Fenway Park Opens Outfield Grandstands in 1928, While Red Sox Continue 1920s Woes

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.

Another year, another last place finish. Despite Ed Morris' 19-win season, the team's first seven-game winning streak in a decade and an increase in attendance, the Red Sox still finished the 1928 season with the league's worst record for the fourth straight year.

The Sox' string of unlucky breaks weren't limited to just the field, either. A referendum was passed on Nov. 6 that finally permitted baseball to be played on Sundays — provided the ballpark was more than 1,000 feet from a house of worship. Fenway, unfortunately, was not, and the Sox were forced to play their Sunday games at the Boston Braves' park. 

While there was no playoff baseball at Fenway yet again in 1928, that didn't stop the facility from remaining active in the fall. The park continued to host football, including several Boston College games, and it added wooden bleachers along the right-field foul line to accomodate the higher total of spectators. High school and American Legion baseball was also played at Fenway Park in 1928, along with a soccer match in June that drew 10,000 fans. 

For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.