FENWAY FAITHFUL FULL OF HOPE FOR A SERIES WIN
Families getting together to root on their favorite team
The World Series means cementing family ties for a host of residents trekking to Fenway Park yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s Game 1 against the Dodgers.
Meredith Allend was standing outside Fenway with her friend Reagan Sharkey and her father Jay Allend, hoping to catch a glimpse of players leaving the park yesterday. Meredith was born on Opening Day, 12 years ago.
“The game started at 1 p.m., she was just four hours old and I held her in my arms and told her David Ortiz was going to hit a home run just for her and he did,” said Jay. “And she’s been a fan ever since.”
Meredith said she watches MLB network every morning before school and can recite nearly every statistic and fact about the players.
“Last time they went, the girls were only 7 years old so they were too young (to be excited),” Jay said. “This year they know how exciting it is.”
“This is more exciting than getting free pizza,” Meredith said as she and Reagan waited on Red Sox players after yesterday’s practice.
For the father-daughter duo, the team is more than just entertainment.
“It is the way we bond,” Jay said. “We go to two or three cities a year to watch them and we want to try to hit every park — we want to go to every stadium in the country before she turns 21 — it is good bonding for us.”
While they don’t have tickets yet, the Allends may still try and go to the game.
‘I am so excited. I don’t think there will ever be a World Series while I am in Boston again, so I want to go to the game.’ JOAN IACOBELLI, Connecticut native currently living in Florida
“If the price drops, we will get tickets,” Jay said. “We’ll take the money out of the college savings we have for her.”
Currently, the lowest price for seats is about $500 each, but that isn’t stopping some fans.
Florida resident Joan Iacobelli said she paid more than $600 for her ticket to tomorrow’s game. Though she grew up in Connecticut, Iacobelli’s father raised her as a Sox fan.
“I am so excited,” Iacobelli said. “I don’t think there will ever be a World Series while I am in Boston again, so I want to go to the game.”
“I think it’s magic, it’s magic on the field,” said Paula from Boston, who did not wish to share her last name. “It is the best family tradition.”
Paula said her family’s love of the Sox started with her father, who sold peanuts at Fenway Park. Now, as season ticket holders, the family will celebrate another World Series together.
“It is amazing,” Paula said. “It is so exciting.”