The day was raw and with each run the New York Yankees scored, Fenway Park took on the look and the feel of a dungeon of horrors. Game 3 of the 2004 American League Championship Series seemed to take forever to play. In fact, it was 4 hours and 20 minutes of misery for Red […]

The phone calls are unexpected. So are the reactions to the words Al Bean is speaking. Surprise. Pride. Tears. Appreciation. Doubt, sometimes. Dick Jordan, a former Portland school principal, wanted the name of the practical joker who interrupted a late summer day. Bean had to tell Jordan the message was gospel. Jordan is in the […]

PORTLAND — Why are the Red Sox going after old ballplayers with eroded skills and tired legs? A Red Sox fan in the audience wanted to know. The recent bid to claim Johnny Damon off waivers was on his mind. Standing behind a lectern at the Portland Public Library, Joe Januszewski blinked. He’s senior vice […]

HAMPDEN – Jonah Normandeau had to confess: Given his wish, he would turn back the clock. “I’d like to be 12 years old again. Just to play baseball.” Baseball by Little League rules, when 12 of a league’s best players are selected to all-star teams in June and spend the rest of the summer chasing […]

Long after Game 7 ended, players, front-office personnel and other members of Red Sox Nation dripped champagne and tears of joy on the hallowed grass of Yankee Stadium. It was the fall of 2004 and the Red Sox had just kicked the stuffing out of their nemesis. Somewhere that night, George Steinbrenner had to be […]

BRUNSWICK – What Dick Fosbury did some 40 years ago was so new, so revolutionary, it needed a name. It’s a back layout, said Fosbury initially, describing his unique approach to jumping over a high bar. He got zero response. He didn’t think the sports writer even bothered to write down the words. Back layout? […]