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.
Despite falling below .500 for the first time in three years, 1936 was a significant year on Yawkey Way.
Boston Red Sox General Manager Eddie Collins signed future Hall-of-Famer Ted Williams, as well as Bobby Doerr, in an attempt to revamp Boston’s development of homegrown talent.
Slugger Jimmie Foxx, acquired from the Philadelphia Athletics in December of 1935, led Boston with 41 home runs and 143 RBIs, a franchise record at the time. Despite Foxx’s offense, the Sox finished second-to-last in offense.
Before the start of the ’36 season, a 23-foot net was set up behind the left field wall to protect pedestrians and property on Lansdowne Street. The ladder that remains on the Green Monster today was used to retrieve balls that went into the net.
Also in ’36, beer became available again at Fenway Park. Even though prohibition had been repealed three years earlier, regulations and licensing were left up to individual states. But by 1936, people could once again buy a beer at Fenway.
For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.
