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Boston Baseball

To say that Bostonians like baseball is something of an understatement. Boston’s baseball fans live, breath and sleep baseball. It’s no surprise then that Boston is keen to cultivate its reputation as the home of the USA’s favorite pastime. And with pre-game talk of the mysterious Red Sox Curse, the game changing ‘Green Monster’ and a deep-seated Red Sox vs. Yankees rivalry, it’s hard not to get swept up in spirit and enthusiasm of Boston’s baseball scene.

A History of Boston Baseball

Some will say that baseball was born in Boston and there’s evidence to suggest this isn’t just patriotic talk. Boston was the first city to produce a professional baseball team with the Boston Red Stockings, who began play in the National Association of Professional Baseball Players in 1871. When the National League was founded in 1876, the Stockings were quick to join and later became known as the Boston Braves. Before moving to Milwaukee in 1952, the Boston Braves won four National Association championships, ten National League Pennants and a World Series title in 1914.

The Red Sox came on the scene in 1901 and superseded the Braves as Boston’s number one baseball team. When Boston hosted the first modern World Series in 1903, the Red Sox (then known as the Pilgrims) won against the Pittsburgh Pirates, cementing themselves in the hearts of Boston’s baseball fans. Today the ‘Sox’ (as they are sometimes called) claim Fenway Park as their home ground. The oldest active ballpark in the US, it is famous for its ‘Green Monster’, a 37-foot-high left field wall that rises over the home plate and sees many potential home runs smashed off its surface.

When to Go

The best time to watch baseball in Boston is when the summer league is in full swing between April and October, around the same time of the Boston Marathon and the Patriot’s Day celebrations. The Red Sox’s first home game at Fenway Park is in early April, which is always a period of heady anticipation. Be sure to book your accommodation early, as hotels fill up quickly during this time.

Booking Tickets to Games

Today Bostonites love the Red Sox the same way that New Yorkers love the Yankees. It’s no surprise then that when these two great New England teams meet at Fenway Park sparks are set to fly. To be in with a chance of getting tickets for a Red Sox v. Yankees game, or indeed any other baseball game, visitors are advised to book their tickets well in advance of the season and as early as January for the big games.

The first place to check when booking tickets is on the website of the team you want to see play. Single tickets can often still be found but are likely to be in the higher range of prices. A limited amount of tickets are also available for purchase at the door up to two hours before first pitch. However, for those not willing to hedge their bets, a secondary ticket broker like Ace Tickets will sell tickets with a premium price attached. It’s also worth checking in on the Red Sox website for upcoming ticket auctions.

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Boston Baseball