The Red Sox swept the Mariners last month in Seattle. I saw it—live!
A friend of mine who used to live in Amherst, had emailed me in May, saying, "Any way I can tempt you to take a trip out here? The Red Sox are here in July and I have tickets for the games."
It didn't take me long to work out flights and to reply, "Yes." I had never seen the Sox except at Fenway Park.
There were two night games on Monday and Tuesday and a day game on Wednesday. The Wednesday game went 12 innings.
I knew Safeco Field would be filled with Boston fans. I just hadn't figured on seeing as many Red Sox hats and shirts on people all over Seattle. There is a "Seattle Team Shop" between Safeco and Quest, the football stadium. They had two temporary tents with Bs on them set up outside the store with Red Sox items for sale.
Walking around Seattle, most people wearing Boston paraphernalia acknowledged each other. Wearing Sox gear also generated conversations. A woman stopped me waiting to cross the street to tell me she teaches at Keene State.
A couple from Connecticut, now living in Utah, told us they flew out for the games. I guess you have to fly somewhere to see a baseball game if you live in Utah. On Monday morning we passed a family outside a big hotel downtown. A young boy with a Sox shirt had a baseball in his hand. He was waiting for the team bus to pull up.
Inside the park there was a family with two kids and a sign saying, "Hadley, MA (heart) The Sox." Things were hitting closer to home. Then it got real close. A woman with her young son stopped us on the street to ask where we were from. She said that she was from Rhode Island and that they had driven out to Seattle catching games along the way.
I told her I'm from near Springfield. She said her brother used to work in Springfield. He was on the radio. I told her I was on the radio in Springfield but it was a long time ago. She said her brother is Ray McNally. I worked with him over 30 years ago.
That wasn't that. A minute or two later, after I told her, "Say hi to Ray," her son caught up to me and tapped me on the shoulder. He said, "My mother just called my uncle and he remembers you. He wants to talk to you." That's a cell phone for you.
Safeco is a great walk-around ballpark. Ron bought $10 bleacher seats back in March. They raise the price for the Red Sox. They usually sell for $7. We never went to our seats because there is so much good standing room. You can be in the outfield, way up high or behind the bullpens. The ushers checking tickets are very friendly. As long as you're behind the yellow lines and not blocking an aisle, it's OK.
Only a chain link fence separates the fans from the bullpens. While Sox reliever Jonathan Papelbon was stretching, a little girl kept yelling, "Do your dance, Papelbon!" He tried his best to ignore her but she was relentless. He finally turned to her and shook his head. We went from ground level there to a standing room spot where we were looking down on NESN broadcaster Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy.
It's amazing to be clear across the country and hear the chorus of Y-o-u-u-u-k! when Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis comes up to bat. Of course, the Mariners' fans tried to turn it into a B-o-o! Vain attempt.
On one concourse there is a mural of fans anticipating the ball coming to them in the outfield. There are handles on the wall along with gloves with balls glued into them on chains. You can have a friend take a picture of you making what looks like a spectacular catch.
Pyramid Brewery is right across the street from Safeco. There is a fenced-in area outside where you can swill a few before the games. On Monday they passed out free chicken wings. There was also a chicken wing eating contest. When that got to the second round, we had seen enough.
Although the seats were cheap, it wasn't so for a good beer. Snoqualmie IPA goes for $8.50 a pint. There was a woman walking around wearing an "Alcohol Enforcement" jacket. I asked her if it was her job to make sure we were drinking enough. She said, "At $8.50 a pint, we've got to keep you drinking.""If the Sox ever need some help in the outfield, the author is rested and ready.
