The Red Sox celebrated their 2013 World Series title with a parade throughout Boston, which included a nice ride on the city’s famous duck boats.
And Jake Peavy must have been feeling really good because he bought the duck boat that he and his family rode on!
Congratulations to Jake and his family on the new purchase.
Thanks to MLB.com for the find.
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These days in Boston, David Ortiz can do no wrong. So during the Red Sox World Series championship parade, Ortiz hopped on the mic and recited a bit of the Jay-Z hit, “You Know I Got It.”
Think Big Papi has a future in music?
Thanks to Next Impulse Sports for bringing this to our attention.
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The baseball season may be over, but the celebration is just beginning in Boston. The Red Sox made their way through the city to share the 2013 World Series championship with fans lining the streets.
This was not just a chance to acknowledge what this Red Sox team did, but also to show the heart, spirit and determination of Boston after the tragedy that occurred on Patriots’ Day.
The parade made a special stop at the site where the Boston Marathon ended to put the World Series trophy and a pair of “Boston Strong 617” Red Sox jerseys at the finish line.
It was a very emotional moment for everyone involved, with players embracing city leaders and citizens. There were also fans chanting for their city during the parade.
David Ortiz also took a moment to honor the victims of the bombings and the spirit of Boston by running across the finish line.
On a much lighter note, no celebration with this year’s Red Sox team would be complete without beards. The duck boats that were used to carry the players and executives around town were covered with their own special facial hair.
These boats weren’t just for riding around the streets of Boston. After they made their way through the parade route, it was time to take a dip in the Charles River for one final victory lap.
Steve Horgan, the police officer who was in the bullpen when David Ortiz hit a grand slam in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, reenacted his now-famous pose with fans sitting in the seats at Fenway Park.
During the pre-parade celebration in the park, season ticket holders were treated to a special concert from the Dropkick Murphys and got to see all of the players before hitting the streets.
Fans also got a chance to see Ortiz, the World Series MVP, get awarded with a championship belt that would make Aaron Rodgers jealous.
Dustin Pedroia did an interview with NESN during the celebration at Fenway Park. He talked about how he’s getting used to this winning stuff, and he outlined his plans for his beard during the offseason.
As a beard advocate, I strongly disagree with anyone getting rid of facial hair for any reason.
After all the celebrating in the park was done, the Red Sox took to the streets to let the rest of the city in on the party.
Jon Lester, who had a compelling case to be named MVP of the World Series with two great pitching performances, made sure to get pictures of the people lining the streets.
How spoiled has the city of Boston been by its sports teams in recent years? Check out this awesome sign made by a Red Sox fan attending the parade.
Remember when Boston used to be a city full of pessimistic sports fans hoping their teams would fall out of contention early enough to avoid the heartbreak that came with finding hope? That seems so long ago.
You can’t find a more successful sports city in the United States over the last 13 years, with the Red Sox and Patriots leading the charge with three championships each since 2000.
It was a strange, unpredictable year in the city of Boston and for the Red Sox. The two sides came together in spectacular fashion to celebrate life, honor victims of tragedy, embrace what it means to be a family and conquer the baseball world one more time.
Congratulations to the Red Sox and all of the fans for an unforgettable year!
If you want to talk baseball, feel free to hit me up on Twitter.
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The Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals to capture their third World Series title since 2004 and eighth overall. Led by World Series MVP David Ortiz and his bearded supporting cast, the team certainly lived up to the phrase “Boston Strong.”
A party that probably hasn’t completely let up since the clinching victory on Wednesday night continued with the championship parade throughout Boston. Using the famous Duck Boats, the Red Sox celebrated among a huge weekend gathering of fans.
The event started at Fenway Park, where team executives and players spoke to the crowd. It was also revealed that the amphibious vehicles the team would be riding in had beards of their own for the journey, as passed along by Joe McDonald of ESPN Boston:
Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia was enjoying the celebration so much he was already looking forward to doing it again, according to Fox 25 News:
A seemingly endless stream of players took to the stage, thanking the fans for their support throughout the season. All of them received big reactions from the crowd, which got a firsthand look at all the hardware the franchise has won over the past decade.
It was Stephen Drew’s son who drew the most attention, though. As the shortstop was talking about everything the team accomplished, the young member of Red Sox Nation was waving to the fans, as Fox 25 News illustrated:
After wrapping up the Fenway festivities, the Red Sox got prepared for their trip around the city. Only In Boston passed along the parade route:
Meghan Irons of the Boston Globe showed the police presence that was on display for the celebration:
While many fans at the ballpark and during the parade made signs, Ryan Schulteis of 7 News passed along one of the best. It came from an 11-year-old fan, who showed exactly how easy championships seem for young fans in Boston:
Albie Landry III posted a picture on Instagram of David Ortiz wearing a WWE championship belt. Apparently that’s the honor for hitting an eye-popping .688 during the World Series:
Ortiz also tried his hand at driving one of the Duck Boats and looked pretty comfortable behind the wheel in a photo provided by Jessica Moran of CSN New England:
Antoinette Antonio of WCVB captured an interesting moment when the Dropkick Murphys’ truck got struck after performing at Fenway and a Duck Boat came to the rescue:
The Red Sox showed the massive throng of fans packed each side of the Boston streets to greet players like starting pitcher Jake Peavy:
Nilson Pepen of Conversando Deportes snapped a shot of the newest Red Sox title banner:
The amount of fans that came out to show their support and pride in the team was astounding. They were several layers deep for almost the entire journey, certainly showing no championship fatigue despite Boston’s success across the sports spectrum in recent years.
