Sox Announce Plans For Fenway's 100th Anniversary
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Red Sox are ready to celebrate Fenway Park's 100th anniversary in style.
The team launched a series of special events and programs Thursday that will commemorate the ballparks centennial.
The celebration will highlight Fenway Park and Red Sox history over the past one hundred years, commemorating the wide range of sports, music, civic, philanthropic, and community events that Fenway has hosted during its first century.
"It is with great anticipation that we announce the events for Fenway Park's 100th Anniversary celebration," said Principal Owner John Henry. "As we embark on the next century of baseball in one of the great cathedrals of sport, we look forward to joining with our fans to celebrate the rich history and character of this ballpark. We have a saying around here that I'm particularly fond of, and I think it is very well-suited for this special occasion – 'Fenway Park: It never gets old'."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker reports
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"Fenway Park is a jewel of this city and a second home to Red Sox fans," said President/CEO Larry Lucchino. "Fenway's important history and key role require that we celebrate this historic anniversary with great enthusiasm and pride, and we shall."
Fenway Park turns 100 on April 20. The Red Sox will play the Yankees at 3pm that day, the same team and time as opening day at Fenway in 1912.
Here is a list of all the events the team is planning over the next year:
Commemorating America's Most Beloved Ballpark
- Open House at Fenway: To help ensure that as many fans as possible can enjoy Fenway Park during its centennial celebration, the Red Sox will host an Open House on April 19. Fans can enter the ballpark free of charge to view historical artifacts, memorabilia and other displays on the eve of the 100th birthday on April 20. Fans will also have an opportunity to meet various Red Sox Legends and visit parts of the ballpark not normally accessible to fans such as the dugout tunnels and clubhouse.
- Throwback Days: For select games during the 2012 season, the team will be hosting Throwback Days, where both the Red Sox and the opposing team will dress in historic uniforms from previous eras. One of the Throwback Days will take place on May 2, when the team will face the Oakland Athletics and wear 1936 uniforms as a nod to the year when Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx was sold by the then-Philadelphia Athletics to the Boston Red Sox.
Information on additional Throwback Days will be announced closer to the start of the season.
-Commemorative Tickets: Fans attending games at Fenway Park next year can also look forward to a new commemorative ticket design for both single-game and season tickets. The new tickets incorporate a historical black and white photo of the ballpark's Gate A entrance taken in 1912.
- Sharing the History: In an effort to share the rich history and artifacts of Fenway Park with the community, the Red Sox have launched a new initiative entitled, "Fenway Park – A Living Museum," designed to highlight the historical events that have taken place at the ballpark through displays, artifacts and an enhanced tour program.
The Red Sox have been cataloguing artifacts over the past few years to have a complete record of the historical pieces in the club's possession in time for the 100th anniversary. The undertaking included the documentation and preservation of more than 4,000 artifacts including, an extensive historical photo collection, architectural plans and blueprints, baseballs, and ballpark artifacts such as chairs, signs, tickets, lineup cards, bases and championship pennants.
- New Book: The Red Sox and Major League Baseball have produced and printed a 256-page coffee table book Fenway Park: 100 Years that details the life of a place whose history in the sport is unparalleled. The book contains over 300 historical images and tributes from some of the ballpark's biggest admirers, including Doris Kearns Goodwin, Conan O'Brien, George Will, Charles Ogletree, and Bobby Orr.
- "Preserve Fenway" Fund: As a way to help preserve, share and celebrate Fenway Park's rich history, the Red Sox have established the "Preserve Fenway Park Fund," a not-for-profit fund that will serve as a vehicle to support the preservation and display of historic elements and items at Fenway Park. The Fund will also enable fans who would like to make a donation towards the preservation of Fenway Park – through an endowment or contribution of historic memorabilia – to receive a full tax deduction for their gift. Donations to the Fund will be used to make Fenway Park a true living museum through the creation and maintenance of plaques, statues, and display cases to showcase its rich history.
- 100 Acts of Kindness: As a way to highlight and support the important work done by the many charitable institutions throughout New England, the Red Sox will conduct "100 Acts of Kindness" with various not-for-profit organizations during the 100th anniversary season.
The first two Acts of Kindness took place Thursday with the Red Sox donating a copy of the Fenway Park: 100 Years coffee table book to each of the 18 Boston Public Library branches and each of the 125 Boston Public Schools.
Starting next week, the Red Sox will be performing six Acts of Kindness, one in each of the New England States including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island. The December Acts of Kindness include donations of holiday gifts, holiday food baskets, and delivering foods and goods to those in need.
All Acts of Kindness will be conducted by Red Sox ownership, players, alumni and staff. Additional Acts of Kindness will be announced throughout 2012, culminating with 100 Acts by the end of year.
Engaging The Nation: Red Sox fans will have a chance to vote on players from various decades that will create the All-Fenway Team, made up of members of the Red Sox who have played at Fenway Park and best represent its history. Online voting for the All-Fenway team will launch in 2012 on fenwaypark100.com.
- Digital HOF: Through the fenwaypark100.com webpage, Red Sox fans will also have an opportunity to visit the Red Sox Hall of Fame, a digital webpage dedicated to enshrining players and executives who have contributed extensively to the tradition of the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox Hall of Fame page launched today, December 8.
- Share Your Memories: Fans will also be able to share their favorite personal moments in the park by uploading photos that represent their fondest memories at the ballpark. Fans can also continue to share their stories about America's Most Beloved Ballpark on fenwaypark100.com by emailing FenwayPark100@redsox.com.
- Breaking History: The Red Sox are challenging fans to create their own history on April 20 by attempting to break the Guinness Book of World Record for largest toast, using Welch's Sparkling Juice Cocktails, as Red Sox Nation collectively and simultaneously pays tribute to Fenway Park on its 100th anniversary prior to the game.
- Essay Contest: In an effort to involve some of the younger fans, the Red Sox will be conducting Mayor Menino's Fenway Park 100 Essay Contests, a competition among students from the Boston Public Schools to write an essay drawing upon personal experiences, features of the ballpark and its place in the annals of American sports. Students are encouraged to read and refer to the book Fenway Park: 100 Years, a copy of which has been donated by the Boston Red Sox to every Boston Public School. Further details about these contests will be announced in the Spring.
Additional fan ideas for the 100th anniversary celebration are already in the works and will be announced closer to the start of baseball season.
