Memories at McCoy Stadium

Opening day in the majors is like nothing else in professional sports. It’s one of the few days all season that every park is jam packed with not only fans, but also optimism about the upcoming season. On opening day, everyone is in first place.

Logo courtesy of MiLB.com

As magical and enjoyable being at the ballpark for opening day can be, getting a ticket to the festivities is about as hard as it gets. This is especially true for opening day at Fenway Park, where securing a ticket to most games is like paying for 50-yard-line seats at the Super Bowl. It will be especially difficult this season, as Fenway celebrates its 100^th year as home of the Sox.

What if I told you there was a way to enjoy the magic of opening day at a fraction of the cost? What if I told you there was a way to enjoy the magic at a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the cost? Well, there is. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to a place where every day is opening day, McCoy Stadium.

McCoy is home to the Pawtucket Red Sox (affectionately called the PawSox by locals), the minor league Triple-A affiliate of the Red Sox.  Located about 46 miles south of Fenway in Pawtucket, RI, McCoy is an ideal spot if you’re solely looking to enjoy a simple game of baseball. The tickets are cheap, the atmosphere is light, and the players are trying to prove night in and night out that they deserve to be playing in the big leagues. McCoy is where the future talents of Fenway can be viewed at a very reduced rate.

But it wasn’t always home to future Sox stars. When McCoy opened for business June 6, 1946, it was home to the Pawtucket Slaters, Class B affiliate of the Boston Braves. The Slaters called McCoy home until 1950.

16 years later, McCoy became home to the Pawtucket Indians, the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The Indians only lasted two years in Pawtucket before moving to Waterbury, Connecticut.

It wasn’t until 1970 that the Red Sox decided to move their minor league team to Pawtucket. It’s where they’ve been since.

Logo courtesy of MiLB.com

One of the most important games in the history of baseball was played at McCoy Stadium on April 18, 1981. The PawSox took on the Rochester Red Wings in what became the longest game in baseball history, stretching two days and 33 innings. Dave Koza drove in the game-winning run for Pawtucket, outlasting Rochester for a 3-2 victory. Future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Wade Boggs both played in this historic game.

Being a native of Rhode Island (and living less then 5 miles from the stadium), I can tell you firsthand how fun a PawSox game can be for a true fan.

First and foremost, 99% of the fans in the stadium don’t care about the outcome whatsoever. Most true baseball fans would probably find that overwhelmingly frustrating. Who wants to watch a game in a stadium full of pink hats?

But in reality, it’s kind of awesome. It makes for a stress free environment, which is unheard of if watching a game at Fenway.

The only thing you find yourself rooting for is the chance to see someone hit for the cycle or to see a game go into extras. When at McCoy, seeing a walk-off homerun, triple play, or successful suicide squeeze is awesome regardless of the team you’re rooting for. Not caring about the game makes everyone appreciate the little things that make baseball so great.

Jacoby Ellsbury, Spring 2007;
Photo courtesy of bostondirtdogs.com

Probably the biggest perk of all is getting to see MLB stars play; whether it’s in a rehab start, a rising star, or a player nearing the end of his career.

I had the pleasure of watching current Red Sox stars Kevin Youkilis, Clay Buchholz, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury all flourish down at McCoy before dominating the diamond at 4 Yawkey Way. Being able to say that I saw these guys kick ass before anyone else feels pretty cool, if you ask me.

I’ve seen a bevy of players making rehab starts down at McCoy. The first notable player I remember watching in Pawtucket was Manny Ramirez on June 25, 2002. It was my 10^th birthday, and my friends and I went to the stadium to watch the prolific slugger up-close and personal. We sat out on the grass in right field, and I decided I was going to heckle Manny until he gave me some sort of reaction. After a good 30 minutes of screaming bloody murder, Manny turned his head and gave me a wink as he trotted back to the dugout at the end of an inning. At that moment in time, my life was complete.

Along with seeing Manny play at McCoy, I’ve also had the pleasure of watching Curt Schilling, David Ortiz, Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek and Carl Crawford all make rehab starts.

I have two distinct experiences from McCoy Stadium that I feel truly define the type of place it can be for a baseball fanatic.