Fox 25 News gave an example of the crowd:
Jon Lester was even surprised by the number of fans who lined the streets:
Lester’s son joined him for the trip around Boston, and the Red Sox captured a nice family moment on Instagram:
When the parade reached the finish line of the Boston Marathon, it stopped momentarily as players took part in a touching moment of remembrance. They joined the crowd in signing God Bless America with the trophy and a Boston Strong jersey on the line.
WCVB captured the moment:
NECN supplied another view:
And here’s WCVB’s coverage of the scene:
As the parade rolled on, Lauren Banks provided the fans’ perspective as the Duck Boats went by:
Eventually, after weaving their way through the streets of Boston, the Red Sox made their way to the Charles River. Taking vehicles into the water is something that makes the event special, and the crowd roared when they started to splash down.
WCVB caught the first boat getting ready to enter the water:
The Boston Police Department, which was a constant presence throughout the parade, called it the best party ever:
John Burke posted another perspective of the boats in the water with a picturesque background:
As the rolling rally started to reach its conclusion, Jared Carrabis of SoxSpace passed along the fitting cake that will be waiting for the players when they return to Fenway:
All things considered, it was a very memorable day in Boston.
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Apparently it’s not just flying bats and balls you have to watch out for at Major League Baseball stadiums these days. MLB officials may have to post warning signs for flying hot dogs now too.
According to the Associated Press, per ESPN.com, the Royals are being sued because John Coomer of Overland Park, Kan., was hit in the eye with a hot dog thrown into the stands by none other than the team’s mascot all the way back in September of 2009.
Coomer, of Overland Park, Kan., says he was injured at a September 2009 Royals game when the team’s lion mascot, Sluggerrr, threw a 4-ounce, foil-wrapped wiener into the stands that struck his eye. He had to have two surgeries — one to repair a detached retina and the other to remove a cataract that developed and implant an artificial lens. Coomer’s vision is worse now than before he was hurt and he has paid roughly $4,800 in medical costs, said his attorney, Robert Tormohlen.
Had it been a foul ball or broken bat that struck Coomer, the Royals likely wouldn’t have been liable to pay for the injuries sustained. But since it was a hot dog from the hands of the team’s mascot, the Associated Press report states that Coomer may have a case.
The Missouri Supreme Court is weighing whether the “baseball rule” — a legal standard that protects teams from being sued over fan injuries caused by events on the field, court or rink — should apply to injuries caused by mascots or other personnel that teams employ to engage fans. Because the case could set a legal precedent, it could change how teams in other cities and sports approach interacting with fans at their games.
Coomer is seeking over $20,000 worth of damages, according to the same report, but that amount may be much higher. Coomer’s attorney, Robert Tormohlen, has refused to comment on the exact amount, however.
Tormohlen makes the case that the “baseball rule” doesn’t extend to mascots, per the AP:
If a jury finds that the activity at issue is an inherent and unavoidable risk, the Royals owe no duty to their spectators. No case has extended the no-duty rule to the activities of a mascot.
If you’re wondering why it took so long for this case to come about, it’s because Coomer’s suit was shot down by jurors two years ago. They sided with the Royals because they felt Coomer “wasn’t aware of what was going on around him,” according to a Kansas City Star report.
In January, Coomer was given another shot when an appeals court overturned the decision by the jury, saying that while getting hit by a baseball is a clear and understandable risk, getting hit with a flying hot dog is not.
The Royals have declined to comment on the pending lawsuit, but did note that the hot dog toss has been apart of games since 2000 and is as much a part of the ballpark experience as what goes on on the field during a game.
In the Associated Press’ report, SUNY Cortland sports management professor Jordan Korbitz believes a ruling in Coomer’s favor could force teams around the league to change the way they do promotions.
Consider Coomer’s case one that could make a huge dent in the way sports teams handle promotions, although I’m sure we can all do without things being fired into the stands during games should he win.
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A little more than 24 hours away from their biggest game of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals are stuck over 1,000 miles away from Fenway Park.
According to Los Angeles Times‘ Bill Shaikin, the Cards’ plane is currently having “mechanical difficulties”:
Matheny: #Cardinals have been on plane “for a couple hours” because of mechanical difficulties, backup plane en route if needed.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 29, 2013
After a seven hour wait, the Cardinals finally are on their way to Boston. The team finally landed in Boston nine hours after their original departure.
