Editor’s note: Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912. NESN.com will be celebrating Fenway’s 100-year anniversary with unique content from now until April 20, 2012.
Tom Yawkey took over ownership of the Red Sox in 1933, and soon after put in place renovations to construct Fenway Park's most defining feature — the Green Monster.
Yawkey demolished the 10-foot embankment in left field known as Duffy's Cliff and began construction on the new 36-foot tall outfield wall. This was part of a wide-scale remodeling process that also included the upgrading of bleachers and concourses.
The Red Sox were undergoing a transformation on the field as well. Attempting to free itself from its subpar performance throughout the 1920s, the team gave its lineup a full facelift. By the end of 1933, not a single Boston player remained from the 1931 roster.
The team was almost wiped out entirely, however, when the team's train crashed on the night of April 2, 1933. Two were killed in the accident, but none of the players sustained serious injury.
The Sox struggled on the field again in 1933, limping to seventh place with a 63-86 record, but after the season fans were able to watch the Boston Redskins football team play their inaugural year at Fenway, going 4-2 in six home games.
For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.
