Checking An Item Off The Bucket List: I Got Red Sox Opening Day Tickets

[AverageJoesGym]

A couple of weeks ago one of the daily emails from redsox.com had a link to try and win opening day tickets. I entered the contest and a secondary contest where I was entered in a drawing to be allowed to buy either opening day tickets or tickets to a Yankees game. I didn't win the free tickets but I was selected in secondary drawing and was able to buy tickets to one of the games. As much as I'd like to watch a Red Sox/Yankees game in person I just couldn't turn down a chance to be at Fenway for the home opener. You could only buy tickets to one game. Do you think I made the right choice?

[Jumper_Dad]

Yes you did, Congrats.

 

Who's the home opener against?

[Clyde]

First time in Fenway?

[ggclfan]

I have seen two games in Fenway. One MANY years ago when Yaz hit his 400th homerun. It was a big deal at the time. Then I went about 10 years ago with my family on vacation. You will love Fenway. The Green Monster looks closer to home plate in person than on TV. It is definitely a bucket list kind of experience...

[Clyde]

I have seen two games in Fenway. One MANY years ago when Yaz hit his 400th homerun. It was a big deal at the time. Then I went about 10 years ago with my family on vacation. You will love Fenway. The Green Monster looks closer to home plate in person than on TV. It is definitely a bucket list kind of experience...

 

The first thing that jumped out at me when in the stadium was how close everything felt especially the Monster.

[spindoc]

The first thing that jumped out at me when in the stadium was how close everything felt especially the Monster.

I agree. And I thought the steps were really steep. Felt like I was gonna face plant when I headed down them. And I hadn't been drinking. And the monster looks way bigger on TV.

 

Man, that's cool AJG. Hope you have a blast.

[AverageJoesGym]

Yes you did, Congrats.

 

Who's the home opener against?

 

They play the Washington Nationals.

[AverageJoesGym]

First time in Fenway?

 

I've been a Red Sox fan for a long time and I've watched them play at several different stadiums but this will be only my second game at Fenway Park. The first one was way back in July of 1986, Oil Can Boyd beat the A's 8-7 to pick up his 11th win of the season before the All-Star break. Canseco homered for the A's. Can got left off the AL All-Star team and disappeared for a couple of days on a cocaine bender shortly after.

 

The layout of the park is totally different now so it will be like a first visit in a lot of ways.

[ggclfan]

I've been a Red Sox fan for a long time and I've watched them play at several different stadiums but this will be only my second game at Fenway Park. The first one was way back in July of 1986, Oil Can Boyd beat the A's 8-7 to pick up his 11th win of the season before the All-Star break. Canseco homered for the A's. Can got left off the AL All-Star team and disappeared for a couple of days on a cocaine bender shortly after.

 

The layout of the park is totally different now so it will be like a first visit in a lot of ways.

 

In 1986 (I think that was the year), a buddy (Yankee fan) and me (Red Sox fan) went to a three game Red Sox-Yankee series in Yankee stadium (Friday night and Saturday and Sunday day games). On Friday night, Bruce Hurst beat the Yankees. We went to batting practice and I was in left field. When Oil Can Boyd caught a fly ball, I yelled to him to throw it to me - he did! So cool. I gave the ball to a little kid near us but he was really cool.

 

On Saturday, Jim Rice (playing left field), chased a foul ball all the way to the stands and fell in. A fan stole his hat and he went into the stands chasing him. It was really neat as the Yankee fans were going nuts about it. On Sunday, in the first inning, Rice came up to bat and the fans were booing him unmercifully because of the incident the day before. I said to my buddy how cool it would be if he hit a home run to shut them up. Next pitch...he did! It took him about 20 minutes to round the bases - he was just soaking it all in. Easily the best "at the park" baseball experience of my life. Well check that...I was at game 6 when the Reds clinched the National League pennant in 1990 against the Pirates...that was really good too.

[AverageJoesGym]

They got here today: "][/url]

[gchs_uk9]

That's awesome man! You'll have a great time.

[Clyde]

They got here today: "][/url]

 

Where are you staying?

[TTS_JF]

Good for you, have a great time.

 

I love all the Oil Can Boyd references in this post.

[AverageJoesGym]

Where are you staying?

 

I'm not sure yet. I travel all the time with work and usually stay in Hilton properties. I've got around 800,000 points so it will probably be a Hilton property. We stayed at a Doubletree when we went up there a couple of years back to watch the Dropkick Murphys on St. Patrick's Day.

[ColonelCrazy]

That's awesome AJG, congrats. Sounds like a great time, and should be a good game against Washington.