I suppose all Red Sox fans fall into two categories. The first category is the Red Sox fan who was born into it. This would be the category my two children would fall in. It is in their blood, much like high blood pressure or the color of their eyes, it is in their DNA. The other category of Red Sox fan, is the fan that chose to be a member of Fenway Faithful. That is the category I would fall into.
I guess it really all started in October 1975 when living in Ohio, I was allowed to stay up to watch the World Series. The family was going for the Reds since we were in Ohio and I watched the games not following any team. I have no memories of any of the games, I don't even remember Carlton Fisks home run in Game 6. The only memory I have is of Fenway Park. Even in the days long before high definiton TV's, I thought Fenway Park was the most beautiful park I had ever seen. In particular, I loved the Green Monster. I was amazed that people could hit the ball over a wall that tall.
The memory of Fenway lingered and I remember in 1977, watching as many baseball games as I could in order to find that ballpark again not knowing even which team played there. Then one day in the summer of 77, I found a Red Sox home game on TV and I was pulled back in again. I remember saying to myself that is my favorite team and I began collecting as many Red Sox baseball cards as I could find.
1978 was the season I followed them on a daily basis. We lived in Florida at the time and I could only watch them when they appeared on Saturday afternoons and even then it was only 3 or 4 times per year. I did though get the newspaper every morning and without looking at the final score, try to find the boxscore of the Red Sox game. I placed my thumb over the boxscore and slowly slid my thumb to the right revealing one inning at a time. In my mind, I would play out the entire game. I would then spend at least an hour reading over the scorecard seeing how my favorite player Yaz did, or see if Jerry Remy stole any bases, or if Rice or Lynn or Fisk hit any home runs.
Then the Bucky Dent game happened. I faked a cold so my mom let me stay home from school and I watched the game on TV. I suppose it was that game where my dislike for the Yankees began. When Yaz came to bat in the bottom of the ninth, I just knew he was going to pull it off for us. When he instead popped out to third, I don't remember being upset or crying but I do remember I felt bad for Yaz.
From that day on, I was addicted. I was 10, and I never gave any thought, that almost 30 years later, they would be such a big part of my life. I have followed them daily ever since and it was a choice. A choice that through it all, the good, the bad, the heartbreak and the joy, I am glad I made. Pitchers and catchers report in 11 days !
I guess it really all started in October 1975 when living in Ohio, I was allowed to stay up to watch the World Series. The family was going for the Reds since we were in Ohio and I watched the games not following any team. I have no memories of any of the games, I don't even remember Carlton Fisks home run in Game 6. The only memory I have is of Fenway Park. Even in the days long before high definiton TV's, I thought Fenway Park was the most beautiful park I had ever seen. In particular, I loved the Green Monster. I was amazed that people could hit the ball over a wall that tall.
The memory of Fenway lingered and I remember in 1977, watching as many baseball games as I could in order to find that ballpark again not knowing even which team played there. Then one day in the summer of 77, I found a Red Sox home game on TV and I was pulled back in again. I remember saying to myself that is my favorite team and I began collecting as many Red Sox baseball cards as I could find.
1978 was the season I followed them on a daily basis. We lived in Florida at the time and I could only watch them when they appeared on Saturday afternoons and even then it was only 3 or 4 times per year. I did though get the newspaper every morning and without looking at the final score, try to find the boxscore of the Red Sox game. I placed my thumb over the boxscore and slowly slid my thumb to the right revealing one inning at a time. In my mind, I would play out the entire game. I would then spend at least an hour reading over the scorecard seeing how my favorite player Yaz did, or see if Jerry Remy stole any bases, or if Rice or Lynn or Fisk hit any home runs.
Then the Bucky Dent game happened. I faked a cold so my mom let me stay home from school and I watched the game on TV. I suppose it was that game where my dislike for the Yankees began. When Yaz came to bat in the bottom of the ninth, I just knew he was going to pull it off for us. When he instead popped out to third, I don't remember being upset or crying but I do remember I felt bad for Yaz.
From that day on, I was addicted. I was 10, and I never gave any thought, that almost 30 years later, they would be such a big part of my life. I have followed them daily ever since and it was a choice. A choice that through it all, the good, the bad, the heartbreak and the joy, I am glad I made. Pitchers and catchers report in 11 days !
2 comments:
You sound very passionate about the Red Sox, how nice that your family shares that with you. Can't wait to read more about your 'Red Sox Addiction'.
What wonderful memories you have left me. As I heard once in one of your favorite movies, "Don't forget where you came from"... please keep sharing all your sox stories! I love them!
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