Sure, the best gift is always tickets, but if you can’t get them (or you already did), here are the ten best gifts for all the people in your life.
Bottle Opener Key Chain – $1.50 (Amazon)
Nothing goes with baseball like beer, and nothing goes with expensive dental work like trying to open one with your teeth. Give your frat brother this keychain to make sure he doesn’t lose any more teeth while he’s losing more brain cells.
Red Sox Mug – $13 (MLB Shop)
Sure, it’s a bit boring, but it’s functional and universally useful. Give it to your boss, because he loves the Sox and you love getting raises.
Cap – $17 (Amazon)
If you don’t have one, you need one. If you have one, you probably need another, because yours is getting old (no, it’s not “distressed,” it’s just ratty). Give this to yourself to wear to games and (more importantly) cover bad hair days.
Dustin Pedroia T-Shirt – $22 (Amazon)
Pedy. The Laser Show. The Muddy Chicken. Whatever you call him, he’s the de facto captain of the team, and he’s not afraid to get his uniform dirty. Give this shirt to your boy/girlfriend who’s just getting into the Sox, and they’ll wear their newfound team with pride.
“Beats the Yankees” Shirt – $25 (Yawkey Way Store)
Every Sox fan watches the Sportscenter score crawl for two reasons: to see BOS (W) and NYY (L). Give this to that friend who always wears “clever” t-shirts. He may not have a sense of style, but at least he’ll be promoting good values.
Red Sox Duffel – $35 (Amazon)
Why carry your stuff around in a boring bag when you can broadcast your allegiance loud and clear to everyone at the gym/airport/bus stop? Give this one to your coworker whose travel gear needs an upgrade in attitude.
David Ortiz Replica Jersey – $100 (MLB Store)
Still the most popular player on the team, Big Papi is loved by pretty much every fan for being a happy team leader who destroys opposing pitching. Give this to your boy/girlfriend so they have something to wear to the game, to the bar, or just around town. Also, it shows you care about the Sox, which is a prerequisite for marriage in most New Englanders’ minds.
Twin bed set – $110 (MLB Store)
You know that dream you had when you were a kid about hitting the game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7? This set is the perfect place to have that dream. Give it to your kid to make sure they’re a Sox fan for life.
2004 Curt Shilling Signed Baseball – $330 (MLB Store)
Every baseball fan knows the legend of the Bloody Sock. While he’s developed a reputation as a TV blowhard and his company has gone under, his heroics are still revered by Sox fans, and this baseball. Give this to your mom/dad that raised you on this team and they’ll know they brought you up right.
2007 World Series Signed Baseball – $2500 (MLB Store)
It might be expensive, but to a true fan it’s priceless. Signed by members of the team that swept the Rockies in the Fall Classic, they’ll be very excited/proud/protective/Gollum-like about owning this “precious” ball. If you give this to your husband/wife, you’ll win “perfect spouse” instantly. Who knows, you might even get out of doing the dishes for a year or two…
