Editor’s note: This article was written prior to the Boston Red Sox beating the Cleveland Indians in the 7th game of the ALCS to advance to the World Series.
Fun facts about Fenway Park, wow, say that three times fast! I don’t know about you, but old ballparks like Fenway Park (which I have been to 3 times) have such unique charms, I decided to set out to see if I could uncover a few “lesser” known nuggets about this gem.
It probably is just coincedence that Boston’s much beloved Red Sox are doing battle with my Clevelend Indians for the right to go to the 2007 World Series, but I really do love historic, nostalgic, majestic (insert your own adjectives here) ballparks as there is something uniquely different about old baseball stadiums that I really don’t think other sports can claim.
I have been to Fenway and Wrigley Filed in Chicago, for example, and if you have you will know what I mean when I say you almost feell like your have entered a differnt time when you are inside them either for the first or twentieth time. You seem to never get tired of just looking around and imagining all the greats that have graced the playing field and all the history that has occurred between the white lines of parks like these. Thoughts like these still give me chills every time.
So instead of just doing a piece about things that I am guessing most baseball fans know about Fenway, I though I would take a stab at seeing If I could come up with some tidbits that fans and ballpark affeciandos alike may not now about this gem that held its first official baseball game on April 20, 1912. Now I am guessing that you probably knew that Fenway opened in 1912, but can you guess why it was “bumped” from the front pages in April of 1912? If you guessed that it was because of the sinking of the “TITANIC” was still fresh news form April 12th, you would be correct.
Well, if you knew that one, you are good. Try this one. Did you know why the bullpens were moved to their current positions out in right field in 1940 so that Ted Williams could hit more home runs? The new area affectionately became known as “Williamsburg.” Sections 40-43 were enlarged after the moving of the bullpens to create the extra space for Williams.
Haven’t stumped you yet? I may get you with this one. There is a lone red seat in section 42, row 37, seat 21. Any idea what it represents? The spot marks where the longest home run hit in Fewnway Park occurred, hit by none other than Mr. Ted Williams on June 9th, 1946 that measured 502 feet.
Here is something I found I found interesting about Fenway. There have been two major fires at Fenway, the first occurring on May 8, 1926 that happened down the left-field foul line that burned down the bleachers, while the second happend on January 5, 1934 that all but destroyed new construction that was updating Fenway that was being supervised by the new owner of the team, one Mr. T.A. Yawkey. Despite the setback, a “new” Fenway opened again for baseball on April 17, 1934.
I have just a few more “quickies” about Fenway to share, but I encourage you to go to www.RedSoxDiehard.com to do a little more research on your own about this historic gem of a ballpark, it really pulls you in even if you are not a Red Sox Die Hard.
Anyway, I also found it fascinating that the famous “Green Monster” did not start out as well, a Green Monster. It actually displyed advertising signage up unitl 1947 when the green paint replaced all the signs that covered the 37 foot high wall, thus creating the “Green Monster” as it stands today. At 37 feet, it is the tallest outfiled wall in the major leagues and if you ever get the chance to watch a game from the recently installed seats atop the Monster, man I have to tell you there is no better way to take in a ballgame. My son and I were fortunate enough to have sat in the front row ther once and will never forget that experience.
Last, I will leave you with a “Tribe Trivia” fact about Fewnway. On October 4th, 1948, Fenway Park hosted a 1-game playoff between the Red Sox and the Indians for the right to go to the World Series. Cleveland’s win, 8-3, behind Gene Bearden prevented an all-Boston World Series between the Red Sox and Boston Braves, and as any self-respecting Tribe fan knows also represents the last time the Indians won the World Series. Lets hope history that the baseball gods feel that 59 yers between championships is enough and the Tribe brings one home in 2007!
