RED SOX

Fenway Park is one of the oldest remaining parks in baseball today. It was once a grand place, full of tradition. But, aside from its loyal fans, it is currently experiencing some growing pains. It can't seem to make up its mind what it wants to be.

Unlike Wrigley- where they are keeping the old ways alive, or Pittsburgh- where they are embracing the modern fan-experience, Fenway is trying to live a double-existence.

Several years ago, there was talk of taking down this old beauty, and replacing it with a modern park. Then a new owner decided to revitalize, rather than replace. They added seats, upgraded the sound and video systems, and tried to bring this park into a new era. Unfortunately, the mixture of old and new leaves one feeling somewhat dissatisfied in both worlds. Old carousel-sounding organ music, interspersed with Rock and Roll at full volume... the video subway races juxtaposed to the a capella singing somehow created an incomplete, rather than an enriched, baseball experience.

But it was certainly an experience worth having! For instance, Fenway does something we have not seen anywhere else. Here you enter, not at the stadium gate, but at the end of Yawkey Way, and the fan experience incorporates the shops and businesses across from the stadium, and all up and down this block, as well as inside the walls of Fenway. There were street vendors, music, juggling and entertainment, and hoards of enthusiastic fans.

There are now seats on top of the old Green Monster. Someone we met who had paid $500.00 per seat to sit in these "prime" seats said that it really is not a good view from which to watch a game. But we wanted to see that view for ourselves.

After a bit of convincing, the usher actually let us up on top of the
Green Monster.

Jim thought that would be the perfect time to call home.

Here is the right-field foul pole, littered with generations of graffiti, as seen from atop the Green Monster.

As always, a bit of batting practice for the boys, in hopes of catching a ball.



Yes, it's made of LEGOS!! Carter couldn't have been happier!




This game was an important part of our baseball adventure, but between the two, we give Wrigley our higher historical-park rating!

An interesting side-note: Since Fenway is always sold out and tickets are expensive, not many people take their kids to the game. But they don't miss out here in Boston; the local theatres have Baseball Night! For a fraction of the cost of going to the game, you can experience the game on the big screen in high-def! And the theatre companies complete the experience by selling hotdogs and such in the lobby, they sometimes have players come sign autographs, and they even throw T-shirts into the "stands" , do the 7th inning stretch, and other live-baseball activities. How smart is that!