When big events happen at Fenway, The Red Seat is usually there representin’ and this “Christmas at Fenway” was no different - except for the fact that our shirts were being sold inside Fenway Park for the first time. Yep, you read that right - INSIDE! The “B is for Baseball” t-shirt with all proceeds benefiting the Red Sox Foundation made its debut. ‘Tis true!
We were there to talk up the shirt in a scheduled TV interview which consumed most of the morning. After dozens of calls, loads of waiting and even more walking, the interview took all of two minutes and we just missed having a celebrity pitchman, but more on that later. What we did have was access to Fenway and that, my friends, is a strange thing.
After 45 minutes waiting in the lobby at 4 Yawkey Way, The Red Seat was finally on the move and we went everywhere. Most of the time we were being shuttled through the bowels of the building and we would apparate, Harry Potter style, to the EMC club! Then Gate D! And then outside of Larry Lucchino’s office…it was like MAGIC! This is where the hug of the day took place - Larry (we call him Larry) came out of his office and was presented with the shirt and told that all proceeds were going to the Foundation. Then the spirit overtook him and he laid a hug on me. It was just for yucks but he did seem genuinely pleased.
Just after “The Hug”, I found out that the biggest handshake of the day (literally) was about to happen, but we would have to act fast. At a steady jog/run through the halls I made it just in time to have my hand disappear into his. Curt Schilling is a big, big dude — two of me at least. It was great fun and I was flabbergasted to hear him say a few kind words about the shirt and us. He was to be our “Celebrity Pitch Man”, but Mr. Schilling was on a tight schedule and was off to another engagement. Before he parted, he stated to no one in particular, “SIGN CLEMENS!” Better add that to the list, Santa.
We then shook hands with Terry Francona and chatted up reporter Dan Roche who might say a few nice things about the shirt on his show. After this whirlwind, it was now getting late. One more hug or handshake and I’d have gone into a Sox induced coma. It was a pretty amazing day. Big thanks to Curt for supporting the Red Sox Foundation - you da man.