Quote: When I found out I was going back to Rhode Island for my Nana''s memorial service this month, I thought I better enjoy myself there, too, and catch a PawSox baseball game since I am a die-hard fan of the Boston Red Sox and its AAA affiliate in Pawtucket. When I went on-line to get tickets, I was so sad that the PawSox would be out of town during my visit to Rhode Island.

But my family wanted some souvenirs from the PawSox Souvenir Shop, like T-shirts for Mom and Dad and a Boston Red Sox hat for my sister Erika, who wanted a hat ever since she saw Mom''s and my hats in our house in Idaho.

The PawSox Souvenir Shop is located inside McCoy Stadium on the left front entrance. There are signs directing you to the right place in the parking lot. It is a small shop, but there is a great selection of PawSox T-shirts, hats, memorabilia, stuffed replicas of the PawSox mascot -- a polar bear, etc. There are also books and small selection of Boston Red Sox memorabilia. Prices for T-shirts range from $10 for clearance table shirts to $16.50 for many PawSox T-shirts. The Boston Red Sox t-shirts memorabilia is a little more expensive than the PawSox stuff, but worth looking at. You can order more Boston souvenirs on their website.

When I entered the PawSox Souvenir Shop, there was a life-size cardboard cutout of New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter at the door. I offered to dispose of it with a match since the Yankees are the Red Sox''s most hated rival. The cashier laughed. I don''t know why there wasn''t a cutout of Nomar Garciaparra to greet me at the door instead of Derek Jeter.

I bought 3 T-shirts for me and my family, along with a Boston Red Sox Cap for my sister ($18). I even bought a book about baseball''s longest game, a 33-inning marathon between the PawSox and the Rochester Red Wings in April 1981. I spent a good chunk of change on my family in the shop, but it was worth it because we can''t get many Red Sox souvenirs here in Idaho.

The Paw Sox Souvenir Shop is open Monday-Friday from 9-5 and on Saturdays from 10-4. You can also order merchandise on line on the PawSox website.

From journals Take Me Out to the Ballgame, McCoy Stadium