Why Fenway Park is America's Greatest Ballpark
Daniel Palmier Few sports venues have a reputation like Fenway Park. Even if you aren't a Boston Red Sox fan, you have to admire the rich history of Fenway and the amazing moments that have taken place within its confines. There's no question: Fenway Park is one of the best ballparks and top among the Boston attractions. Here are some of the reasons why Fenway is so beloved. 1. It's Historic First opened in 1912, Fenway Park has over a century of history. As the longest-running of all the baseball stadiums in Major League Baseball, Fenway can be seen as a legend, one that is tied to the past while continuing to influence the present and future generations. 2. The Green Monster We're not talking about Red Sox mascots, Wally and Tessie, the Green Monsters (though they do bring great joy to Fenway). We're talking about the 37-foot tall left field wall added by Red Sox original owner, John I. Taylor when the park opened. In 1947, the wall took on a new paint job to become "the Green Monster" as we know it today. 3. Legendary Moments Most ballparks would be lucky to have a couple unforgettable moments. Fenway has scores of them, making it king among the best ballparks. In 1946, legendary Red Sox Ted Williams launched a ball 502 feet, setting a record for distance by a hit in Fenway. Decades later, in 1975, Fenway was host to the World Series, between the Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. In Game Six, the trailing Red Sox had Bernie Cabo go in as a pinch hitter. This brought the game to a tie, while Carlton Fisk's home run gave the Red Sox a victory for the ages. Then,
there's all-time great pitcher Roger Clemens who struck out not five, not 10, but 20 players in a single game at Fenway in 1986, a feat he repeated a decade later. It's moments like these that make Fenway one of the best stadiums. 4. The Structure It isn't just the great moments that make Fenway one of the best stadiums. It's also the beauty of the ballpark itself that makes it stand out amongst baseball stadiums. The 7.5 acre-park is full of charms, from the Green Monster to its long-running tradition of having a manual scoreboard, 5. The Fans Boston would not be the same without Fenway, and Fenway would not be the same without Red Sox fans. When you come to a see a game at Fenway, you'll see sports pride unlike any other. The name for the fanbase, Red Sox Nation, is hardly hyperbole. For fans, pride for the Red Sox is as deep as their pride for their country. As far as Boston attractions go, Fenway is a one-of-a-kind experience. If you are ever in the Boston area, you owe it to yourself to take in a game at Fenway and enjoy the rich history of a fantastic ballpark. Daniel Palmier is a leading Boston CEO, Real Estate Investment Manager, and Founder of UC Funds.