Day 33 – Bandwagon Jumping

Headed to downtown BOS to spend my afternoon. Got off the subway at Downtown Crossing and just started walking trying to keep my bearings. I walked around Boston Common and over to the public garden. I then just started walking around the various streets. I passed a couple different subway stops belonging to the various lines so I figured it would be easy enough to find a subway stop once I was ready to head to Fenway so I wasn’t too concerned about my direction.

Boston is a very nice city, it doesn’t at all seem like a big city. Maybe it was just the streets I was walking but it didn’t have that big city feel to it.

So when it came time to make my way to Fenway I started looking for a subway stop. After 5-10 mins I hadn’t seen one and then as I turn a corner there was Fenway Park in the distance. Apparently, I managed to make my way in the general direction of Fenway so I figured I might as well walk the rest of the way. It ended up only taking me about another 15 mins.

I’m glad the Jays managed to pull out at least one of the games, but all 3 were very exciting nonetheless. I love to watch a pitcher’s duel, but it is frustrating to watch this offence struggle. The crowd really got into the games in the later innings and it was a nice change from Rogers Centre.

It is amazing to see what winning can do for a franchise. Ten years ago Fenway would be half empty, now they are on their way to setting the record for most consecutive sellouts, passing Cleveland who started their streak when they opened what was then called Jacobs Field, and they are continually looking for ways to add more seats. The whole explosion of Red Sox Nation really started once they broke through and finally won. I kind of feel bad for those fans that have been Sox fans their whole lives and suffered through the 86 yrs to see all these other fans just jump on the bandwagon now that they won. Of course, this basically happens in every city, there are always going to be those casual fans who only show up when the team is good. It is just interesting to see how huge it has become for the Red Sox.

I have to say the Boston fans were friendlier than expected. I ended up getting into conversations w/people beside me during all 3 games. And I hardly heard any rude comments at the game or on the subway.