The Author made a pilgrimage to Boston for the Cubs-Red Sox series, their first Fenway face-off since 1918. The Boston Globe (May 27, 2011) featured some musings:
Dear Editor,
One of the best moments of pure baseball bliss this die-hard Cubs fan has ever felt came at Fenway Park on Saturday.
As part of "Turn Back the Clock" night, the electronic scoreboard, PA announcer and blasting tunes were silent for two sweet innings. Baseball as it sounded in 1918. As dreamy fog rolled in from left field, the call of the ump, crack of the bat and roar of the crowd were distinctive and musical. I salute the Red Sox for doing this, and endorse the sentiment expressed by Nick Cafardo ("Does game time really have to be show time?" Boston Globe, May 22) that baseball doesn't need shenanigans, distractions and bombardment all of the time.
When Major League Baseball announced its 2011 schedule, I knew I had to be in Boston for the match-up of two storied franchises in a baseball shrine. Those Bosox fans can be rough, friends cautioned, and may not appreciate my Cubbie exuberance. Undaunted, my Cubs road-trip pal Joe and I had a pilgrimage that was rewarded with three cool, soggy nights of unforgettable baseball magic.
We marveled at Fenway's quirky dimensions, patted the Green Monster and relished many Fenway Franks. I even sang along during Papelbon's Dropkick Murphys entrance.
And aside from a handful of jerky comments, the Red Sox fans we sat with were knowledgeable, gracious and hilarious. Vendors, ushers and security couldn't have been nicer. We appreciate it.
Cubs Nation and Red Sox Nation share a fanaticism for legendary teams who had a little drought, a passion for our intimate little parks (still the greatest baseball venues ever built), and a belief that Yankees Suck.
OK, we'll be back in October for the World Series. - Claude Walker, Chicago
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/boston/fenway_kenmore/articles/2011/05/27/sweet_sounds_of_1918/