BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Nancy Henderson, widow of former Boston Red Sox player Dave Henderson, throws out a ceremonial first pitch during a 1986 20-year team reunion before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nancy Henderson
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Former Boston Red Sox player Wade Boggs looks on as the National Anthem is played during a 1986 20-year team reunion ceremony before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wade Boggs
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Former Boston Red Sox player Wade Boggs is introduced during a 1986 20-year team reunion before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wade Boggs
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Members of the 1986 Boston Red Sox are introduced during a 1986 20-year team reunion ceremony before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Former Boston Red Sox player Bill Buckner is introduced during a 1986 20-year team reunion before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bill Buckner
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox stands alongside members of the 1986 Boston Red Sox during a 1986 team 20-year reunion ceremony before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Ryan Hanigan #10 of the Boston Red Sox chases down a passed ball during the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan Hanigan
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox hits a solo home run during the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Xander Bogaerts
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Xander Bogaerts
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Xander Bogaerts
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox high fives teammates after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Xander Bogaerts
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Jackie Bradley Jr. #5 of the Boston Red Sox hits a single during the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, extended his hitting streak to 29 straight games. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jackie Bradley Jr.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Jackie Bradley Jr. #5 of the Boston Red Sox hits a single during the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, extended his hitting streak to 29 straight games. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jackie Bradley Jr.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Hanley Ramirez #13 of the Boston Red Sox slides and evades the tag of Tony Wolters #14 of the Colorado Rockies and scores during the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hanley Ramirez; Tony Wolters
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: The sun sets during a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Steven Wright #35 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after throwing a ball to first base during the sixth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Steven Wright
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox tags out Carlos Gonzalez #5 as he slides into second base attempting to reach safely on a double during the eighth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Xander Bogaerts; Carlos Gonzalez
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: The finger of Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox is shown following an injury during the eighth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Xander Bogaerts
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Blake Swihart #23 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting an RBI triple during the fourth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Blake Swihart
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: Mookie Betts #50 and Jackie Bradley Jr. #25 of the Boston Red Sox high five teammates following a victory against the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mookie Betts; Jackie Bradley Jr.
Fenway Park welcomed back the 1986 Boston Red Sox team for a special 20-year reunion celebration yesterday. There were some neat moments having this historic team back together to relive their American League pennant winning season.
The current Red Sox team also came up big with another win against the Rockies.
“Fighter jets fly over Fenway Park during the 100th Year Anniversary ceremony Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Former Boston Red Sox left fielder and first baseman Carl Yastrzemski salutes the crowd after being introduced during Fenway Park’s 100th Year Annivesary ceremony Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona salutes the crowd after being introduced during Fenway Park’s 100th Year Anniversary ceremony Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Former Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra salutes the crowd after being introduced during Fenway Park’s 100th Year Anniversary ceremony Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Former Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner salutes the crowd after being introduced during Fenway Park’s 100th Year Anniversary ceremony Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Former Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Tim Wakefield escort Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr through the infield after being introduced during Fenway Park’s 100th Year Anniversary ceremony Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Former Boston Red Sox first baseman Mo Vaughn greets other alumni after being introduced during Fenway Park’s 100th Year Anniversary ceremony Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Boston Red Sox alumni salute the crowd after being introduced during Fenway Park’s 100th Year Anniversary ceremony Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Former Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar and former pitcher Pedro Martinez lead the crowd in a toast to break the record for World’s Largest Toast during Fenway Park’s 100th Year Anniversary ceremony Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buccholz throws the first pitch of the Fenway Park 100th Year Anniversary game against the New York Yankees Friday, April 20, 2012.”“Shadows creep across the Green Monster at Fenway Park during the 100th year Anniversary game against the New York Yankees Friday, April 20, 2012.”
Last Friday, Fenway Park celebrated it’s 100th Anniversary with an elaborate pre-game ceremony followed by a game against the New York Yankees. The game itself was quite anticlimactic, ending in a pretty bad loss for the Red Sox, but that was definitely overshadowed by the magnitude of the milestone this ballpark had reached.
I was honored to be a small part of the day, and I was thrilled to witness this important moment in baseball history. Johnny Pesky, Carl Yastrzemski, Bobby Doerr, Jim Rice, Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield, and Terry Francona were just a few of the over 200 Boston Red Sox alumni from all generations that were on hand to celebrate at Fenway. What a sight.
I shot the pre-game ceremony from the first base photo pit, and had a blast. It’s easily one of my best memories from my time working in baseball.
And as chaotic and busy as the day was leading up to the ceremony, I learned a lot about the logistics of shooting big-time events like these. There’s lots of planning that goes into organizing a huge corral of pro photographers on hand, and being part of that planning process was a valuable experience for me.
There’s so much more I could say, but I think I’ll let the images do the talking. Click the photos to enlarge, if you’d like! And, check the Boston Red Sox Facebook Page to view their Timeline cover photo shot by yours truly.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this milestone, the ceremony, the recent Red Sox performance, these photos, or anything else!