In honor of Fenway Park’s 100th anniversary we took the opportunity to get to know one
of the most famous ballparks in history.-AskMen editorsAs the
crowd parts, I see my opportunity.Walking casually to avoid detection, I make
my way toward the one of the most famous spots in the building. As I approach, I slide a
marker out of my pocket and quickly scrawl my name onto the object’s painted
surface, then raise my camera and take a quick snapshot of my work before disappearing
back into the crowd.Mission accomplished.Until it’s washed
off, or more likely, written over, my name will remain on the right field foul pole at
Fenway Park in Boston. But this isn’t just any foul pole. It’s Pesky’s
Pole, named after Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, who died less than two weeks before my
mid-August visit. It turns out that my clandestine behavior during the signing operation
wasn’t necessary; the rule of signing the pole is that as long as you do so with
love in your heart, it’s not considered vandalism. It’s a good job, too,
because my signature joins thousands of others.
Getting Goosebumps At Fenway
I’ve been a die-hard baseball fan since I was five years old and have wanted to
visit Fenway Park since I saw it on TV in the 1980s. As I grew up, I learned more about
the park’s storied history and couldn’t wait to eventually visit. And what
better time to make the pilgrimage than the park’s 100th anniversary? I spend a few
weeks every summer on baseball-centered road trips and have visited more than 40 different
Big League and Minor League parks since 2010 for The Ballpark Guide, a website I run. This
visit, however, was more than just another baseball game in a new venue. It was a step
back in time.When I walked onto Yawkey Way for the first time, it was hard not
to feel what it might have been like to stand on a dirt road, watching Model T Fords
dropping off passengers there to see a young Babe Ruth pitching for the Red Sox.In an era of stadiums full of shiny chrome and polished glass, Fenway stands out by
giving you the same experience you might have had 60, 80 or even 100 years ago. By the
time I made it out to the seats and took in the ballpark’s familiar sights, I was in
awe. And when a video montage highlighting key moments in Red Sox history began to play on
the park’s video board, I legitimately got goosebumps as I watched clips of Ted
Williams, the greatest left-handed hitter of all, launch home runs into the right-field
bleachers where I stood.Players on visiting teams have occasionally been vocal
about their disdain for playing at Fenway Park. Despite upgrades throughout its history,
the park’s clubhouses and other player-use facilities lack many of the modern
amenities found at newer parks.