Red Sox Memories: Returning to Fenway following tragic Boston Marathon bombing

Reflecting on the first Red Sox game at Fenway Park following the Boston Marathon bombing and the speech that rallied the city.

Seven years ago today, the city of Boston was devastated by a cowardly terrorist attack. While it’s a tragic part of our history, the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing serves as a reminder of our resiliency. The Red Sox played a role in helping the city to recover by uniting us with a source to rally behind.

The Red Sox went to Cleveland for a three-game series the day after the marathon bombing, putting some distance between them and the chaos that had engulfed their city. The first game at Fenway Park in the aftermath of the attack was delayed until Saturday of that week when the Red Sox returned home to host the Kansas City Royals.

Returning to Fenway signaled a return to normalcy in the wake of a terrifying event. A pregame ceremony was held to honor the victims and survivors of the marathon bombing. Players wore their home white jerseys with “Boston” printed on the front instead of the customary “Red Sox.”

The ceremony was capped by an unforgettable speech from David Ortiz. The superstar slugger thanked the mayor, governor and Boston police department for their efforts in restoring order. Most importantly, he delivered a message that the people of Boston would not allow terrorists to force us into living in fear.

“This is our f—ing city,” Ortiz shouted to the capacity crowd. “And nobody gonna dictate our freedom. Stay strong!”

His words ignited the Boston Strong movement that united the city during challenging times.

The Red Sox returning to Fenway coincided with Ortiz’s return to the lineup. Big Papi missed most of the second half of the 2012 season with an Achilles injury and he was slowed by soreness in his heels the following spring.  The April 20 game against the Royals would be his first since August of the previous season.

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Just as his pregame speech had ignited the crowd, Ortiz’s bat helped fuel the Red Sox offense. He collected a pair of hits in his season debut, going 2-for-4 with an RBI base hit that tied the game in the sixth inning.

Daniel Nava‘s three-run homer in the eighth inning gave the Red Sox the lead and they would go on to beat the Royals 4-3.

Clay Buchholz pitched a gem, allowing only two runs over eight innings to move to 4-0 on the season.

That victory was the launching point for a remarkable 97-win season that resulted in a division title and the unlikeliest World Series title in franchise history. The Red Sox weren’t expected to be a top contender that year but the Boston Strong mentality and their desire to put the city on their backs to aid the recovery process fueled a storybook season.

Today we celebrate One Boston Day to honor the resiliency of this city on the anniversary of one of its darkest days. We’ll never forget the tragic event that cost several lives and terrified countless others but we’ll also always remember how the city united in the aftermath and rallied back stronger than ever.