Saturday, February 26, 2005
Sox draw excited crowds to spring training
Sox draw excited crowds to spring training
February 26, 2005
By Howard Ulman Associated Press
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The lone figure stood in a blue Yankees T-shirt at the front of the autograph line. He smiled as the Boston Red Sox walked by.
Even New York fans were drawn to the new world champions on their first day together since the final out of the World Series last October.
"I don't know how brave I am," said Dave Major, a math teacher from just outside Syracuse, N.Y., who stood out in his enemy attire. "I think I'm more stupid than brave."
Crowds have flocked to the Red Sox spring training complex ever since the team moved to Fort Myers from Winter Haven in 1993. But they're different this year — bigger, happier and louder.
"Red Sox number one," a young voice screamed as manager Terry Francona faced 10 television cameras for his daily news conference. "That's what I'm talkin' about!"
The players and coaches reward that kind of enthusiasm by signing plenty of autographs. Even team president Larry Lucchino worked the line eagerly.
"I love you, Larry," one fan shouted at the gray-haired executive.
"Thank you," Lucchino said. Then, aware that fans can be fickle, he paused and hinted in a quiet voice how long that love might last, "today."
There are other changes — white fences instead of flimsy yellow ropes separate fans from players walking to the fields, bleachers for spectators who previously had to stand and plenty of new attire.
Peter Kramer wore a Red Sox championship T-shirt that he bought off the Internet because stores near his home in Saugerties, N.Y., had none.
"Prior to this I had the T-shirt that said '1918 world champions,"' said Kramer, a New Hampshire native and Red Sox fan for most of his 66 years. "My son picked it up for me about six or seven years ago in Boston. It's in my drawer now."
Men and women, boys and girls, old and young, watch all the players — even those with no chance to start the season on the major-league roster. One fan, Bob Hass of Fort Lauderdale, came with his two young daughters who had one goal.
"They only want Johnny Damon's autograph," he said.
The center fielder is symbolic of why the Red Sox are an attraction like no other team — a sideshow of stars with crazy hair and wild senses of humor.
Sluggers David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez smile a lot more than they drive in runs, which they do a lot. Kevin Millar's motor mouth is aimed at teammates as well as opponents. And Damon, with his long dark hair streaked with blonde, is the object of rockstar-like adulation.
"It just seems like the fans are all happy," he said. "I give autographs but kids were getting trampled so I don't want that on my conscience so I try to give them 10 minutes a day and, if they start pushing, then (I'm) gone."
The crowds are so large — and parking so scarce — that fans park several miles away at City of Palms Park, where the Red Sox play exhibition games, and take shuttle busses to the complex.
Dave McHugh guards over the few parking spaces at the complex itself, turning away anyone who doesn't belong.
"It's much busier this year," said McHugh, of Portland, Maine. "They all want to get in so they come up with the craziest excuses. I tell them, 'if you give me one I haven't heard before, I'll let you in."'
Those who take the buses are thrilled when they arrive.
"It's overwhelming. It's a feeling I never thought I'd have," said Elaine Boldi, 51, a physical education teacher from Stafford Springs, Conn. "I would have come even if they weren't champs but this makes it sweeter."
Bob McKeveny, 46, is principal at Seneca Falls (N.Y.) Middle School and visited several camps with two of his employees — Major and physical education teacher Larry Lang, 34.
"This is the first time this team's been together since that last World Series game so you can see the excitement among these people and it's just contagious," he said.
Lang, wearing a Red Sox T-shirt, stood beside Major in his Yankee T-shirt.
"Just to be here after winning the world championship after 86 years, it's special," Lang said, "especially with all the fans and the way they're reacting."
