Major League Baseball was inundated with the construction of several concrete monoliths in the 1960s and 70s. These massive structures replaced the old playpens in which many teams used to play. Very few of these new stadiums had personality or character or charm, words often associated with ballyards when they really strike a chord with fans.
The new parks that replaced many of the cookie-cutter bunkers are great, but they, too, lack something. Sure, there are all the amenities and great sight lines and every kind of cuisine and a concourse, but even the modern retro parks are plentiful enough to lack distinction. They all begin to run together.
What makes a ballpark a place worth visiting is its uniqueness. And no park has the quirks and one-of-a-kind features like Fenway Park. It is the most unique stadium in the game today, and one of three reasons that make watching a game at Fenway a better experience than its cousin in Chicago, Wrigley Field.
There's the bullpens, the Pesky Pole, the triangle in center field, the red seat, the bleachers, the Citgo sign, the cramped dugouts and, of course, the Green Monster. They are all part of the package, and all seem to be within an arm's reach in a place that can feel as cozy as your living room.
Because of the presence of so many of these quirks, an actual game at Fenway is unlike any other. The dimensions always come into play. Shots into the triangle can have several outcomes, from an inside-the-park homer to a highlight-reel catch to an outfielder with a crushed face.
There's also the awkward hops off the Monster, awkward wind patterns and balls that dribble along the curved wall in right, often eluding the grasp of a right fielder that is forced to chase it like a little boy after a ball rolling into the street.
But this time, instead of his mom yelling for him to stop, 38,000 strong are shrieking. And that's another factor in what makes Fenway unique. With what will soon be 700 straight sellouts, the fans are as much a part of the action as any in all of sports. Not only are they right on you, but they are vocal, passionate and educated.
Victor Martinez, who spent over a year in a Red Sox uniform, recently was asked what made his time in Boston unique.
"They make you bring your A-game every day," Martinez said of the fans.
Of course, the fans continue to come in droves not only because the club remains competitive on an annual basis, but also because of how the park has changed — all for the better — in recent years. Therein lies reason No. 3 for Fenway's supremacy over its partner in the Midwest.
While both Fenway and Wrigley retain their historic charm, the Red Sox ownership group committed well over $200 million in a 10-year restoration initiative that was finished prior to this season. The upgrades have done away with all the old-school issues such as cramped ramp ways, broken seats and tight bathrooms next to concession lines as long as the first-base line.
Fenway Park is radically different than when the Cubs last played here in 1918. Fenway also has changed remarkably since the mid-1990s. Yet, the vibe prevalent in bygone days persists. One can close their eyes and still envision Wade Boggs doubling off the Monster or Ted Williams going deep or Babe Ruth throwing a complete game.
Fenway remains baseball at its most authentic.
Wrigley is undergoing a similar process, but its renovations have just begun. Five years from now, Wrigley may be on par with Fenway in terms of amenities and comfort. But today, Fenway is better.
