Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Sox Fandom

What does it mean to be a Sox fan, especially an older fan...a veteran of the slings and arrows of disappointment?

  • First, we experience the Joy of Transformation, the apocalypse of 1967, the disappointment of 1975, the mercurial ride of 1978, the nightmare of 1986, and redemption of 2004 and 2007
  • Ned Martin on the radio.
  • Carlton Fisk's fair pole shot to win Game 6.
  • "The Steal".
  • Bucky $%#ing Dent.
  • "25 guys in 25 cabs."
  • Joe Morgan and "Morgan Magic"
  • Jim Pagliaroni hitting for the cycle. I think I remember that.
  • John "Vaseline ball" Wyatt
  • Bob Montgomery and his trains.
  • Dick "Dr. Strangeglove" Stuart.
  • The Gold Dust Twins, Rice and Lynn
  • The other Rooster, number 7, Rick Burleson
  • Reggie Smith throwing out Dave McNally on an attempted sac fly from the 379 mark.
  • Dwight Evans doubling up the Reds robbing Joe Morgan in Game 6.
  • Sitting in the bleachers in Game 1 of the 1975 series with Jim Reinig from South Carolina
  • Fred Lynn's 10 RBI game in Tiger Stadium
  • Nomar adjusting the batting gloves
  • "The Monstah", Dick Radatz, owning Mickey Mantle.
  • Yaz robbing Tom Tresh as Billy Rohr tried to get a no-hitter, and Elston Howard breaking it up.
  • Jose Tartabull throwing out Ken Berry at home at Comiskey Park in 1967.
  • Accepting the Pink Hats as true fans.
  • Wendell 'waive 'em in" Kim at third base coach.
  • Terry Francona's pullover.
  • Matt Young unable to throw to a base.
  • Roger Clemens 20 strikeouts, twice.
  • Jim Rice's 406 total bases in 1978.
  • Dave Henderson's playoff comeback homer against the Angels against Donnie Moore.
  • Luis Tiant. He should be in the Hall of Fame. He wanted the ball when it counted.
  • Derek Lowe with series clinching wins in 2004.
  • Back in the day, before the Monster seats or the Coke bottles.
  • John Kennedy's inside-the-park homer.
  • Local boys, Tony C, Joe Lahoud, Billy C, Manny Delcarmen, Brian Rose.
  • Way-back Wasdin.
  • "The Impossible Dream" record album.
  • Bill 'Spaceman' Lee and the brawl at Yankee Stadium
  • First combined shutout in modern baseball history by pitchers over 40, last night with Wakefield and Timlin.
  • Tommy Harper stealing home.
  • Bryce Florie struck by a line drive, the scariest moment since Tony C's beaning
  • Ted Williams holding court at the All-Star Game.

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