:30, so my friends headed home.  I went down to the concourse level behind third base, where the Absolut Clubhouse had displays of Ted Williams memorabilia.  I thought at that point that I had seen everything, but then I noticed some people just below the ramp that goes from Gate D to Gate A, near the ramp going out to the seats behind home plate.  It turns out that’s the entrance to the visitors’ clubhouse, and there was no line at all.  I went in and looked at the clubhouse – I have to admit it is pretty small – and then got to walk down the tunnel that leads out to the visitors’ dugout.  There was also a really long line outside the door the the Red Sox clubhouse.  I debated about waiting in that line, but it was so loosely delineated that I figured there’d be a lot of cutting and it would take hours to get through, and I had gotten to see the clubhouse once before.  (It turns out they weren’t going into the actual clubhouse – since this was just one day off, there were probably players using it – but we would have been able to see the batting cages and walk through the tunnel that leads to the home dugout.  That’s something I’ve never done, so I would have waited if I had known.)  When I got home I found out that over 53,000 fans had attended the open house throughout the day (with the Red Sox – and me – expecting about 5,000 like the other open houses they’ve had).  It was a little crazy with the large crowds, but it was fun to experience some sides of Fenway that we don’t normally get to see.

Truck Day

I know there are some unsentimental types who think that the hype over a moving van is too over-the-top or some kind of commercial gimmick.  It may be a silly tradition, but I happen to be a silly traditionalist, so Truck Day – when the Red Sox load up a van with all their equipment and send it off to Spring Training – is right up my alley.  In past years, the equipment truck has departed on a weekday, so I wasn’t able to go.  The closest I’ve come to Truck Day is one night a couple of years ago when I dragged a bunch of co-workers in to Boston for dinner the night before, just in case the truck showed up early and parked on the street overnight.  (For the record, it doesn’t.)  Back in 2004, I was in Ft. Myers when the truck arrived, and I was able to watch them unload it.  But this year, the big day that symbolizes the start of the new baseball season fell on a Saturday, so I finally was able to go.  And because of the inglorious and painful way last season ended, I am even more excited than usual to be able to wipe the proverbial slate clean and get the new season started.

The truck reads: "THE GREEN MONSTER'S ON THE MOVE. Follow the 100-year legacy to the first year at JetBlue Park."

I arrived before 10:00 and found a parking space right on Yawkey Way.  Light snow was falling (disproving my theory that every time I go to Fenway it rains) but there wasn’t much going on at the time.  I read later that because of the snow they had started earlier than usual, and some of the cooler items like an x-ray machine, turnstiles, and a motorcycle had already been loaded around 8 am.  At 10 they began loading more boxes, including things like “bathroom supplies” and “kids pants” (cue the Pedroia jokes), and I watched from the sidewalk across the street with a couple dozen other fans.

A look inside the truck. Spring training just wouldn't be the same without plenty of bathroom supplies and kids' pants.

Around 11:00 Larry Lucchino showed up and greeted the fans.  When I saw that he was posing for pictures with people in front of the truck, I couldn’t resist asking for one myself.

Larry and I are ready to start the new baseball season.

I noticed that some people had gone up to stand near the barriers that were set up right behind the truck, and I joined them, not even realizing that I had just scored a prime spot.  As a pizza oven was rolled onto the truck, Lucchino’s wife Stacey joined us with two of their dogs, black labs named Vernell and Nagal.  She told us they had been training to become service dogs, but they “didn’t graduate”.  Apparently they also have another dog, Fenway, who’s still in training and is the subject of the Fenway the Dog blog, and Stacey took a couple of pictures of the crowd to be used on the site.  This is a side of the Red Sox CEO that we don’t often get to see, but it added to the fun, informal feel of the day.

A trunk is wheeled over to the truck under the watchful eyes of the Lucchinos' dogs, Nagal and Vernell.

A few minutes later Larry was back, this time to distribute pocket schedules and stickers to the crowd.  He also had a container of chocolate chip cookies, which had been baked by a fan (”I wish I could say I was the CEO who baked cookies, but it wasn’t me,” Larry admitted).  At one point a couple of cookies fell on the ground and people wanted to call the dogs back over until one of the photographers pointed out that with chocolate in them that wouldn’t be a good idea.

Why do they need three wheelchairs?

