My trip to Fenway Park

You might be asking, what does my trip to Fenway Park have to do with New York-Penn League? Answer: There were 24 former NYPL players on the rosters of Boston and Oakland when I visited Fenway on May 16. More on that later.

Since my wife and I were in Michigan visiting family, we flew from Detroit to Boston on May 15. We stayed at the historic Hotel Buckminster on Kenmore Square, just 673 steps from Fenway Park. History buffs will remember that the Black Sox scandal was hatched in room 615 of the Buckminster in 1919. Read Dan Shaughnessy's story from the July 16, 2016, Boston Globe here.

Photo from TripAdvisor.com

We had a nice view of the iconic Citgo sign from the our room (see photo below).

There are several tour options at Fenway Park, including a daily tour and a second tour on gamedays. We went on both of them. The daily tour includes a visit to the pressbox, the 502' Perch and the top of the Green Monster. The gameday tour takes you out on the field before batting practice and a seat on top of the Green Monster during batting practice. I recommend that you take in both tours, but if you only have time for one, go on the daily tour, since you see more of the stadium. A complete schedule of tours is available here.

View from room at Hotel Buckminster

It was a cool evening, 51 degrees at game-time. The Red Sox defeated the Athletics 6-4, before 34,947 fans in 3 hours and 8 minutes. Chris Sale got the win over Trevor Cahill and there were five home runs (Oakland: Semien, Joyce, Olson; Boston: Martinez, Bogaerts). See box score here.

Now back to the game and its ties to the NYPL. Here is a list of former NYPL players who were in uniform at Fenway on May 16.

Boston Red Sox

Brian Johnson, pitcher, #61, Lowell Spinners 2012
Joe Kelly, pitcher, #56, Batavia Muckdogs 2009
Rick Porcello, pitcher #22, Lowell Spinners 2015 (rehab)
Bobby Poyner, pitcher #66, Lowell Spinners 2015 (optioned to Pawtucket Red Sox on 5/24)
Eduardo Rodriguez, pitcher #57, Aberdeen IronBirds 2011
Sandy Leon, catcher #3, Vermont Lake Monsters 2009
Christian Vazquez, catcher #7, Lowell Spinners 2009
Brock Holt, shortstop #12, State College Spikes 2009
Eduardo Nunez, second base #36, Staten Island 2005
Andrew Benintendi, outfielder #16, Lowell Spinners 2015
Mookie Betts, outfielder #50, Lowell Spinners 2011
Jackie Bradley, Jr., outfielder #19, Lowell Spinners 2011
J.D. Martinez, outfielder #28, Tri-City ValleyCats 2009
Hanley Ramirez, first base #13, Lowell Spinners 2002 (since designated for assignment on May 25)

Oakland Athletics

Ryan Dull, pitcher #66, Vermont Lake Monsters 2012
Daniel Gossett, pitcher #48, Vermont Lake Monsters 2014
Daniel Mengden, pitcher #33, Tri-City ValleyCats 2014
Yusmeiro Petit, pitcher #36, Brooklyn Cyclones 2002
Lou Trivino, pitcher #62, Vermont Lake Monsters 2013
Bruce Maxwell, catcher #13, Vermont Lake Monsters 2012
Jed Lowrie, second base #8, Lowell Spinners 2005, 2009 (rehab), 2010 (rehab)
Matt Olson, first base #28, Vermont Lake Monsters 2012
Mark Canha, outfielder #20, Jamestown Jammers 2010
Matt Joyce, outfielder #23, Oneonta Tigers 2005

This was one our best roadtrips. Boston is a great place to visit. In fact, I think I could live there.

Press box from field level

Welcome to Fenway Park!

Teammates

Teammates Plaque

Lego Big Papi

At the 502' Perch

Top of the Green Monster during batting practice

Pre-game party time

Pre-game view from the Press Box

Game time!

Photo Credits: NY-Penn League News and Trip Advisor
 
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