It’s the 100^th anniversary of Fenway Park. Honestly, I think the place should have been demolished a few years ago. The Kingdome had a shorter life span and you could see 100% of the field from a 100% of the seats. I will admit that the new ownership has done a great job of making the old ball yard a much better experience then in the days were the ushers were surely at best. It’s far more fan friendly and at least you have the feeling the appreciate your business.

The overall park improvements have created a nicer looking park and some better sight lines for viewing the game. I’m not fond of this ownership group but they took the old ballyard did some impressive stuff to it. They put a lot of effort and time into planning and developing it. It’s far better than it was.

I thought I would share some of my favorite Fenway memories as I look forward to seeing the celebration today.  There is no doubt in my mind that the PR conscious Red Sox will do a great job with this celebration they always do.

My first trip to Fenway was in 1968 it was a neighbor had an extra ticket and the Sox played the Oakland Athletics. The newly moved Athletics I even remember the score it was 4-3, I don’t remember much about the game other than 7 people went in a Volkswagon Beattle try that today.

The first game my dad ever took me to was I sold 100 candy bars for Little league so we got Sox tickets for selling that many . The Sox played the Washington Senators and I was amazed on how big Frank Howard was and Ted Williams was the Senators Manager.  All favorites were in that game Mike Andrews and Rico Petrocelli, Yaz, and Reggie Smith, Dad and I left early we told one of the coaches who failed to tell the league president . They had a search party looking for us. Finally the guy remembered to tell them.

Dad remembered I complained about not seeing well in the Grandstand Seats. He got Tickets through work the next time against my favorite out of market team the Detriot Tigers, These were second row seats at the Red Sox on deck circle. I got to see a few of my favorite Tigers Al Kaline, Bill Freehan, and Norm Cash. Dad took the kid across the street Joe he was about 3 years older his dad passed in an industrial accident. He took us out to breakfast, showed us a bunch of stuff in Boston, took as onto a construction site that he was running except the Security Guard didn’t know he was the boss and kicked us out. Some how I think Dad took care of that on Monday. He even took us out to dinner to the North End afterwards I remember getting Ravoli and thinking the sauce wasn’t as good as mom’s. This was my first real memories of the Park the seats were gray not red and the grass was the greenest I ever saw. We got there early for BP and I was amused at the guy on the ladder pick up balls on top of the wall. I have seen Joe in many years after graduated from M.I.T and went to the University of Illnois for his Masters and PHD. He settled in Southern California and has done well from himself is the last I heard.

I remember the night Dad got Tickets to see the Sox play the Orioles and we were to meet him in town after work. My mom who always dressed well had brand new sweater that she purchased that day at the old Jordan Marsh department store. She was holding and it slipped between the train and the platform she was made. I remembered that Ray Culp pitched that night and the guy behind us would yell Come on Culpie, I remember Boog Powell being on deck outside the circle and on the grass and some guy yelling come on Powell move around your killing the grass.

I remember being 14 and myself and a bunch friends sat next to the KC Royals wives and we just gave them a bunch crap the whole game. Of course we were 14 and amazed at hot they were as well. That game the Royals took 8-2 lead and the Sox came back and won 11-8. That same year we scored some seats behind the visitor Dugout and they played a scheduled doubled header against the Texas Rangers . Mike Hardgroove talked to us the entire game. In the second game he promised a ball the Sox were getting slaughter in the 3^rd inning. We said hey were leaving he rolled a few balls over the dugout.

I was there when Bird stole the ball the Sox game ended and we sat around a guy with a radio and listened with the ushers and security guys to the end of the Celtics game,

I remebr my wife getting Tickets to the 1999 All Star Game front row Bleacher seats. She was pregnant with our Twins we had a blast that night seeing all the old timers and Ted Williams in his Golf cart. Looking at all my heroes growing up it was great.

I remember my wife got fathers day tickets when my son Michael was three. They played the Astros and the game went 14 innings little Mikey didn’t want to leave until we played catch on the field afterwards. We did and still have the little soft ball they gave us. Mikey is 12 now. I remember taking my Daughter Amanda to a Florida Marlins game fo her first time at Fenway and here dripping Ice Cream all over her pink Sun dress. It was ruined but she looked cute. I remember a marlins Coach seeing her with a marlins hat. She liked the Fish and the teal colored uni’s and giving her a thumbs up.

I remember a few years ago taking Mikey and his Twin brother Danny to there first Red Sox Yankee game there were a bunch of rain delays , They ran out of food I left with the two eight year olds at 11:30 the game finished at 2am.

Last Year I took my little guy Matt and Mikey to a Blue Jays game thinking I had great seats I sat behind a pole. Two nights later I took Danny (The kid is obessed with the Orioles)  we sat in the State Street Paviilion seats it was awesome.

These are some of my favorite memories of Fenway and there were many others and there will be many more. Happy Birthday old girl you survived and  will survive another 100 because that’s ho long it will take the City of Boston to approve it and find space.