Wednesday night, the Red Sox celebrated the 500th straight sellout
at Fenway Park. They were only the fourth U.S. pro sports team in
history to reach that plateau, and the first not in the NBA. The Sox
honored the 38,196 on hand with thanks and gifts.
“This is really a compliment to our fans,” said Red Sox chairman Tom Werner last night. “Our respect for them has no limit and we really just want to thank them.”
They did that through souvenirs handed out to each fan in
attendance, and giveaways throughout the night. On the field, the team
found an even better way to thank the fans.
They won.
It was Boston’s 23rd home win of the season, a .742 home winning
percentage that is the best in all of baseball. Over the course of the
500 straight sold out games at home, the Sox have gone 327-173, also
the best home record in baseball.
The streak began with a 12-3 win over the Texas Rangers. Pedro Martinez
struck out eight, winning his fourth game of the year on the way to a
14-4 season (and a 2.22 ERA). The top three hitters in the order — Johnny Damon, Todd Walker and Nomar Garciaparra — combined for six hits. David Ortiz, batting fifth behind Manny Ramirez, went 3-for-5 and Jason Varitek (batting ninth) also went 2-for-4.
Big Papi was still finding his way in Boston. May 15 was just his
eighth start of the month and his 22nd of the year (out of 40 games). Jeremy Giambi
was still getting plenty of time at first base. Of course, by the end
of that month, Ortiz was playing every day — Giambi was battling
injuries and Shea Hillenbrand was traded to Arizona.
It cleared the way for Papi to become one of the most feared hitters in
baseball, hitting 31 homers that year and 177 over the next four
seasons. Not coincidentally, the Red Sox would win two World Series in
that stretch.
So it was only fitting that Ortiz was a huge part of the win on a
night the Sox celebrated a sellout milestone, and the fans took a
moment to appreciate all that has happened in Updike’s lyric little
bandbox over the course of the streak. Papi scored a season-high three
runs in the game, and has hit .326 with four homers and 10 RBIs in his
last 13 games. He has raised his average 28 points in that stretch.
The Red Sox have lost three of those games, going 12-3 in their last
15. They sit atop the AL East by three games, matching their longest
lead of the season.
Red Sox ownership (and, yes,
in the interest of full disclosure that ownership group holds an 80
percent stake in my employer, the New England Sports Network) has done
many great things to the ballpark over the past six years. The place
has never looked better, never been cleaner, never felt friendlier.
Much attention has been paid to the little things that make a night at
the ballpark a memorable experience.
More importantly, much attention has been paid to the product on the
field. We have seen the self-proclaimed “Idiots” of 2004 give way to a
new breed of young stars brought up through the “Red Sox Way.” Only
three players – Ortiz, Varitek, and Tim Wakefield – have been here for the entire streak. The biggest of them all has found his groove at the plate once again.
As Don Orsillo might say, “Big Papi’s back. And
he’s back big.” That was the biggest news of all for the sellout crowd
in attendance Wednesday night — and for all the fans who have been part
of this unparalleled baseball love story.