We got a little nervous when we saw them loading wheelchairs into the truck.  Who are those for, and why do they need so many?  (The obvious joke there is that Wake and Tek must both be returning.)  We also saw them load large umbrellas that go over tables, a paper shredder, a box of belts, and a large clothing steamer.  As we watched, the woman on my left was interviewed by Channel 7’s Dan Hausle, and the girl on my right was filmed for NECN.  Both basically gave the same sound bites that many of us were thinking: today marks the first day of spring for Red Sox fans, even if it is snowing; we’ve always wanted to come but couldn’t make it on a weekday; it’s great to be able to start a new fresh season after the way the last one ended; and yes, it does help us get over last weekend’s Super Bowl loss.

Larry Lucchino and the Fenway ambassadors tossed soft baseballs to the crowd through the falling snow as the equipment truck departed.

The snow picked up again as the loading was finished and the truck doors were closed shortly after noon. I was surprised when I turned around and saw how the street had filled in, with easily 100 people there by the end.  The Lucchinos and their dogs joined Wally and some Fenway ambassadors on a flatbed truck, and they tossed soft souvenir baseballs to the crowd while playing “Dirty Water”, “Play Ball”, and “Centerfield” on the loudspeakers.  The truck drove down Van Ness Street, turned onto Kilmarnock and then on to Boylston, and headed off on its 1400-mile journey.

When I got home, I found myself in quite a few pictures of the Truck Day festivities.  You can see me in the Globe’s Truck Day gallery, in a picture on the Red Sox’ Facebook page, in a post on SB Nation Boston, and in a video of an NECN broadcast.  All that’s left to do now is warm back up and await news from Spring Training.

SABR Day in America

Saturday was “SABR Day in America”, when local chapters of the Society for American Baseball Research planned baseball-related events across the country.  Since it was a mild, sunny day and I had my online ticket sale needs wrapped up early, I decided to join the Boston group at their event – a walking tour that provided a light-hearted look at  lesser-known and somewhat infamous sites around the Fenway area.

The Teammates statue sits outside of the entrance to the right field stands, on the corner of Ipswich and Van Ness streets.

Our first stop was the Teammates statue outside Gate B.  There was nothing infamous about the four players depicted, but rather the spot was chosen because it’s the entrance to the right field stands.  Our guide shared a story about 30 men who were ejected from the right field area at a game in July of 1912 for yelling insults at the Boston players.  They made an example of those rowdy fans because the following week the Detroit Tigers were coming to town, and they wanted the great Ty Cobb to “get a fair shake”.  We also learned that Van Ness Street was named by John I. Taylor, the Red Sox owner who built Fenway Park, after his wife’s maiden name.

From there, we progressed to the steps outside Gate A, where we heard more tales of people ejected from the World Series games in 1912.  One group of men sued the Red Sox, since they had made the “great sacrifice” of $3 to purchase tickets to the game, and were further outraged when their bribe of $15 to let them stay was rebuffed.  Another story was the scandalous tale of a woman from New York who had been loudly shouting and “raving” for the Giants and was found passed out in the stadium after the game.  She was taken to the hospital where she continued to rave all night.  The newspaper made sure to report that she was dressed all in silk, “including her undergarments”, and carried a velvet purse.

While outside the park, we also listened to a couple of songs about famous and infamous moments in Red Sox history – like an old-time rendition of the 1903 version of “Tessie” which had a modern twist; a song about the 2005 season called “No Pedro, No Nomar, No Lowe”; and Gene Stamell’s “Billy We Hardly Knew Ye” off the Diamond Cuts: Bottom of the Fifth CD, about Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

"Fenway Special" indeed. Is this what the guys were eating in the clubhouse last September?

Our next stop was the Popeye’s fast food fried chicken restaurant on Brookline Ave., to commemorate the epic collapse of 2011 which included certain members of the starting rotation eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games.

490 Commonwealth Avenue, site of the former Hotel Kenmore.

Next we walked through Kenmore Square, which was called Governor’s Square back in the early days of Fenway Park, to the site of the old Hotel Kenmore.  Later a dorm for Graham Junior College, and now apartments, in the early 20th Century the building was the largest hotel in the area.  Its claim to fame is that it served as the visiting teams’ hotel, and is the only hotel to have hosted all major league teams (that existed at the time), including National Leaguers who came to town to play the Braves.

BU's Myles Standish Hall used to be a hotel frequented by Babe Ruth.

