Fenway Park Experience

Tonight I had the most incredible experience a father can have with his son. To give some background to this entire experience I need to begin back in December 2008 when I was contemplating what I was going to do for a "senior trip" for Ben upon his June 09 graduation. It was just after Christmas that I decided that I would try for the holy grail of baseball...a Red Sox-Yankees series at Fenway Park...as luck would have it the Red Sox provide a "destinations" experience and there was the Yankees Series this weekend (June 9-11)...so I booked it...I waited until March (about as long as I could hold it in) to tell Ben...he seemed happy and surprised...In February a very close friend and mentor of mine Dick Wagner gave me a book that he thought would have meaning called Senior Year, written by Dan Shaughnessy, a sports writer for the Boston Globe and author. The book chronicled his son Sam growing up a baseball player and focusing on his Senior Year. I read it as a way for Dan to write TO his son more than about him. There were some great reflections all throughout the book that again immediately connected with me. Ben had many of the same type of experiences growing up and playing baseball. I really got a sense that Sam S. and Ben had kindred spirits in their baseball experiences and passions. Once I finished the book I decided I would send Dan an email at the Globe and share with him how much I appreciated his book and what an impact it had on me. You see, unbeknownst to the whole situation I had been journaling to Ben since the first day of his Senior Year...again another connection...well to my complete shock the day after I emailed Dan he responded back with a very nice personal note...he asked me to keep in touch with him as we got closer to our trip to Boston...I emailed again just before our departure and he requested my cell phone number...I was hoping to meet him and get my book signed and have him meet Ben in person...as Ben and stood in the drizzling rain about an hour before the game was to start, my phone rang and it was Dan. He gave me instructions on how to get up to the 5th level which houses the pressbox. Ben and I hurriedly got out of our rain gear and tried to look as little like tourists as possible. We didn't do very well there...:) But what the heck...Dan met us as we got off the elevator and I cannot overstate how friendly and down to earth he was. He immediately took us into the press area to show us around. He took us into the NESN Television Broadcast booth to meet the anchors and reporters as well as watch the pre-game introduction of the game. We met Don Orsillo and Dennis Eckersley (the Eck!). We also met Heidi Watney the on field reporter for NESN. Ben and I sat there and just pinched each other as we could not believe what we were experiencing. All because of Dan and his hospitality. As we were still in the NESN booth, in walked Peter Pascarelli from ESPN. It was fun to listen to the banter among the journalists. After our NESN booth experience Dan walked us into the area where the press have notes and the starting lineups for the game...he graciously gave us a copy of all the information, a great souvenir to mark the occasion. Now, for the real reason I had contacted Dan, my book signing. One problem, I left it in the room. I was not sure how which night he was going to call and the weather was very wet. Well, Dan said, here, give me a call tomorrow and we will connect again and get your book signed...and just as he was about to turn us loose to get to our seats for the game, out walked Bob Ryan another world renowned author and reporter for the Globe. He too was immediately personable like Dan and chatted with us about Idaho...oh by the way, Eck shouted out that he had relatives in Idaho Falls!!! Small world! As we left the press area with unending smiles on our faces we high-fived each other, kept asking each other if we could believe what just happened??? We then went to our seats in the upper part of Fenway and proceeded to cheer and yell at the Yankees...as Big Papi drilled a 2nd inning HR and Josh Beckett threw 6 shutout 1-hit baseball. The Sox capped off the perfect night winning 7-0...on the way back to the hotel (a five minute walk) we did a little vendor shopping and picked up a t-shirt and hoodie for $20 total! Now, I am comfortably in my room at the Commonwealth Hotel contemplating how we can improve upon the perfection of what was June 9, 2009. Thank you Dan Shaughnessy for helping to create a memory Ben and I will never forget and always reminisce upon with great affection, something more fathers and sons should do...