Boston throws party for its World Series-winning Red Sox
Confetti cannons boomed and huge crowds of fans accustomed to the success of their beloved sports franchises cheered wildly as duck boats ferried the Boston Red Sox on a parade through city streets to mark the team’s fourth World Series championship in the past 15 years.
The parade began Wednesday at the venerable Fenway Park and wound its way through several major downtown streets lined on either side by fans numbering in the hundreds of thousands, some who arrived before dawn to stake out the best vantage point and many clad in Red Sox jerseys, sweatshirts and caps.
Bits of red, white and blue paper rained down on the crowd on the crisp autumn day as they waited for a glimpse of the ballplayers passing in the city’s emblematic amphibious duck boats. The players and members of their families waved down in response from the open-roofed vehicles.
Jarrick Fidalgo, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was one of many taking advantage of the fact the parade fell on Halloween. Wearing a Red Sox jersey and ski hat, he was at his first championship parade with his face painted up like the Joker from “Batman.”
“It’s been nothing but love,” he said. “We’re out here having a good time. We’re turning it up, but of course everybody’s got to stay safe.”
Security was tight along the route, which took the team past the site of the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. No public drinking was allowed. Uniformed police officers lined the route, and plainclothes officers mingled with the crowds. Roads were closed and nearby parking limited.
During a pre-parade ceremony at Fenway, Red Sox manager Alex Cora thanked fans for supporting the team during what he called a “historic season” in which the Sox won a team-record 108 games during the regular season before beating the New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs.
“I’ve been saying since Day 1, this is crazy, this is madness,” said Cora, adding his players shared the same high expectations of Boston fans. “And that’s why they are world champs.”
Boston fans learned even more good news Wednesday when pitcher David Price announced just before the start of the parade he planned to stay with the team, declining a contract option that would have enabled him to become a free agent.
On Tuesday, the Red Sox announced they were exercising their $15-million option for next season to retain another star pitcher, Chris Sale.