My First Foray Into Fenway
"America's Most Beloved Ballpark."
Fenway Park truly is that, and so much more. I finally paid my first visit this past Sunday. It was, needless to say, amazing. My first Major League Baseball game, and I picked the perfect day (in my opinion).
At first, I was a bit disappointed that it would not be Jon Lester but Paul Byrd who would face Halladay. But Byrd made up for that with a great outing (which we can apparently attribute to the Georgia Roadrunners).
My dad and I missed batting practice because staying with Chinese friends always leads to the inevitable - neverending mealtimes in which my plate gets refilled an infinite number of times, no matter how loudly I announce the fact that I am stuffed to the brim. But that's okay - there's always next time. And there will be a next time, even if I have to wait until I'm done with college for that. (My mom hates the fact that I love baseball, so it really might come to that.)
The first player that I saw was Youkilis, taking some practice swings in the field. Then there was Big Papi, joking with a Blue Jays player near second base. I settled down in my seat (which, I am proud to say, I did not leave for the entirety of the game) and watched the big screen start announcing the lineups, my camera at the ready. Our seats were pretty far from the players (Right Grandstand, Section 6), and the pole that announced our section number just blocked the Pesky Pole, but I was pretty pleased with our position otherwise. I was also pleased when I figured out how to work the manual zoom on my camera, which produced some slightly-grainy shots, but who am I to complain?
The sun made the Green Monster look even more beautiful; I'm sure it is always glorious, but I'm convinced that a day game was a nice choice for my first game. And now, I must confess: I think I'm in love with a wall.
Then, the game started.
Off to a good start; already scored one run off Halladay, and it was only the first inning! For the first four innings, ones went up on the scoreboard on the lower (better) row. Happy times. And Rocco got a Green Monster homerun, which I was lucky enough to snap a shot of. There was a lot of cheering and fist-pumping in our section of the stands.
After those first four runs, the game seemed to settle down a bit, and my memory's not so vivid for those middle innings. I do remember using my camera like a set of binoculars, and arguing balls and strikes from my faraway seat.
I also remember getting super-excited about Jacoby's bunt single, and watching Billy Wagner start warming up in the pen. WHOOOOO WAGNER! I watched him strike out the side (didn't lose his calm after giving up a double), which was pretty great stuff.
In the ninth inning, Saito got two fairly quick outs, but then made me nervous after that, seeming unable to get that last out. I started to think that maybe if I sat down again, the game would end [happily], but of course, everyone else remained standing, and I'm already quite short thank you very much. But Saito got the last out, and we cheered. I really do love that dirty water.
Afterwards, I dragged my dad to the Yawkey Way Store and got an Ellsbury shirt (although I hope I don't get lumped together with the pinkhatters and bandwaggoners who buy his shirts) and a pair of earrings. Damn me for being so frugal. Oh well, gives me even more incentive to go again. As if the team itself isn't enough to make me want to take the eight-hour drive down to Boston.
When we got off the subway and got back to the house we were staying at, I went through my photos and flipped on the television. My mom nagged, "Hey, aren't you satisfied? You already watched the game!" But I kept watching the highlights. Because once can never be enough.
So now I'm back at home in New York, two days later but still on a semi-high from the game. The tickets and $2 program sit right next to my computer, and I've got my photo folder open on the August 30th page. And the little green bumper sticker propped up against my school books says everything for me: "I'd Rather Be On The Green Monstah."
PHOTOS COPYRIGHTED UNDER THE CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE - PLEASE DO NOT USE/ALTER/SELL WITHOUT EXPRESS CONSENT FROM ME.
Fenway Park truly is that, and so much more. I finally paid my first visit this past Sunday. It was, needless to say, amazing. My first Major League Baseball game, and I picked the perfect day (in my opinion).
At first, I was a bit disappointed that it would not be Jon Lester but Paul Byrd who would face Halladay. But Byrd made up for that with a great outing (which we can apparently attribute to the Georgia Roadrunners).
My dad and I missed batting practice because staying with Chinese friends always leads to the inevitable - neverending mealtimes in which my plate gets refilled an infinite number of times, no matter how loudly I announce the fact that I am stuffed to the brim. But that's okay - there's always next time. And there will be a next time, even if I have to wait until I'm done with college for that. (My mom hates the fact that I love baseball, so it really might come to that.)
The first player that I saw was Youkilis, taking some practice swings in the field. Then there was Big Papi, joking with a Blue Jays player near second base. I settled down in my seat (which, I am proud to say, I did not leave for the entirety of the game) and watched the big screen start announcing the lineups, my camera at the ready. Our seats were pretty far from the players (Right Grandstand, Section 6), and the pole that announced our section number just blocked the Pesky Pole, but I was pretty pleased with our position otherwise. I was also pleased when I figured out how to work the manual zoom on my camera, which produced some slightly-grainy shots, but who am I to complain?
The sun made the Green Monster look even more beautiful; I'm sure it is always glorious, but I'm convinced that a day game was a nice choice for my first game. And now, I must confess: I think I'm in love with a wall.
Then, the game started.
Off to a good start; already scored one run off Halladay, and it was only the first inning! For the first four innings, ones went up on the scoreboard on the lower (better) row. Happy times. And Rocco got a Green Monster homerun, which I was lucky enough to snap a shot of. There was a lot of cheering and fist-pumping in our section of the stands.
After those first four runs, the game seemed to settle down a bit, and my memory's not so vivid for those middle innings. I do remember using my camera like a set of binoculars, and arguing balls and strikes from my faraway seat.
I also remember getting super-excited about Jacoby's bunt single, and watching Billy Wagner start warming up in the pen. WHOOOOO WAGNER! I watched him strike out the side (didn't lose his calm after giving up a double), which was pretty great stuff.
In the ninth inning, Saito got two fairly quick outs, but then made me nervous after that, seeming unable to get that last out. I started to think that maybe if I sat down again, the game would end [happily], but of course, everyone else remained standing, and I'm already quite short thank you very much. But Saito got the last out, and we cheered. I really do love that dirty water.
Afterwards, I dragged my dad to the Yawkey Way Store and got an Ellsbury shirt (although I hope I don't get lumped together with the pinkhatters and bandwaggoners who buy his shirts) and a pair of earrings. Damn me for being so frugal. Oh well, gives me even more incentive to go again. As if the team itself isn't enough to make me want to take the eight-hour drive down to Boston.
When we got off the subway and got back to the house we were staying at, I went through my photos and flipped on the television. My mom nagged, "Hey, aren't you satisfied? You already watched the game!" But I kept watching the highlights. Because once can never be enough.
So now I'm back at home in New York, two days later but still on a semi-high from the game. The tickets and $2 program sit right next to my computer, and I've got my photo folder open on the August 30th page. And the little green bumper sticker propped up against my school books says everything for me: "I'd Rather Be On The Green Monstah."
PHOTOS COPYRIGHTED UNDER THE CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE - PLEASE DO NOT USE/ALTER/SELL WITHOUT EXPRESS CONSENT FROM ME.