I pass on my Dad’s memories, talk about Fenway and the changes to it over the years. We talk about Ted Williams and that turns into a discussion of playing left field at Fenway and how Yaz played it beautifully, while so many others struggled. My own kids really began to watch the Red Sox in the late ‘90’s, so they remember Pedro Martinez at Fenway, the brief ALCS series in ‘99 in which Boston were victorious in just one game and the incredible drama of every year since 2003. I remember Bucky Dent and sigh. Their sighs were for Aaron Boone and that 7th game in the 2003 ALCS at Yankee Stadium.

My kids grew up idolizing David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and, now, Jacoby Ellsbury. These are great veteran talents and an inspiring rookie. They are also living breathing signs of change for this team. No history of the Red Sox is complete without a discussion of their shameful race relations and hiring history. The Red Sox were the last Major League team to integrate and had a terrible record in hiring and promoting administrative, field and coaching talent. The Red Sox became a better team and a more welcoming team to all the neighborhoods and people of New England when they began to recruit talent from diverse backgrounds. Big Papi and Manny are natives of the Dominican Republic, though Manny is now a US citizen. Jacoby Ellsbury is of Navajo descent. They are now proud citizens of Red Sox Nation and fan favorites.

There have been discussions recently in the local papers about missing the days of “The Curse of the Bambino” and that sense of being special because we had all collectively suffered through those “character building” losses. I don’t miss that at all. I emphatically don’t miss that. I love the way the current Sox play. I love the sense of joy and optimism that is there now at Fenway. I love it when David Ortiz is waiting at home plate to bear-hug Dustin Pedroia after the smaller man hit a big home run. I wouldn’t exchange Jonanthan Papelbon’s Irish victory jig for anything. This is a fun team, one that plays with heart, has it’s share of “characters” and a team that wins. It’s nice to be along for the ride. Kudos to the ownership team of Larry Lucchino, Tom Werner and, especially, John Henry, for making sure that so many other New England people, who were not really invited to the party in prior years, were specifically invited into this one. This is New England’s team and all of New England is enjoying the ride.

GO SOX!!!!!!


(The Sox did, of course, win Game 2 in Fenway Park, though they quite kindly avoided wiping the mound with the Rockies right from the get-go this time. Gotta let those opposing teams retain a certain amount of dignity in defeat, donchaknow. We’re all looking forward to winning Games 3 and 4 in short order, even though those won’t be held here in Boston—the understandable desire to finish off the Big Win Cycle here on our home turf must give way to wishing for a nice clean 4-0 sweep instead of dragging out the agony for those brave souls who must face another long cold Colorado winter sans Series wins again this year, ahem…)