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The 2013 World Series has seen suspicious green goop on a pitcher’s glove, controversial calls and home run heroics. Now it will see some pretty outrageous ticket prices as the series moves on to Boston.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell reports prices for tickets to Games 6 at Fenway Park have skyrocketed, which makes sense considering the Red Sox haven’t clinched a title at home since 1918.
Using ticket-tracking company TiqIQ, Rovell states that the latest average resale value of tickets had reached $1,860 for Wednesday’s clash with the Cardinals.
All of this stems from fans eager to see their beloved team finally win the World Series within the historic confines of the iconic stadium.
While that pesky curse has been vanquished (the Red Sox swept the series in 2004 and 2007), the Red Sox haven’t won in Boston since their series against the Chicago Cubs nearly a century ago.
That means bleacher seats that were going for about $300 last week are now hitting the after-sale market for $1,100.
Fenway faithful are certainly making it rain, because Rovell also notes one Mr. Moneybags dropped $24,000 on StubHub for two seats in prime baseball-watching real estate for one of the remaining games.
“People want to see them win it here,” Jim Holzman of Ace Ticket, a brokerage firm based in Boston, told Rovell. “That’s what has made this the biggest ticket we’ve ever seen. It’s the Super Bowl except people don’t have to pay $1,000 for a hotel and $2,000 for airfare.”
The demand is not dissimilar to what we saw back in 2004 when the franchise was preparing to finally get back into the land of the victorious.
A CNN report from that year states prices were reaching lofty levels as fans grabbed at a glimpse of the eventual World Series champions.
The cost of a ticket to the show in 2004 was nearly as pricey: “One pair of front-row box seats for game one of the World Series sold for $5,300 in an auction completed Thursday morning on eBay.”
The same report also issued that four box seats were going for as much as $25,000 back then.
Holzman continued with an idea of how quickly this year’s prices escalated: “Prices were going up $50 an inning.”
It makes sense when you consider Fenway isn’t just the oldest stadiums in MLB, but also one of the coziest (capacity rests at 38,400).
There is always a moment when fans consider taking the jaunt out to the park, dropping massive amounts of cash and sidling up with the crowd instead of just watching from home.
For the Red Sox collective, that moment happened after an odd weekend wherein Jonny Gomes homered and the Cardinals’ Kolten Wong was picked off to end a raucous Game 4.
When Boston then took a 3-2 series lead behind another stout performance from Jon Lester—who left the green goop at home this time around—fans could be confident in buying tickets for the remainder of the series.
However, as Red Sox fans drop serious money on the last two games, we would like to caution them that this series is far from over.
If there is anything to take from this iteration of the Fall Classic, it’s that anything can and will happen. From dunderheaded base running to wacky calls from the umpires, this series offers little to feel confident about for either side.
Still, that will hardly deter many from paying thousands at the very good chance they get to see the Red Sox finally celebrate at home.
Is that enough of an incentive to part with thousands? According to the absurd prices, the answer from Sox fans is a resounding yes.
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The wife of third-year Seattle Mariners outfielder Carlos Peguero is facing federal charges after allegedly making $180,000 in unauthorized purchases on a debit card belonging to the wife of Seattle starting pitcher Felix Hernandez, reports Mike Carter of The Seattle Times.
Maria Jacqueline Peguero, 22, has been charged with three counts of wire fraud for allegedly purchasing items from Saks Fifth Avenue with Sandra Hernandez’s debit card online and having them delivered to her apartment between June 26, 2012, and Oct. 9, 2012.
Mariners senior vice president for communications Randy Adamack told Carter that team officials were “aware of this pending police matter, but are not in a position to discuss it further.”
The charges were filed by the U.S. Secret Service on Oct. 1, and Peguero has pleaded not guilty. She is currently free on bond, but under the watch of federal community Pre-Trial Services, according to the report.
The charges carry a 20-year maximum sentence.
Peguero allegedly spent several days at the home of Hernandez’s wife while the team was on a road trip, and the victim gave access to her credit cards due to her limited command of the English language, according to court documents cited in the report.
Investigators tracked the purchases back to an email address associated with a Twitter account belonging to Peguero, and a search warrant was executed on her home. Several items were seized.
According to the Times report, the purchases were vast:
There were more than 60 transactions in all, ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than $11,000. On some days, as many as five separate purchases were made, according to a list contained in the complaint.
Hernandez is the wife of Mariners’ ace Felix, who has become the face of the franchise. The starter, known widely as King Felix, won the American League Cy Young Award in 2010 and was paid $19 million in 2013. He just completed the first year of a 7-year, $175 million contract extension.
Carlos Peguero, 26, spent most of the past season in Triple A and was signed by Seattle in 2005. According to the report, he told investigators that he did not know about his wife’s online purchases.
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Carlos Beltran is doing it with his bat and his glove during Game 6.
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