Mid-summer, 2004

Byung-Hyun Kim;
Photo courtesy of Kseattle.com

Before Red Sox Nation had become a national phenomenon, my dad decided to take my brother and I to a game at McCoy. I don’t remember what month it was, but I do remember it being really, really hot that day. Starting on the mound for the PawSox was Byung-Hyun Kim, who is best remembered for his role as the Diamondbacks’ closer during their World Series run in 2001.

Kim was somewhat irrelevant in baseball at this point, but that didn’t stop me from being excited to watch him play. I had always loved his sidearm pitching style, so getting to watch him pitch live was a real treat. Plus, I loved saying his name.

Kim got absolutely rocked that day and came out of the game after only a few innings. Regardless, I was satisfied.

July 3, 2006

Wily Mo Pena;
 Photo courtesy of
AlexForrest.com

My family went to McCoy to watch the PawSox take on their rival, the Columbus Clippers. We were all especially excited for this game because after it was over, there was a fireworks show (McCoy has a fantastic fireworks show every year around July 4). Playing for the PawSox in this game was legendary fan-favorite Wily Mo Pena. My brother and I loved Willy Mo (also because his name was fun to say).

Right around the beginning of the game, Wily Mo hit a foul ball towards our section. Immediately, I knew to just get out of my brother’s way; there was no way he wasn’t getting this ball. Not only did he get the ball, he spilled a woman’s entire glass of red wine all over her in the process. Although he was apologetic, all he really cared about was the fact that he got the Wily Mo foul ball. He still to this day has the ball in his room with the ticket stub.

It just so happens that Wily Mo ended the game on a walk-off homerun to give the PawSox an 8-7 victory, helping to make that night really special.

.....

McCoy Stadium has been an important part of my life. Without it, I would not be the sports fan that I am today. I have been able to grow up watching live, top-notch baseball in a friendly, safe environment (except for the time I was there when the stadium caught on fire in July of 2005). I have been very lucky to have McCoy so close to my home.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like Fenway Park. Everyone needs to watch a game at Fenway, no questions asked. There’s truly nothing else like it. But if you’re looking to enjoy baseball at its purest form and make lifelong memories, McCoy can make that happen.

Make sure you wish McCoy Stadium a happy 66^th birthday on June 6. Sure, Fenway turns 100 on April 20. That’s amazing. But McCoy deserves a little love as well.

1912, 2012...its all the same.

Photo courtesy of the Boston Herald

2011 saw some of the highest expectations a Red Sox team has ever had going into a season. The Sox added arguably the two biggest free agents on the market, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, to an already potent offense. They came into the season with high hopes for a starting rotation anchored by young studs Clay Buchholz and John Lester along with All-Stars Josh Beckett and John Lackey.

High hopes floundered as things got off to a rough start. The Sox finished off April of 2011 with record of 11-14, among the worst in the American League.

But then things started to pick up.

Gonzalez (.338 BA, 27 HR, 117 RBI), David Ortiz (.309 BA, 29 HR, 96 RBI), Jacoby Ellsbury (.321 BA, 32 HR, 105 RBI, 39 SB), and Dustin Pedroia (.305 BA, 21 HR, 91 RBI, 26 SB) helped produce a dominant offensive output; one that would keep them among the best team’s in the majors for the majority of 2011.

The Sox were 83-52 on September 1, tops in the American League. They were 1½ games ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East standings and 9 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL Wild Card.

They then proceeded to go 7-20 in the month of September, finishing the season third in the AL East standings, second for the AL Wild Card, and on the outside looking in come October.

This historic collapse was due in large part to the inconsistencies in the starting rotation down the stretch. Beckett and Lester combined for an abysmal 3-9 record in the month of September, while Lackey was just horrible all season; he finished with his career worst record and ERA (12-12, 6.41 ERA).

And we all know about the problems the Sox were dealing with in the clubhouse; there is no need to rehash those horrible memories.

It’s time for the Sox focus on 2012; or is it?

Maybe the Sox should focus on 1912 and hope that history repeats itself.

This season marks the 100^th Anniversary of not only Fenway Park, but also the often-overlooked 1912 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.

This current Red Sox team shares many similarities with the team that won it all 100 years ago.

