Posted by James Stewart

While it wasn’t the first game, it was the second of what would become a Major League Baseball record for consecutive sell outs for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. It was a time when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were just the Anaheim Angels. For me, it wasn’t the first baseball game I’d been too, it was however just the first time I’d been up on the Green Monster. The Sox lost the game 6-5, thanks to an Adam Kennedy force out in the 8th inning. How I remember stuff like that bothers a lot of people, myself included. With the Red Sox celebrating their 456th consecutive sellout Monday night, I thought I’d share my top 5 favorite Fenway moments. I’d love to hear some of yours as well, via e-mail jstewart850@yahoo.com or by leaving a comment below.

5. Red Sox v Twins (September 28, 2007) – Sox win the A-L East on a Bunt Single in Baltimore
This was the night that Daisuke Matsuzaka picked up his 15th and final regular season victory. It would be an hour following, when former Red Sox reliever Chad Bradford picked up his fourth win that the party would truly start. Following the Red Sox 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins, the centerfield screen at Fenway began showing the conclusion of the Yankees-O’s game in Baltimore. Thousands of Red Sox fans hung around following a blown save my Marino Rivera. It was a Melvin Mora bunt single that started the party in the clubhouse, which bled out onto the Fenway Field. The Red Sox had won the 2007 American League Eastern Division Title.

4. Red Sox v Angels (September 6, 2005) – Ortiz walks off with another win
This game was as a pitchers dual between Tim Wakefield and John Lackey. Wakefield went the full 9 innings throwing one hundred eleven pitches. Lackey, on the other hand, would throw one hundred ten pitches in only six innings. The ever dependable Angels bullpen would keep the Sox at only two runs, while LA came back to tie the game at 2. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Mike Scioscia called upon dependable right hander Scott Shields. Shields would get Edgar Renteria on strikes and work the count full on David Ortiz; it was the sixth pitch of the at bat that landed in the bullpen.

3. Red Sox v Yankees (May 21, 2003) - Roger Clemens wins 299
Growing up in Boston, Roger Clemens was my favorite pitcher. He was the man who took the ball every fifth day and gave the Red Sox the best chance to win. I was sad to see him go to Toronto and sadder to see him become a member of the “Evil Empire”. I understood the circumstances surrounding that movement. I still was a Roger Clemens fan and am proud to say I was sitting in the centerfield grandstand applauding the right hander’s 299th victory. And yes, I was pelted with beer and other garbage from the bleacher creatures.

2. Red Sox – Orioles (September 1, 2007) - Clay Buchholz No Hits Baltimore
I was actually at Fenway by accident that night. I was dropping off The Davio’s Fantasy Football information for Red Sox Manager Terry Francona, and since I had nothing better to do, I stayed for the baseball game. I ran into some people I know up on the monster and spent the game chatting with them. I didn’t even realize Clay had a no hitter until the 7th inning. Then it was pitch by pitch, could this rookie do it. Then when he did finish the deal, it was an amazing overall atmosphere, second to only one for me.

1. Red Sox v Cardinals (October 24, 2004) - Schilling pitches Sox to 2-0 World Series Lead
The buzz around the park was nothing I had ever seen before. The Red Sox where hosting the second game of the World Series in Boston at Fenway Park. Curt Schilling had just come off his heroic performance against the Yankees and this was the swing game in the series. A Sox win and they go to St. Louis with a commanding 2-0 series lead. A loss and doom and gloom would once again be the lead in Red Sox Nation. Schilling didn’t disappoint in this game 2. He pitched 6 innings only allowing an unearned St. Louis run in the 4th inning before turning the game over to the unbeatable Sox bullpen. The game set the tone for the next 2 Red Sox starters, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. They would go onto pitch dominating baseball, added with key hits would lead the Sox to the 2004 World Series Championship.