Boston

Introducing the Green Monster: Cover Your Bases with Fenway Park Facts & Tips

by Leila Violette

Photograph by Leila Violette

Fenway Park

Boston’s Fenway Park is one of baseball’s most storied stadiums. (Photo: Alamy)

Since its opening on April 20, 1912, Fenway Park has been the home to the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball team and has held a special place in every Bostonians’ heart. Before you visit one of the most historic baseball parks, check out some of these Fenway Park facts so you fully appreciate the experience:

The park has been the site of professional football games as well, for teams such as the Boston Yanks and Boston Patriots. Fenway Park celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The official mascot for the Boston Red Sox is Wally the Green Monster, nicknamed after the famous 37-foot wall in the far-left field of the park. Each game, one lucky fan gets to sit in the Lone Red Seat, a red painted seat situated roughly 502 feet away from home plate, which signifies the longest home run ever hit at Fenway. The home run was hit by Ted Williams on June 9, 1946.

As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

Baseballs, Batting Practice, and Brews

In 1914, Babe Ruth donned a Red Sox uniform, when he joined Major League Baseball as a starting pitcher. Traded to their major NYC rivals, The Sultan of Swat earned his Hall of Fame standing as a hitter, and you can view one of his autographed balls in the history museum in the right field area of the ballpark. A visit to Fenway Park is a must, and the batting practice tour is a dream come true for diehard fans.

Offered only on game days three hours before the match, the batting practice tour ends at the Fenway Park high left field wall nicknamed the Green Monster. From here, you get to watch batting practice and touch the Monster’s magical green surface to bring good luck to the home team.

When visiting Fenway Park, what’s better than watching batting practice? Hoisting a cold one as you watch the game from under the center field bleachers, once the home of the visiting team’s batting cage. The Bleacher Bar features a one-way glass garage door to protect the patrons from an errant ball. Open year-round, it’s a nifty choice even on non-game days. Best of all, there’s no cover charge at The Bleacher Bar, so settle in and sample the cracking array of brews, including Boston’s own Samuel Adams.

Fenway Park Concerts & the Frozen Fenway

If the old ball game isn’t quite your personal home run of an activity to do, you can still discover Fenway Park by attending one of the many concerts or other events it regularly hosts. Explore the same grounds that have been graced by some of music’s greats, such as The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. Don’t miss out on any other big Fenway Park concerts by keeping up to date with the schedule. Watch your favorite musical artist at one of the coolest venues in Boston.

Other events not related to baseball or music have also been hosted at Fenway Park. The third annual National Hockey League Winter Classic was held at Fenway Part in 2010 on New Year’s Day. That years’ winter classic led to the Frozen Fenway, a series of amateur collegiate ice hockey games which are annually held at the famous ballpark.

The Frozen Fenway attracts people and families of all ages and interests because of the variety of fun activities and events surrounding the ballpark. Kids love the “Monster Sled”, a 20-foot-high sledding and tubing ramp set up in the shadow of the Green Monster.

Grab a Bite or Beer near Fenway Park

If you don’t feel like filling up on hot dogs, peanuts and popcorn, there are plenty of restaurants near Fenway Park that fans flock to after the big ball game. Or, learn about Boston’s own Samuel Adams beer. If you’d like to see how the good stuff is made, Samuel Adams headquarters and brewery are just outside Boston proper. The free, hour-long daily tours end with a tasting. What makes this a cut above many brewery tours is you can also sample the malts and smell the hops. Cheers!

If you’re looking for grub, a local favorite is the Yard House. With a menu featuring crispy truffle fries, creamy clam chowder and a spicy chicken sandwich, you’ll be drooling before you even step into the restaurant.

Indulge in a unique cocktail while perusing the carefully crafted menu at Eastern Standard. This modern brasserie is the perfect place to unwind after an exciting day of baseball.

Nothing quite tops a day at the ballpark like a bowl of guacamole paired with fresh tortilla chips, so it’s no wonder the favorite place to go after a game is El Pelon Taqueria. Frequent restaurant patrons love the pork torta and the fire toasted salsa.