Mom and I left the shade of the shops and food court, we went up the stairs to walk around ballpark itself. Mom and I had gotten to City of Palms early and were able to see the Red Sox and Twins take batting and fielding practice. City of Palms Park is a smaller park than Fenway and it's more intimate allowing fans more contact with the players and other activities that are going on before the game. Mom and I pose for photos with the ballpark in the background before starting our pre-game adventures.
The Boston Red Sox have the field first for practice, and Mom and I keep our eyes peeled for our favorite players. A familiar figure comes out of the dugout, and I focus on the back of his uniform. It's #33, Jason Varitek, our catcher and captain. "OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN!", I moan. After a rough 2008 at the plate, Varitek was still chosen for the All-Star Team for his defensive prowess. All winter, fans like Mom and I waited with baited breath to see if the Red Sox would re-sign our captain, and come January a collective sigh of relief could be heard throughout Red Sox Nation when he agreed to a one-year contract with an option for the following season.
After seeing Jason, Mom and I keep our eyes open for more players. "There's Jon Lester over there!", I exclaim to Mom. Jon Lester is one of our young left-handed pitching stars who battled Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma from 2006-2007. Last year was Lester's first full year back from cancer treatments, and he stunned all by pitching a no-hitter against Kansas City. Dad was over the day that game was on TV, and he kept channel surfing saying the game was a blowout and not interesting. When I put the game on, it was the 7th inning, and Lester was going strong with his no-hitter. "Blowout my butt!", I said to Dad, "Lester has a no-hitter going on!"
The batting cage is set up at home plate, and several Red Sox are there waiting their turn to take batting practice. Another familiar site is at bat, and I pant in anticipation. It's one of my heroes, David Ortiz. Affectionately known as "Big Papi" throughout the league and Red Sox Nation, Big Papi got me through a horrible time in 2004 after I was assaulted by an ex--boyfriend's son. His heroics during the 2004 ALDS against the Anaheim Angels and in the 2004 ALCS against the hated Yankees were stuff legends are made of, and I have proudly worn his number (#34) jersey and t-shirt with pride since. Mom and I watch Big Papi put on a show by hitting several balls out of the park before letting someone else take a few swats of the bat.
The players on the field are not signing autographs and run into the dugout when they are done fielding and hitting, but people try to get their autographs. Mom and I get a spot near the Boston Red Sox dugout, and the usher tells me it's OK to stand there but not to put anything on the dugout. No problem, I just want to watch my boys practice and be smell the grass on the field and enjoy being oh so close to my Red Sox.
Mom and I look around the field and watch people filing into the park as we are near the dugout and spy an elderly gentleman sitting in the stands dressed in the Red Sox St. Patrick's Day green uniform talking with fans. I hear someone say "Is that Bobby Doerr?", a Red Sox legend and infielder, but Mom says he doesn't travel because of a really bad back. Another glance, and it hits us. "That's Johnny Pesky!" Johnny Pesky came into the league about the same time Ted Williams started to play ball in the late 1930's. Johnny's career was a lot shorter and not as storied as Ted's, but Johnny's legend in Red Sox Nation continued when he stayed with the Red Sox on and off for the next 50+ years as a coach, minor-league manager, and good-luck charm for the team. Up until some lame-butt rule by MLB saying that Johnny Pesky couldn't be in the dugout because he isn't on the official coaching staff, Johnny was sitting in the dugout next to many Red Sox managers and players.
There was a small line waiting to get an autograph and pose for pictures with Johnny Pesky, and Mom and I feel this is too good of an opportunity to pass up and climb up the stairs to the line where Johnny Pesky is. As we get closer to Johnny, we can hear him talking with the fans who are clamoring for his autograph and photo op and see what a charming man he is, talking with the guys and flirting with the women.
Finally it's our turn, and Mom and I get next to Johnny Pesky. I climb over his legs to get to his left side not wanting to jar his bad leg that he broke a few years ago, and Mom sits on his right side. Johnny says, "Hello, Kiddo!" to me and I am thrilled to be called that at my age. Mom tells Johnny he looks great for a man who will be 90 on September 27, 2009, and we chat with the legend for a couple of minute. Johnny asks Mom and me "Which one of these men are your husbands!?", and Mom and I tell him we don't have husbands, and Johnny tells us he's been alone since his wife Ruth died a few years ago, and we tell him we are sorry. Mom and I pose for a couple of photos with Johnny Pesky, but in all of the excitement, I forget to have him autograph our ticket stub. Oh well! Just sitting with Johnny Pesky and taking a picture with him is enough for us, and we leave him smiling and vowing not to wash our Red Sox shirts again (OK, we did wash them afterwards)!
After seeing Red Sox Third Baseman and 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell near the dugout, and other players take batting practice, Mom and I head to our seats on the right field lawn. We forgot our blanket in the trunk of the car thinking that we wouldn't be allowed to have it in the park and have to sit on the grass. It's hot and sunny by noon, and we are grateful for having sunblock on, but no hats. Oh well we can go in the shade when it gets too bad, we say. The Minnesota Twins have taken the field now and are batting and fielding. After one player fields, he stops by the stands to sign autographs. It's Justin Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP and 2008 All Star Game Home Run Derby Champ. From Canada, Morneau is fresh from playing in the World Baseball Classic and back after Canada was eliminated in the first round. I get up to attempt to get an autograph, but the line is long. Poor Justin is suffering from allergies, and I want to tell him to take a Claritin, but it might be a banned substance. I get very close to getting Justin Morneau's autograph, but before I do, he has to return to his dugout to get into his game uniform. Oh well! It's not the end of the world as I return to our seats.
More Red Sox Spring Training game fun to be continued in another entry! Please read and enjoy!