Red Sox: Fenway Park
Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona remembers walking out on the field for the 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park.
Buster Olney and Karl Ravech reflect on the Fenway celebration and take a look at what ails the Red Sox.
Baseball Tonight's Karl Ravech catches up with Pedro Martinez after the 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park.
Pedro says the day stirred up mixed emotions and a flood of memories, and that seeing all of the other great Red Sox players made him feel "so privileged" to have been part of the 2004 world champion team.
Pedro also talks about the satisfaction of beating the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS, and what that comeback victory meant to Boston. Good stuff.
Hurst brings attention to teen suicide
April, 20, 2012
Apr 20
9:07
PM ET
By Steven Krasner | ESPNBoston.com
BOSTON -- Former Red Sox left-hander Bruce Hurst was wearing a purple band on his wrist to help promote the Will-To-Live Foundation.
The nonprofit foundation was started by former Red Sox pitcher John Trautwein (1988) in memory of his son, Will, who committed suicide almost two years ago. Teen suicides have been rising at an alarming rate, and the foundation’s mission is to make sure that parents and teens aren’t afraid to say, “I love you, man,” as stated on its website.
Hurst said that Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who was a teammate of Trautwein’s at Northwestern, also was wearing a band.
For more information, the foundation's website is www.will-to-live.org.
The nonprofit foundation was started by former Red Sox pitcher John Trautwein (1988) in memory of his son, Will, who committed suicide almost two years ago. Teen suicides have been rising at an alarming rate, and the foundation’s mission is to make sure that parents and teens aren’t afraid to say, “I love you, man,” as stated on its website.
Hurst said that Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who was a teammate of Trautwein’s at Northwestern, also was wearing a band.
For more information, the foundation's website is www.will-to-live.org.
Check out some photos from today's 100 anniversary celebration at Fenway Park (we'll add more pictures throughout the day):
John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe/Getty ImagesRed Sox legends Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr were helped out to the infield by recent Sox retirees Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield. David Ortiz accompanied them.
Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
Elsa/Getty Images
John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe/Getty ImagesRed Sox legends Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr were helped out to the infield by recent Sox retirees Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield. David Ortiz accompanied them.
Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
AP Photo/Elise Amendola
Elsa/Getty Images
John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe/Getty ImagesListen to four generations of Red Sox fans as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. They describe every nook, cranny and memorable moment that make Fenway great.
Valentine offers some thoughts on Fenway
April, 20, 2012
Apr 20
12:46
PM ET
By Steven Krasner | ESPNBoston.com
BOSTON -- Bobby Valentine shared some of his feelings about the historical aspects of the afternoon. He clearly has an appreciation for Fenway Park, especially after seeing more than 50,000 fans show up for an Open House on Thursday, not for the autographs or photographs of players that were available, but for the ballpark itself.
“This ballpark has created as many memories for the people in this area and around the world as any venue in the world,” said Valentine. “This game will make memories for me and everyone else here and I’m looking forward to that.
“I thought (Thursday) was amazing. I understood (the value of the park’s history). It was an incredible experience. There were 10s of thousands of people here. I have over 20 of my friends drive up here, to be on the field, to walk up to the scoreboard and see it up close and person. It was for the park. That was pretty cool,” said Valentine, a native of Stamford, CT.
“The park here has at least a life of its own. A magic to it. It’s the baseball land of Oz. People dream about this place,” said Valentine. “When I came here in the wintertime there was an ice skating rink on the field and it was still a wonderful place to be, not like 20-30 years ago when it was just an old building on the corner. It’s a credit to a lot of people’s hard work.”
The manager had an opportunity to see some former players who were at the park on Thursday. He said he didn’t recognize all of them, but that he was sure they recognized him.
“They had an advantage on me if they went to the post office and saw the Most Wanted poster of me. That made it easier for them,” joked Valentine, who has been embattled early in his first year as Sox manager with the team off to a 4-8 start.
“This ballpark has created as many memories for the people in this area and around the world as any venue in the world,” said Valentine. “This game will make memories for me and everyone else here and I’m looking forward to that.
“I thought (Thursday) was amazing. I understood (the value of the park’s history). It was an incredible experience. There were 10s of thousands of people here. I have over 20 of my friends drive up here, to be on the field, to walk up to the scoreboard and see it up close and person. It was for the park. That was pretty cool,” said Valentine, a native of Stamford, CT.
“The park here has at least a life of its own. A magic to it. It’s the baseball land of Oz. People dream about this place,” said Valentine. “When I came here in the wintertime there was an ice skating rink on the field and it was still a wonderful place to be, not like 20-30 years ago when it was just an old building on the corner. It’s a credit to a lot of people’s hard work.”
The manager had an opportunity to see some former players who were at the park on Thursday. He said he didn’t recognize all of them, but that he was sure they recognized him.
“They had an advantage on me if they went to the post office and saw the Most Wanted poster of me. That made it easier for them,” joked Valentine, who has been embattled early in his first year as Sox manager with the team off to a 4-8 start.
Karl Ravech sets the scene at Fenway Park as the Red Sox prepare to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first game played on April 20, 1912.
In this edition of State of the Nation, ESPNBoston's Gordon Edes celebrates Fenway's 100th birthday while previewing the Red Sox's series with the Yankees.
We take a look back at the 1999 All-Star Game, which ranks at the top of Jackie MacMullan's Fenway Park memories.
Pedro Martinez was at the height of his powers, fanning the side in the first inning and notching K's on 5 of the 6 batters he faced in an electrifying performance in front of the home crowd.








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