Red Sox in Cooperstown

The Red Sox and Tigers played at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. Tigers won, but nobody really cared. Didn't matter. All that mattered was the Red Sox were in Cooperstown.

The day was cool, but the sun came out a couple times making my turtleneck sweater not only unnecessary but down right uncomfortable.

My dad and I got into town by 10. I've been to Cooperstown on other HOF game days and for induction day, but I have never seen the parking stretching out so far from the center of town so early. I've also never seen so many Red Sox fans in one place outside of Fenway Park. Nearly everyone was wearing something branded Red Sox. It was a big crowd, a big day for local merchants. Every store had anything and everything Red Sox prominently displayed in windows or on tables on the sidewalk. I grabbed a Fisk felt banner for $5; it was $25 the year he was inducted (was here for that).

The parade was short and lovely as usual, but there was a long delay as the guest marching band performed a bunch of numbers at the reviewing stand, which was maddening because we could see the trolleys bearing the teams sitting before the HOF, not moving. The car carrying Johnny Pesky and Dom DiMaggio was rushed by fans while the parade was at a standstill, certainly exciting some of the security people. When things finally got rolling again, the crowd went wild, Main Street sounding like Fenway during a rally. Johnny Damon pushed the crowd by leaning out the trolley window, waving and hollering to the fans.

People filled the park early; frequently the pre-game home run derby is attended by a significantly smaller number than the game itself, but most seats were filled, and stayed that way through most of the game even though with one exception all of the starters were long gone before the 7th inning. Nobody cared. The Red Sox were playing in Cooperstown.

Johnny Damon lead off, per usual, and made fans happy through most of the rest of the day, bantering with the center field bleacher crowd, tossing a ball back and forth with them to warm up for the second inning because the high schoolers who work the game were warming the other two outfielders. Later he coached third base making a total mockery of giving the signs, which earned him plenty of laughs. My dad said he had sort of like Damon before, but he is a real fan of Johnny's now, having seen him and how he interacts with the fans in person. He used to refer to Damon as "that guy with the hair," now he's "Johnny Damon, that fun guy."

We were both a bit disappointed that Trot Nixon didn't make an appearance. We both love Trot, he's our kind of player. Kevin Millar wasn't dressed and on the field, and Captain, My Captain Jason Varitek never got an at bat though he presented the World Series ring pre-game to the HOF, but otherwise it was a perfect day watching the Red Sox play in Cooperstown.

Dale Sveum added to the fun by getting a single when the rest of the Sox were cold at the plate. A pinch runner was put in for him, but he played first for a couple of innings as well. Atlanta bullpen coach Bobby Dews starting last year's game behind the plate, going a full inning, is a tough act to follow, but Sveum added to the fun of the day.

I don't follow the Tigers, but I was happy to see Pudge II Rodriguez at least get one at bat as the DH. A few other names were familiar, Inge, Pena.

Most of the Red Sox regulars left the game by the third or fourth inning, after each got an at bat, but the starting pitcher, Anibel Sanchez who is with Wilmington this season, had a good start, a long start, pitched most of the game facing all levels of batters, major leaguers to other A-level players. A couple other prospects we got to see included Hanley Ramirez, Shawn Wooten, Michael Lockwood, Jim Buckley, Bryan Pritz, and Christian Lara. The Sox player who made the biggest impact was Willy Mota. He took over centerfield for Damon and within an inning he had the fans out there cheering for him, the rest of the fans an inning or two later with some great catches and throws, and a timely 2-run homer. The whole place was chanting "Mota! Mota! Mota!" when he came to the plate. It was wild, and I hope Willy remembers this day.

My dad, who has a hard time sitting that long, lasted through four innings. When he accompanies me to my home park (for just one game a season), he won't stay in his seat for more than an inning at a time, gets up to stretch and investigate all the time. I've told him that's fine, just make sure you're back to the box where I sit for the ninth. At one point during today's game, he leaned over to tell me, "If you get tickets for next year, I'll come with you."