Nothing Is Ever As Good As It Used to Be...

I've been to McCoy Stadium quite a few times over the years, and it's a great place to watch a ballgame. And of all the locations in the park, the very best place to watch from was the old picnic area down the leftfield line, just behind third base. You were at field level, and close enough to spit on the third baseman if you'd a mind to. My company's bank used to throw a BBQ there once a summer, usually on Armed Forces Day, and they would distribute tickets among their corporate clients. They'd also invite some former BoSox players to mingle with the crowd. They had Johnny Pesky, Dick Radatz, Bill Lee, Dewey Evans, Bob Stanley, Rico, Tudor, and a host of others over the years. Free food, autographs, and the best seats in the house for a ballgame. What could be better? I spent one of those events just leaning against the fence next to former Sox manager Joe Morgan (who'd managed at Pawtucket before taking over the Sox) just talking about baseball. It was a helluva good night.

( You can't go home (or behind third) again... )