Fenway Park’s 100th Birthday Takes Center Stage, But Titanic Tragedy Overshadowed 1912 Opening

It’s all about Fenway Park on Friday afternoon, as the old ballpark celebrates its 100th birthday.

The park’s opening in 1912 was to be a pretty big deal as well, but Fenway didn’t open with the type of fanfare the Red Sox probably wanted or expected.

That’s because the park’s first game came just days after the Titanic sunk in its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. The cruise ship was thought to be invincible, and its demise captured the attention of the entire world, including Boston, forcing Fenway’s opening to take a backseat.