Jun 17, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park prior to batting practice before a game between the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Home for the Boston Red Sox is Fenway Park and that brings back memories. Some are unforgettable and others should be forgettable. Here are a few of mine.
Jun 17, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park prior to batting practice before a game between the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
Recently, two incidents happened at Fenway Park that in one instance was reprehensible and the second one that was humorous, humiliating and embarrassing depending on your interpretation. For me, the second one was all three rolled up neatly for social media fodder. I will start with that one.
Fenway has become a marriage proposal site recently – a baseball Niagara Falls for popping the question. Invariably the woman says yes as the male goes through the traditional genuflecting before his intended. The results are predictable as she says a resounding “Yes!,” and proceeds to hop around like Monty Hall has presented her with all the wealth behind door number three.
The woman turned him down. Naturally, the sympathetic and understanding Fenway crowd responded as one would expect as the couple soon to be solo – engaged in a rather public kerfuffle. Maybe this will discourage others or allow the trapped female to feel comfortable about rejecting a suitor?
The main incident of note has been beaten to death in the media – both social and legitimate. The racial taunts directed at the Orioles Adam Jones garnered some exceptional national coverage that brought to the surface some of the inglorious histories of Boston and the Red Sox. That will allow me to segue into my first slide.
There is little need to recount the racial history of the Boston Red Sox as it is a well-worn topic, but I do have some first-hand personal experience with players of color being taunted at Fenway Park. A little personal background will lead into it.
In 1958 my father packed us up and off to Charleston, South Carolina for about a month. His business of light manufacturing was opening a small ancillary plant in that area. That exposed me to racial issues that were visible in the south with all one would expect. Being brought up in a 100% white community it was an awakening for a 14-year-old. The separation was clearly demonstrated in virtually all aspects of society.
As I grew older I discovered that the tactics that happened in my area of the country were present but far more subtle. Now back to the following season – 1959 – and Willie Tasby of the Baltimore Orioles.
I was sitting in the bleachers in a game that was meaningless to Boston – most were. I do remember it was late August night game and Tasby was in center. I will not mention the taunts, but it was sustained for several innings. No one complained or did a thing. I could use age as an excuse for my reluctance, but that is all it would be.
About a month prior to this game Pumpsie Green had finally broken the color barrier that had made the Red Sox the lone holdout from having a black player. Earl Wilson soon joined Green to raise the number to two players of color. Ironically Tasby was traded to the Red Sox in mid-season of 1960. I don’t recall hearing any follow-up taunts once Tasby wore a Red Sox uniform.
The biggest change I have seen at Fenway Park over the years is the growth of the minority fan base. I cannot recall seeing a person of color in the 1950’s at Fenway Park and rarely in the 1960’s. That has most certainly changed.
Jim Eisenreich was a gifted player who hit .290 over a 15-year career. Eisenreich also suffered from Tourettes Syndrome with the most noticeable visible part of the condition being tics and involuntary movement. Fortunately, Eisenreich never had the condition at-bat, but in the field it wass noticible.
The early part of his career was one that could best be described as extremely frustrating with a dispute with Twins management and a two-year hiatus from baseball. In the early part of his career, Eisenreich was undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Prior to a series that the Twins were to play in Boston in 1982, an article appeared in a Boston paper regarding Eisenreich and his actions in the outfield, which were simply passed off as “nerves.” That was all the encouragement needed for the bleacher denizens to formulate a torture plan for the then 23-year-old.
”After I got back from the sanatorium, people in the stands started calling me ‘nutsy’ and ‘whacko,’ ” former Red Sox player Jimmy Piersall told the NY Times. ”They would blow sirens at me. Even today, friends tell me stories about people who want to know if I’m really crazy. You have to face all that. You’ve got to be tough to survive in sports.”
During the game, Eisenreich was just verbally brutalized. Numerous fans would get up and start to mimic the tics that Eisenreich displayed with the expected results being accomplished when Eisenreich had to be removed from the game still shaking and hyperventilating.
The period between 1982-84 saw Eisenreich appear in only 48 major league games and none in the minors before he chose to retire for almost three seasons. Eventually, Eisenreich returned and so did the antics at Fenway only far more muted and then no more as common sense finally prevailed.
The bleachers at Fenway Park have become rather tame in this century as the usual gracious behaviors have met relatively swift justice. Fights have even become less and less as the mosh pit environment that once existed has dissipated.
Inflatables are nothing new for the bleachers as we see beachballs tossed about during a game until one falls onto the field to be sent to beachball purgatory by the grounds crew. In 1991 another inflatable was brought to the bleachers and created a firestorm of epic proportions – an inflatable doll.
The anatomically correct doll(s) were tossed around and a bit of very over the top public behavior commenced as some of the men took certain “liberties” with the doll. News articles rehashed the behavior, including some mention of the behaviors and the display of obscene gestures.
Reports from the office of Fay Vincent – the Baseball Commissioner – could not recount a similar occurrence elsewhere – a Boston and Red Sox first. The team also received criticism for the slow reaction to nullify the behavior and confiscate the dolls. The next few days certainly saw a reaction from the press targeting the fans and the Red Sox.
There is simply no doubt in my mind that the Red Sox fans are the most verbally creative in baseball. Sometimes the fans will bring props to the game that may even express their feeling of the moment. I remember one game in which two fans near first base wore batting helmets as protection against the errant throws of third baseman Butch Hobson.
A cottage industry of signs, sayings, and even dress can be attributed to Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod seemed to inspire the best in Red Sox Nation for subtle and not so subtle references to quite possibly the most self-centered player of his generation. But the topper for me was the sudden chorus that resonated thanks to a Roger Clemens failed start.
The “Texas Con Man” was back in Fenway Park for the ALCS in 1999 and was a dream matchup against Pedro Martinez. This was Game 3 in a series that the Red Sox would eventually lose, but on this night Roger simply got pounded as Boston won 13-1.
After Clemens left the chant started. One group would shout “Where’s Roger?” followed by a second group shouting “In the shower.” That may be the most humorous and spontaneous crowd action I ever saw at Fenway Park.
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) salutes the fans after the loss against the Cleveland Indians in game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
Ortiz “bombs”
David Ortiz certainly has very few filters and that became readily apparent with his speech before the crowd after the Marathon bombing. Ortiz spoke to the crowd and dropped the magical “F-Bomb” and under the circumstances, I found it quite appropriate. Ortiz simply stated what we were all feeling.
Why stop with just one?
Ortiz interruption of a John Farrell press conference was hilarious. Farrell was attempting to conduct a give and take with the media when a semi enraged Ortiz interrupted since he had been told that Farrell was behind the change in a scoring decision that cost Ortiz a hit. A little investigation showed – to know surprise – that the real culprit was Dustin Pedroia – a noted instigator.
A second one is where Ortiz honors Pedroia during a chat by stealing second base and presenting it to Pedroia. What it really showed is the close bonding and mutual respect the long time teammates had for each other.
With Ortiz, there have been many montages of his career with Boston and the unforgettable moments The above are just a few that I enjoyed.
To hit major league pitching you have to have quick reflexes and make decisions in fractions of a second. Sometimes that trait is carried forward when unfortunate circumstances present themselves and for Hall of Fame player Jim Rice, his reaction time may have saved a child.
The situation is well documented in this video if a few years ago, but the picture itself is all you need to see as Rice cradles a four-year-old struck by a foul ball. While others sat momentarily stunned Rice quickly grabbed the child and rushed him to the clubhouse for medical attention.
This represented – at least from my view – one of the most poignant memories from Fenway Park and certainly one for the actions of a great ball player.
