Happy Birthday Fenway Park!
If you didn’t feel anything during Fenway’s birthday party, check for a pulse. There was much speculation as to how the pregame ceremonies would unfold, but there’s little question, the Fenway Park pre-game celebration was a success.
Sox players from generations past graced the field to the delight of another sell-out crowd, and many more watching on television. To the music of the Boston Pops from the movie “Field of Dreams”, one by one former Red Sox greats (and not so greats) walked out from different parts of Fenway Park to their respective positions.
Who’s who among Sox greats
So who showed up? 212 former Red Sox players, to be exact. From Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr (both in their 90s) to recently retired Sox greats Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield (both of whom wheeled out Pesky and Doerr). But that’s certainly not where the finger pointing ends.
How about Mo Vaughn, bigger than ever? And speaking of big, Jose Canseco chose to flex his massive arm on his walk out. The list goes on and on, and culminated with a grape juice toast hosted by Pedro Martinez and Kevin Millar.
After one more “Cowboy Up” from Millar, Fenway Park toasted to 100 years, and hopefully, 100 more.
Snap back to reality
It didn’t take long for the great feeling from the ceremony to wear off, as Dustin Pedroia dropped a routine pop-up, allowing the game’s first batter, Derek Jeter to reach base . An A-rod single would bring in the first Yankees run, and it was all downhill from there.
In all, Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz gave up five home runs (six earned runs) in six innings of work. What made it even harder to watch was the fact that Pedro Martinez – arguably the Sox’ greatest pitcher ever – was in the house for this one. Man, those were the days. The Sox ruined Fenway’s birthday, losing, 6-2.
