FENWAY PARK

TEAM ::: BOSTON RED SOX
LOCATION ::: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTES
MY FIRST GAME ::: MAY 19, 1992
OPPONENT ::: SEATTLE MARINERS

RATINGS

BALLFIELD::: B
SCOREBOARD::: B
FOOD:::: D
FACILITIES ::: D
MASCOT::: B
MLB STADIUM RANK ::: 21 OUT OF 28

MY TAKE ON THE PARK

I KNOW, 20 OUT OF 27, HOW CAN THAT BE?? IS THIS FENWAY PARK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?? HOME OF THE GREEN MONSTER, GREAT SIGHTLINES, AN INTIMATE BALLPARK, AND ATMOSPHERE THAT CANNOT BE BUILT INTO THE CAMDEN YARDS OF THE BASEBALL WORLD. WHY IS THIS NOT IN MY TOP 5 PARKS?? BECAUSE IT IS OLD, UNCOMFORTABLE, AND ASIDE FROM A FRESH COAT OF PAINT EVERY FEW YEARS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. IT IS NOT IN MY BOTTOM 5 BECAUSE ASIDE FROM MY COMPLAINTS ABOUT FENWAY, IT DOES HAVE AN UNMISTAKEABLE CHARM.

WHEN GOING TO A GAME AT FENWAY, FORGET ABOUT PARKING, FENWAY IS A NEIGHBORHOOD BALLPARK LIKE WRIGLEY, SO TAKE THE GREEN LINE TO KENMORE SQUARE AND WALK THE THREE BLOCKS. JOIN THE OTHERS IN GETTING TO THE GAME EARLY, LIKE WRIGLEY, OUTSIDE FENWAY COMES ALIVE WITH STREET VENDORS SELLING VARIOUS FOODS AND SOUVENIRS. IT IS A REAL PARTY ATMOSPHERE FOR EVERY GAME, ESPECALLY WHEN THE YANKEES ARE IN TOWN. OF COURSE, THEN IT COULD GET A LITTLE HOSTILE.

ONCE YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THE OUTSIDE FESTIVITIES, LEAVE THE WIDE OPEN SPACES FOR A JOURNEY INTO THE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. THE CORRIDORS ARE DARK AND CROWDED AND THE SEATING AREAS MUST HAVE BEEN DESIGNED BY THE AIRLINES. THERE ISN'T ANY LEGROOM IN THESE ROWS BUT EVERYONE AT THE GAME MUST GET UP AT LEAST ONCE EVERY OTHER INNING FOR SOMETHING.

WHAT COULD THESE PEOPLE BE GETTING UP ALL THE TIME FOR? COULD IT BE THOSE LOUSY HOT DOGS ON THAT BUN THAT IS SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE?? ( AND NOT THE SIDE ) ( WHO DESIGNED THAT BUN ANYWAY?? AND DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO ANYONE ?? ) ASIDE FROM THE HOT DOGS, NOT MUCH IS OFFERED HERE AND IT DOESN'T REALLY TASTE THAT GOOD.

WHAT FENWAY DOES DO RIGHT IS BASEBALL, ONCE YOU SEE THE FIELD AND THAT WALL IN LEFT IT'S REALLY A GREAT SITE. OF COURSE, THE GRASS DOES SHOW THE EFFECTS OF HARSH NEW ENGLAND WINTERS BUT YOU PROBABLY ONLY NOTICE THAT BECAUSE YOU REALLY ARE THAT CLOSE TO THE FIELD. THE MANUALLY OPERATED SCOREBOARD AT THE BASE OF THE GREEN MONSTER IT DOES THE SAME JOB AS THE BOARD IN WRIGLEY, IT JUST ISN'T AS EFFECTIVE. I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A MANUALLY OPERATED BOARD, IS THE LEVEL OF CHARM IN A STADIUM DIRECTLY RELATED TO HOW MUCH A TEAM CAN TORTURE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH HEAVY STEEL NUMBERS?? CAMDEN YARDS HAS AN ELECTRIC BOARD AND THE PLACE IS GREAT.
OUTSIDE OF A LAUDRY LIST OF MISSING MODERN AMENITIES, SO IS FENWAY.