Let’s rewind about 101 years, to the spring of 1911…

Left to right: Lewis, Speaker,
Hooper; Photo courtesy of
The Boston Globe

It has been eight, long seasons since the Sox captured their first World Series title in 1903. Sox fans are growing rabid for another World Series title. Expectations are sky-high for the Sox, who are a season away from playing in a brand-new, state of the art ballpark a few blocks over from their current address on Huntington Ave.

It’s now the Sox second season with ”The Golden Outfield:” Tris Speaker, Duffy Lewis, and Harry Hooper (considered by baseball historians as one of the greatest outfields of all-time). There is not a better fielding outfield in the majors right now.

The starters for the Sox, “Smoky Joe” Wood and Eddie Cicotte, (two-men rotations were the norm in Major League Baseball during this time period) come into the season as a great one-two punch. Wood is being brought into a starting role after serving as a reliever in 1910, where he posted a 1.69 ERA. Cicotte looks to continue with his success, as he posted a 15-11 record with a 2.74 ERA.

…now back to real time

The Red Sox underachieved mightily in the 1911 season. They finished fourth in the AL with a record of 78-75, 24 games out of first place.

Both Wood and Cicotte’s ERAs went up from their 1910 totals, with Cicotte’s win and lose totals flip-flopping (11-15).

Despite the pitching woes, the offense and fielding was still there. “The Golden Outfield” preformed at a high level, combining for a .317 BA, 19 HR, 201 RBI, and 74 SB.

The 1911 Red Sox were great offensive team with an inconsistent pitching staff that fell short of the post season despite gaudy expectations.

Doesn’t that sound familiar?

With the 1911 and 2011 Red Sox teams bearing so much in common, who’s to say the 1912 and 2012 teams won’t share similarities?

In 1912, the Red Sox lived up to their out-of-this-world expectations, going 105-47 and coasting their way to the franchise’s second World Series victory.

Speaker was the rock for the Sox that season, batting .383 with 10 HR, 90 RBI, and 52 SB on his way to his first and only AL MVP Award.

The pitching rotation came out firing in 1912. After Cicotte’s struggles in 1911, Hugh Bedient took his spot in the rotation. Bedient shined in his new role, going 20-9 with a 2.92 ERA. The real star of that rotation was Wood, who was an astounding 34-5 with a 1.91 ERA.

With this deadly duo on the mound, along with the amazing outfield coupled with Speaker’s individual success, this 1912 Red Sox team not only lived up to expectations, they exceeded them. This team should be considered one of the most dominant in Red Sox history.

Now, I’m not saying the 2012 Sox are going to have this same type of turn around. But, the similarities between these teams are uncanny.

Ellsbury can definitely put up the same type of production Speaker did in 1912. Both Ellsbury and Speaker are centerfielders that can steal bases, drive in runs, and hit for average. Just look at Ellsbury’s 2011 production as compared to Speaker’s 1912 numbers.

bleacherreport.com

Tris Speaker (1912)                       

.383 Batting Average

10 Homeruns

90 Runs batted in

52 Stolen bases

losthatsportsblog.com

Jacoby Ellsbury (2011)

.321 Batting Average

32 Homeruns

105 Runs batted in

39 Stolen bases

If Ellsbury has the same type of year he did last season, or even one closer in line to that of Speaker’s, he will be the clear choice for AL MVP and will help the Sox get that much closer to raising banner eight.

Cicotte’s sub-par year in 1911 and subsequent benching in 1912 falls right in line with Lackey’s situation for this upcoming season.

Lackey was atrocious last season. Not only did he have limited success on the field, but also was a huge distraction in the clubhouse. With Lackey missing the entire 2012 season due to Tommy John surgery, it will be time for one of the young bullpen pitchers that are borderline starting material to step up and do what Bedient did in 1912. Someone like Alfredo Aceves or Daniel Bard is going to have to step up and fill this void in the rotation.

Who’s to say that Ellsbury, Crawford, and Cody Ross (only 4 errors combined in 2011) can’t be the next Speaker, Lewis, and Hooper; or that the rotation can’t make a turnaround in finish out the 2012 season strong?

The Red Sox have the pieces in place to do exactly what they did 100 years ago at a brand new Fenway Park.