Our next stop was Myles Standish Hall at 610 Beacon Street.  It’s now a Boston University dorm, but before 1949 it was the Myles Standish Hotel.  It was a favorite of Babe Ruth, who always stayed in room 818 when in town to play the Red Sox.  We also learned that Red Sox pitcher Ellis Kinder almost burned it down one night when he fell asleep with a lit cigarette.

The Hotel Buckminster, where the Black Sox scandal of 1919 was planned.

From there we walked back up to the Hotel Buckminster at 645 Beacon Street, which is notorious for being the spot where gambler Joseph “Sport” Sullivan met with Chicago first baseman Chick Gandil to propose fixing the 1919 World Series.  In the lobby of the hotel where the Black Sox scandal was hatched, we learned about that afternoon’s game against the Red Sox, a contest won by Chicago 3-2 on the strength of pitcher Eddie Cicotte, who was another one of the players in on the fix.

The Dugout Cafe, a frequent haunt of Pinky Higgins.

Our final stop was the Dugout Cafe, a few blocks up the street at 722 Commonwealth Ave.  It’s now mostly a B.U. hangout, but it was one of the first bars to open in Boston after the repeal of Prohibition, and a couple of decades later was said to be a favorite post-game spot of Pinky Higgins.  Higgins, who served as both manager and general manager of the Red Sox in the late 50’s, is known as one of the people responsible for making the Red Sox the last team to integrate, and it’s said that while at the Dugout he would sometimes drink so much that he’d fall off his barstool.  I’m happy to report that no one in our group followed suit.

Red Sox Road Trip

The weekend before the start of ticket sales for the 2012 season, the Red Sox held their annual road trip, taking the World Series trophies and ticket vouchers to locations around New England.  This year the schedule worked well for me so that I didn’t have to drive to New Hampshire or Maine, heading instead to the Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough, MA.  In past years, the event gave us the chance to have our picture taken with one of the World Series trophies and get a voucher for a pair of tickets in a pre-sale during the coming week.  This year the vouchers allowed up to four tickets, and the event also contained a display of Red Sox memorabilia and appearances by players.

I got to meet Mike Aviles.

I got to the mall early, so I was up near the front of the line.  After filling out a form for a raffle of an Opening Day VIP package and picking up my ticket voucher, my first stop was the autograph table where Red Sox infielder Mike Aviles was seated.  While he served in a backup role last year, even seeing some time in the outfield, the news had broken the night before that Marco Scutaro had been traded, meaning unless there was another move soon, Aviles would likely be the team’s starting shortstop.  I brought along a photo I had taken from behind home plate before a game last year.  Before he signed, he paused and said, “This is a really good picture.”  I knew that he had joined the team at the trade deadline last year, and that the picture was from a game in August, so I told him, “That was from the game with the triple play.”  It cracked me up when he answered excitedly, “Oh, the triple play?  I was at that game!”  He had posed with several people in front of me, and the line was moving slowly because it took everyone a while to fill out the raffle form, so I asked if he’d take a picture with me, and he obliged.  I think I’ve got a new favorite player!  (Yes, I know they’re all in my top 25, but he just shot up in the ranks.)

Bill Mueller's Yankee-killing bat.

Next was a table containing Red Sox memorabilia from the Fenway Park Archives display at the ballpark.  Among other things, they had some bowling pins from the bowling alley that used to be under Fenway, the bat used by Bill Mueller when he hit the walk-off home run off Mariano Rivera in the game with the Tek/A-Rod brawl in 2004, the jersey worn by Carl Yastrzemski at the Ted Williams memorial tribute in 2002, and a 1999 All-Star Game ball signed by Pedro Martinez.

The 2007 World Series trophy was on display.

The final table held the 2007 World Series trophy.  (The ‘04 trophy was on a different leg of the road trip.)  The whole time we were going through the line people were singing the National Anthem as an audition for the “Sing your way to Fenway” contest.  After I finished, I went up to the second floor to get some pictures from above.  I waited around a little while longer, because Rich Gedman, the former catcher who’s now a coach in the minors, was also supposed to be appearing, but he didn’t end up showing while I was there.

PawSox Hot Stove League Party

On Friday night it was time for an annual tradition, the Pawtucket Red Sox’ Hot Stove League Party.  The free event gives fans a chance to meet some of the top prospects in the organization, ask questions, and get autographs.  In the past few years it’s been held on a Saturday morning, but this time it was on a Friday night, which I found a lot more inconvenient.  My friends weren’t able to bring their kids because of all their after-school activities and sports, and I had to battle Friday evening traffic on Route 95, but I’m glad I was able to make it.  With fewer people in attendance it was certainly easier to navigate than the crowded Saturdays of years past.

