Fenway Park, journey to the Baseball Temple: here where Boston’s heart beats

An all green jewel that holds one hundred and thirty years of history. Legendary companies and impossible comebacks, dramatical moments and broken curses, epic challenges and memorable triumphs. The Boston Fenway Park is not only the oldest and most famous baseball stadium in America, still in use, but an album of indelible memories.
From April 20, 1912, he witnessed the epic of a team loved by an entire city and a people of faithful fans. A real historical monument. If there is a place in the United States that embodies tradition, passion and love for the « national pastime », it is undoubtedly the Fenway Parkthe historic house of Boston Red Soxone of the most iconic stadiums of American sport. When you pass through its five access gates, the wait becomes palpable.

The Red Sox, with an estimated value of almost 5 billion dollars and a payroll of about 198 million dollars for this yearthey are ready to face yet another challenge. Everything revolves around the venerable Fenway, America’s Most Beloved Ballpark. Many of the greatest players in the history of baseball, induced in the Hall of Fame, such as Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, Pedro Martinez, have distinguished themselves on his green mantle. And then there is David Ortiz, the last of the heroes. He transformed the red soxs from Eterni disadvantaged to multiple champions. His shirt n. 34 withdrawn. A road was also dedicated to him, the David Ortiz Drive. From here begins our journey to discover the Boston Fenway Park.

In the heart of Boston, the trip to the Fenway Park

It is at number 4 of Jersey Street, in the Back Bay area, where they teem terraced houses in Victorian -style. Capacity, just over 37,000 spectators. As dimensions, Fenway is today the smallest of the stadiums of the Major League Baseball, the US professional league. But with the largest press tribune of all America. Fenway is much more than a simple stadium. In the United States – and above all in Boston – it is considered a real sanctuary, a place of worship where the fans gather to celebrate their sporting faith. It is no coincidence that it is also known as The Cathedral. The atmosphere is very special. Its walls are sacred and touching the grassy coat is sacrilege. Emblematic one of the final scenes of the film Love at stake (Fever Pitch), in which Drew Barrymore It invades the field and Jimmy Fallon, trepidant, asks her how the grass is and how soft it is, precisely because touching it is absolutely prohibited. In 2012, the American government included Fenway Park in the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical value and the need to be preserved for its cultural importance.

John, Tom and Lebron

John Henry and Tom Werner They are the current owners of the Red Sox, among whose investors there is also Lebron James. They bought the team in 2002 for 380 million dollars and, later, founded the Fenway Sports Group company, through which they also took over the majority share of the Hockey team of the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) and the New England Sports Network. Henry is also the owner of the newspaper Boston Globe and of the Liverpool Football Club.

The Green Monster

Every corner of Fenway tells something, each game is a chapter of a saga that continues to excite and inspire. Although the stadium has undergone several renovations and extensions, it has maintained its original charm intact with over a century of great memories. And woe to those who do
Touch. The fans do not want to change it for anything in the world. And even the Red Sox will never leave it. They would risk being in a new stadium, but empty. Between The main attractions the Green Monsterthe imposing green wall overlooking the left side of the diamond. Also known as The Wall, it is a wooden structure about 11 meters high and 70 long, a singular feature that offers even more charm and unpredictability to the game, just 95 meters from the base house. In addition to the champion, Lansdowne Street extend, the Mass Turnpike and, a little further on, the Charles River, with MIT and Harvard University who skirt the banks. And precisely that large green monster also inspires the official mascot, Wally The Green Monster.

Hot-dog, clams and a hanging vegetable soup

Fenway Park holds a curious and appetizing record: it is the stadium where you enjoy the best Hot-dog. Every year around 1.4 million are consumed, an average of over 20,000 per game. The Fenway Franks are boiled and then grilled, wrapped in slightly buttered sandwiches, seasoned with yellow mustard, chopped onion and sweet green pickles. Among the other gastronomic specialties, two famous Boston dishes also stand out: the creamy Clam Chowder, a clam soup served in overturned helicops, and the delicious lobster roll, a soft sandwich filled with fresh lobster (or alternatively the crab roll with the crab).
Another peculiarity of the stadium is his roof. Hosts the Fenway Farmsa sustainable vegetable garden of 500 square meters that provides fruit, vegetables and aromatic herbs to internal restaurants.

Thirteen films

An authentic film set, Fenway was lent to Hollywood directors for numerous productions. 13 films that chose him as a stage, including The man of dreams with Kevin Costner, Blown Away – explosive madness with Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones, A Civil Action With John Travolta, The Town with Ben Affleck, Moneyball With Brad Pitt e Godzilla – King of the Monsters.

The Red Seat Lone

Place 21, row 37, section 42. In the most remote part of Fenway, in the right corner, in the midst of an infinite expanse of green seats, the Lone Red Seat. It is the only place to sit in a bright red in the stands, located at the exact point where, in June 1946, it landed the longest champion ever made in the stadium (153 meters), beaten by Ted Williamsfor almost 20 years ace of the Red Sox, which also served during the Second World War and the Korean War.

The « curse of the child »

That of «curse of the child»It is one of the most fascinating and mysterious stories that sport has ever known. December 1919: the owner of the Boston Red Sox, Harry Frazee, He sells Babe Ruth to New York Yankees. An unfortunate move that condemned the Bosox, three titles won with the « child », almost a century of failures, while the Yankees began an undisputed domain – since then 27 World Series – feeding even more the heated rivalry between the teams. The Red Sox fans attributed the fault of that negative period to the « curse of the child », a consequence of Frazee’s betrayal. When everything seemed destined to never end, in 2004, the red socks have done something never seen before. They sensationally overturn the semifinals against the Yankees from 0-3 to 4-3 and regain the title. Boston returned champion after 86 years of hell, thus breaking the curse.

The Red Sox Nation

The attachment, energy and overwhelming passion of the Red Sox fans are unique. To demonstrate it, the strip of As many as 794 consecutive games sold out From May 2003 to April 2013 at Fenway. Here, entire generations have experienced unforgettable emotions, creating an indissoluble bond with the team. Each game is an event that combines the Red Sox Nation in a unique atmosphere, transforming the stadium into a symbol of Boston and a piece of living history. The Fenway Park It is easily reachable on foot from the city center, walking through Beacon Street (where there is the famous Cheers bar), Boylston Street or Commonwealth Avenue. Many hours before the game, the surrounding roads are closed. As you get closer, the buzz is salt. There is always a lively and celebration climate. On Lansdowne Street there are important rooms such as the MGM Music Hallthe House of Blues in Boston, the CASK ‘N Flagon and the Game On. The Boston fans live every match with a rare intensity. Competent, passionate and always participating public: it analyzes every play, discusses the choices on the pitch and maintains a deep feeling with the team. Game after game, season after season. Whether you win or get lost, the support of the fans never fails. For them, Fenway Park is an integral part of daily life, at least for 6 months a year. And when the race turns towards the end, halfway through the eighth inning, it is a classic standing to sing Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.

The Tutto manual scored scoreboard

Since its inauguration, the scoring scoreboard of the Fenway posted on the Green Monster is always the same. It remained the only one, all manual, in operation in the Major League baseballtogether with that of the Wrigley Field where the Chicago Cubs play. As the game proceeds, someone must change the numbers. Three employees update the result inside a room that runs along the back. Curiosity: the scoreboard hides the initials of Tom Yawkey (President of the Club for 44 years) and his wife Jean, written vertically in Morse code.
A detail that increases the timeless charm of Fenway. Living a game here is a unique experience, an authentic journey into history. Because there is no other stage in the world like that of Boston.