Red Sox: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly at Fenway Park
By Rick McNair
Little boys play with dolls
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.
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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.