Alex Wilson is one of the Red Sox' top pitching prospects. He spent most of last season in Double A, with a call-up to Triple A in August. He pitched well at both levels, and the Red Sox named him their minor league pitcher of the year.

It was a cold, blustery night, but baseball season was in full swing at McCoy Stadium.  (I joked that usually this event is held on the coldest morning of the year, but now they had somehow managed to find the coldest night of the year.)  My first stop was the batting tunnel, where the batting cages and workout equipment were moved out of the way.  Catcher Luis Exposito and pitchers Brandon Duckworth and Alex Wilson answered questions from fans in a session hosted by PawSox radio announcer Steve Hyder.  One fan asked each player what position he’d like to play if he could pick a different one.  Exposito said he’d like to be a pitcher, and Wilson said he’d be a centerfielder (”I’d have to be faster, but I could still throw people out.”)  Duckworth laughed and said, “DH.”  After the Q & A session, we were able to get autographs from all three players.  I had them sign a photo I had taken at a PawSox game a couple of years ago.

Luis Exposito and Brandon Duckworth sign autographs for fans. Exposito spent the whole 2011 season in Triple A after working his way up through the Red Sox organization. Duckworth has seen time in the majors with the Phillies, Astros, and Royals before signing with the Red Sox last spring.

When I was done in the batting tunnel, I went into the home clubhouse, where PawSox manager Arnie Beyeler and outfielder Alex Hassan were autographing.  After going through that line, I stuck around for their Q & A session, in which we learned that Hassan’s favorite players growing up in Milton, MA, were Manny Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra, and Pedro Martinez.  (This made me feel old, since they’re players I rooted for as an adult, but I felt a little better later when I realized that I’m only a couple of years older than the journeyman Duckworth.)  Beyeler was asked about coaching third, a task performed by minor league managers.  He said he definitely hears about it from fans when a runner is thrown out at the plate, but that he also hears about it when he holds a runner at third, and that either way he’s just happy that the fans care enough to holler.

Alex Hassan's .404 OBP while playing in Double A Portland last year led all Red Sox minor leaguers in that category.

When the Q & A finished up, I headed into the visitors’ clubhouse, where the private restroom in the manager’s office had been designated as a ladies’ room, and then grabbed some chips and soda.  I stopped for a free hot dog out in the concourse, and then browsed through the many displays of photos and memorabilia that line the walls of the hallway on my way out.

Baseball signed by Dave Stapleton, who was the International League MVP in 1979.

The Great Fenway Park Yard Sale

This Saturday marked the first wave of ticket sales for the 2012 season.  There was a lot going on, with two invitation-only events at the ballpark – Christmas at Fenway and the Great Fenway Park Yard Sale – plus 4-game ticket packages and individual game tickets going on sale online and over the phone.  It’s important to me to try to get the Opening Day Sox Pax, because that’s really the only way to make sure I’m at the opener (this year will be my 12th straight) even though this year two of the games in the Opening Day Sox Pax conflict with my 10-game Tenth Man Plan package which renews every year.  And the best way to make sure I can get the Opening Day pack would be to win the drawing and get selected to attend Christmas at Fenway in person.  Unfortunately I lost that drawing, just like I do every year, which means I’d have to stay home and try to get my tickets online.

Here are the treasures I managed to find at this year's Fenway Park Yard Sale.

I did, thanks to being a Tenth Man Plan holder, get an invitation to the Yard Sale, where we can rummage through boxes of publications, signage, and other trinkets.  The invitation was for 11:00, but with ticket sales starting at 10 and an hour’s drive to Boston, I knew it would be later in the day, if at all, before I could get there.

