.Home page > Red Sox 2009 

Red Sox 2009

Diane, Brett, and Jeff went to the Red Sox game on May 8, to see the Boston Red Sox versus the Tampa Bay Rays.  We had a fantastic time.

We were graced with fantastic seats, courtesy of one of Diane's former students (thank you, Biz!).  This was our view of the field.  The "Green Monster" left field wall is visible in the background.  An orange line (not visible in this picture) marks the top of the wall.  Any ball hit above the line counts as a home run, and the wall is a popular target for right-hand hitters.  Note the new "Monster Seats" along the top of the wall.  A plan to demolish and enlarge Fenway Park was scrapped, so instead the existing park has been extensively renovated and new seats have been added wherever they will fit.


We were in row M, with only 12 rows between us and the field.  You could see every blade of grass.  The field was in immaculate condition.  Click any picture for a larger view.


These signs were posted throughout our seating section.  At this distance, you had to stay alert and watch every pitch.  If a ball is coming your way, you only have a split second to try to catch it (or to duck).  Included in the fine print on the back of our ticket stubs was the sentence, "The holder assumes all risk... including the danger of being injured by thrown or flying bats and thrown or batted balls...".


This is a view of the bleacher seats.


Dustin Pedroia is at bat.  David Ortiz ("Big Papi") is on deck.


Jeff enjoying the game.


In this picture the Red Sox starting pitcher Brad Penny is being replaced after 6 innings.  Night has fallen and the lights are on.  Tampa Bay scored 3 runs in the first 5 innings, but in the 6th inning Boston scored 5 runs and the rest was history.


Diane and Brett.


Another sellout crowd, almost 40,000 people.  Red Sox fans are referred to collectively as "Red Sox Nation".  In 2008, the park sold out its 456th consecutive Red Sox game, a Major League record.


Attendance is helped by the fact, after a long drought, the Red Sox have won the World Series twice in recent years.


Fenway Park was built in 1912 and is the oldest of all current Major League Baseball stadiums.  During the first game in 1912, fans were shocked to hear the news that the Titanic had sunk.


This is in the 9th inning, shortly before Boston beat Tampa Bay by a score of 7 to 3.


Right after the end of the game.  Fans come down to the field to see their favorite players.  From this angle, the iconic CITGO sign in Kenmore Square is obscured by the Volvo billboard.


Jeff and Diane.


After the game.  The grounds crew is already working to prepare the field for tomorrow's game.  This is the most pampered grass in Boston.


Our seats were close to the Red Sox dugout.


Note the trash left behind.  The food at the park is pretty good, and the fans eat of lot of it.  After the game, cleaners use leaf blowers to blow the trash to the bottom of each section, where it is collected.


The box score.


It's not a baseball game without a program and peanuts.


Ticket stub.


On Yawkey Way, outside Fenway Park.  After the game, fans gather behind barricades to watch the players driving out of the ballpark.



Thanks for visiting!