They seem to have improved the online ticket process, because I was able to get the tickets I wanted without the drama or trauma of previous years, and then I headed in to Fenway around noon.  The Yard Sale took place in the third base concourse and the Absolut Clubhouse.  There was a lot of memorabilia for sale, including framed photos, game-used jerseys and bats, and autographed balls, but even Wily Mo Peña’s jersey and Jeremy Giambi’s broken bat were out of my price range.  I was more interested in the big boxes in the concourse with old media guides and other publications, all for $1 apiece.  I already have a lot of the ones that were there, but I found a 1995 Media Guide to add to my collection and a “2009 Official Averages” book with the final stats of all players in 2009.  I also grabbed two magnetic concession stand signs.  Then I picked up a pin with an interesting story.  It has the Red Sox logo and says “10th World Series”.  A staffer explained that they were commemorative pins given out to the media who covered the World Series games.  However, they had been made in 2003, in anticipation of the Red Sox making it that year, which (ahem) didn’t exactly work out.  But they were able to use them in 2004, when the team did play in the World Series for the 10th time in franchise history.

My final stop, and the highlight of my trip, was the brick pile to pick out an authentic Fenway Park brick.  After I had chosen the perfect one, I turned around and saw Jon Lester signing autographs for the Christmas at Fenway patrons.  There were barricades up and workers were checking wristbands, so I couldn’t get in the line.  But I was happy just to be at Fenway Park after being away for so long, not to mention with the results of my yearly treasure hunt.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to watch Pedro Martinez in action, but he’s still one of my all-time favorite players.  (Technically it’s a tie between him and David Ortiz for my top spot, but the way I figure it, since one is a pitcher and the other is a hitter, I shouldn’t have to choose.)  When Pedro was in his prime, there was no one more dominant.  One of my favorite stats to quote is that his 1.74 ERA in 2000 was less than half of the 3.70 compiled by the 2nd-place finisher.  But don’t even ask me to pick my favorite Pedro game.  I might eventually settle on Game 5 of the 1999 Division Series, when he came into a slugfest with an ailing back and held the mighty Cleveland offense hitless for the final six innings – but not before considering his 17-strikeout one-hitter in New York in September of 1999, or the Pedro vs. Roger duel on Memorial Day weekend of 2000 when Trot Nixon’s ninth-inning homer won it for the Sox, or the “Where is Roger/In the shower” playoff game in 1999, or the near no-hitter in Tampa Bay in 2000.  Or maybe I’d pick Labor Day of 2000, when Carlton Fisk’s #27 was retired before the game and Pedro beat the Mariners.  On paper it was a rather methodical 8-inning, 11-K performance, but I had the pleasure of seeing that one in person, and what stays with me most about that day is walking back to the T after the game and watching as gleeful fans ran down Lansdowne Street waving giant Dominican flags and chanting “Pedro, Pedro!” while car horns honked and people cheered.

The Best Pitcher on the Planet, future Hall-of-Famer, 2004 World Champion, and my all-time favorite player at a toy drive in Bedford, MA.

Pedro Games during his heyday were certainly appointment viewing.  At work we’d try to predict not the outcome of the game, because that was never in doubt, but how many strikeouts he’d pick up or whether this would finally be the night he threw a no-hitter.  In person, it was even more fun.  Normally at games people will wait to get up from their seats until the visiting team is at bat, but when Pedro pitched that’s when we were glued to our seats.  It was after he’d walk off the mound at the end of the inning that we’d see the mass exodus of people heading to the concession stands and restrooms.

So when I heard that The Best Pitcher on the Planet himself was going to be hosting a toy drive in a nearby town, I knew immediately that I had to go.  The event was held at the HomeGoods in Bedford, MA, and benefited children here in Boston and in the Dominican Republic.  We just had to bring two new, unwrapped toys to donate, and we could get an autograph from the future Hall-of-Famer.  As the day approached, I felt like I had gone back in time to a decade ago and was counting down to Pedro Day again.  That anticipation was especially welcome after a horrid end to last season and a beginning of the off-season that saw the team I love further dismantled.  But here I was walking around for a week with a grin on my face thinking, “I’m going to see Pedro,” just like in the good old days.

Pedro looked the same as always, right down to that endearing impish grin.

The event was scheduled from 5 to 7 pm, but shortly after noon a friend of mine posted on Facebook that she had driven past the store and people were already in line.  So I rushed to get ready and jumped in the car, arriving around 2:00.  The line was already over 100 people long, and we would be waiting outside all afternoon.  It was a sunny day and relatively mild for December, but by the time the sun set at 4:00, I was wishing I had brought my hat and gloves.

When Pedro arrived at 5:00, we were finally allowed to enter the store, but it was still another hour before I got to the front of the line.  I had brought with me a picture of myself with the 2004 World Series trophy which I’ve taken to Spring Training and other events to be signed by members of that historic team.  It’s getting pretty full, but he found some space and signed in neat lettering.  I made sure to thank him for his part in what was the best season ever as far as I’m concerned: “Pedro, I just want to thank you for 2004.  It meant so much to so many people.”  If I could personally thank every last one of them, I would!  The best part was his response: “No, thank you. It was well-deserved.”

Red Sox Charity Wines Launch Party

On Thursday, I was fortunate to be able to attend the launch party for this year’s selection of Red Sox inspired charity wines.  I was lucky on two counts – not only was it a fun event that I’m happy to promote, but because of the invitation I had planned on taking Thursday off from work long before I knew I’d be staying till the end of Wednesday night’s game which finished up at 2:45 am.  Fourteen short hours later, I was back in the Fenway area for the event, which was held across the street from the park at the House of Blues.

Jon Lester is interviewed by Heidi Watney. Jon's CabernAce will benefit the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

This year’s Red Sox wines are Jon Lester’s CabernAce and Clay Buchholz’s ChardonClay.  100% of the proceeds from the sale of the wines will benefit charities close to the hearts of the players.  Lester’s will benefit the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, where he was treated for lymphoma more than four years ago.  Buchholz’s will go to the Jimmy Fund in support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute here in Boston, where he serves as co-captain for the 2011 season.

Clay Buchholz poses with a drawing advertising his ChardonClay, which benefits the Jimmy Fund.

The event was emceed by NESN reporter Heidi Watney, and we heard from the president of Charity Wines and representatives from both cancer research centers.  Then the players took the stage to talk about how they chose their wines (Lester: “I told them I like red wine”), their connections to the selected charities, and what it’s like being a new dad (Buchholz: “She’s a great baby – she sleeps a lot, and I like to sleep too”), before taking questions from the audience.

Photo by John McGlynn, used by permission.

We got to sample the wines, and the cabernet was my favorite, although I generally prefer red wines to whites so I’m probably biased.  Both CabernAce and ChardonClay retail for $14 and will be available beginning next week in stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  They can also be purchased at CharityWines.com for fans living out-of-state.  Pick up a bottle of each – perfect for celebrating Red Sox victories and supporting a worthy cause in the process.

In the Boston area, we’ve had more snow this January than we normally get in a whole winter.  So when the opportunity came to think baseball for a day, I jumped at the chance, even though I was supposed to be home preparing to host a dinner party that night.  The PawSox Hot Stove Party is an annual event that’s been going on for over 30 years, but I just found out about it last year.  Some of the top prospects in the organization are on hand, holding Q & A sessions and signing autographs for fans.  The best part is that the whole event – including parking and food – is free.

Jason Rice, Stephen Fife, and Robert Coello sign autographs for fans.

While waiting in the line outside before the start of the event, I bumped into a friend and two of his kids.  His brother joined them later too.  Our first stop was the batting tunnel, where three pitchers – Robert Coello, Stephen Fife, and Jason Rice – were assembled.  Originally drafted by the Reds as a catcher, Coello converted to a pitcher and was playing in the independent leagues a couple of years ago when he signed with the Red Sox.  He got into a handful of games with the Red Sox last September, but is likely headed back to Pawtucket for the 2011 season.  Fife, a starter, and Rice, a closer, both pitched for the Sea Dogs last year and hope to earn promotions to Pawtucket.

Robert Coello answers a question.

First there was a Q & A session with the three pitchers.  One kid asked what it’s like to be called up to the majors.  Coello is the only one of the three who’s had that chance, so he answered that it was a very special feeling and he called all his family and friends.  Fife added that getting a promotion to any new level is exciting.  Rice quipped, “I don’t know what it’s like yet, but I’ll probably faint.”  Then they were asked which major leaguer they’d most like to strike out.  Rice and Coello both said A-Rod; Fife picked Mark Teixeira.  All three got applause from the partisan crowd for their responses.  After the interrogation, we got to get autographs from the players.  I brought a print-out of a panoramic photo of McCoy Stadium that I had taken at a game last year, and both Coello and Fife admired the picture before signing it.

Jason Rice and Stephen Fife.

From there we moved into the visitors’ clubhouse, where we found new PawSox manager Arnie Beyeler and catching prospect Ryan Lavarnway.  Beyeler has managed the Sea Dogs for the past four years, and was promoted to Pawtucket when Torey Lovullo left to join John Farrell’s coaching staff with the Blue Jays.  Lavarnway split the 2010 season between Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland.  They also took questions from fans before signing autographs.

Arnie Beyeler and Ryan Lavarnway.

After seeing all the players, we stopped for some free hot dogs, chips, and soda.  I enjoyed looking at the extensive memorabilia collection that lines the walls of the hallway on the way out.  Before leaving, we got a chance to step into one of the luxury boxes and take a look at the field, blanketed under a layer of snow.

With Opening Day over two months away, McCoy Stadium's field is covered in snow.

I was glad that the lines seemed to be better organized than last year, so it didn’t take all day to get through both rooms.  I was able to get my baseball fix in the morning, and still had time to finish cleaning the house and make guacamole before my dinner guests arrived.

Despite being a chilly week in December, it’s been an exciting 7 days for those of us who make Red Sox rooting a year-round endeavor.  Last Saturday I slept late, awakening to the news that the Red Sox had traded for Adrian Gonzalez, the gold glove first baseman who has emerged as one of the elite hitters in the game and is just entering his prime.  There was a scare Sunday afternoon when it was reported that the trade was off after they were unable to sign him to an extension.  Then late Sunday night, we heard the trade was back on, with the extension to be worked out once the season starts.  On Monday, there was a brief but worthwhile break from baseball while the Patriots clobbered the Jets in an entertaining Monday Night Football win.  But by the time I was ready for bed on Wednesday night, the Red Sox were back in the spotlight, announcing a stunning deal with outfielder Carl Crawford, the prize position player on the free agent market.  There was a noticeable baseball buzz in Boston, and it was capped off this Saturday with the first wave of ticket sales for the 2011 season.

I didn’t win the Christmas at Fenway lottery, so I wasn’t going to be able to buy my tickets in person.  That meant that this morning I got up early to set up my computers for a day of “virtual waiting”.  As I waited, I watched Crawford’s introductory press conference on NESN.  At 11:00, I saw an update on Facebook that the Fenway Park Yard Sale would be open from 1 – 5.  I assumed that meant it was open to the public and not just lottery winners, but it wasn’t entirely clear.  Last year the Yard Sale was a separate lottery event the day after tickets went on sale.  While I had lost out on the lottery, I ended up getting a “second chance” email invitation late in the afternoon.  So this year I was excited that I was able to get through the virtual waiting room and get the tickets I wanted early enough to be able to go to the Yard Sale in the afternoon.

My loot from the 2010 Fenway Park Yard Sale.

When I got to Fenway it turned out the Yard Sale was open to the public, so I was glad I had decided to go in.  It’s too bad they didn’t advertise it that way, or send out “second chance” emails to the lottery losers, because I’m sure there are other people who would have wanted to go.  At the Yard Sale, we could get a bag full of publications and memorabilia, including one Fenway Park brick, for $20.  I found all kinds of interesting things to add to my collection.  I’ve been buying the Media Guide every year since 1996, but I found some older ones from 1993, 1992, 1988, and 1985.  I found postseason media guides from 1999, 1998, and 1988, a 1999 Division Series program, a pamphlet detailing why Dom DiMaggio should be in the Hall of Fame, a scorecard from Fenway’s 80th anniversary in 1992, a commemorative folder from the unveiling of the Teammates staue outside Gate B this year, and a magnetic “3.50″ sign off a concession stand.  (Does that mean food prices are going up again this year?  And what can you actually get for $3.50 anyway?)

Once I added my Fenway Park brick, I went into the adjoining room, where there was additional memorabilia for sale.  There were things like game-used jerseys, bats, autographed balls, and faded championship banners that used to hang on Yawkey Way, but all of these were out of my price range.  I did enjoy looking through a box of old signs, and a “Reserved Parking” sign caught my eye.  I recently moved to a new place with a garage, and the sign was only $5, so it will be perfect hanging in the garage.  I also looked through a stack of nameplates off the players’ lockers, and bought the one belonging to cult-hero Ino Guerrero, the batting practice pitcher who always seems to get an at-bat in the spring training college games.

It’s still 118 days until the 2011 home opener kicks off what looks to be a fun season at Fenway.  Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford will be there, and, thanks to the Opening Day Sox Pax, so will I.  But in the meantime, today’s trip to Fenway was a great way to cap off an exciting week and bring thoughts of summer to a winter day.