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Red Sox to set MLB sellout record
Boston to host 456th consecutive full house at Fenway
By Ian Browne / MLB.com

BOSTON -- At the time, there was no reason to think May 15, 2003, was anything but another Thursday on the Fenway Park schedule. The Red Sox defeated the Texas Rangers by a score of 14-3 that night, backed by Pedro Martinez's pitching and the offensive firepower of Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller and Jason Varitek.

And yes, there was a sellout at Fenway Park to cheer the home team through that win. For whatever reason, that was when the never-ending string of packed houses started at the historic bandbox on Yawkey Way. More than five years later, it has yet to stop.

When the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night to kick off their next homestand, they will make baseball history.

Well, check that. Red Sox fans will make baseball history. The 456th consecutive sellout at Fenway Park will break the record set by the Cleveland Indians' die-hards, who packed Jacobs Field for all 455 home games played from June 12, 1995-April 2, 2001.

Who could have seen a record like this coming back in 2003, when the Red Sox were consumed with trying to snap a so-called curse -- or championship drought -- that had lasted more than eight decades?

"While we recognized and appreciated the incredible passion for the Red Sox, I do not think any of us in the front office could have imagined that this streak was about to begin," said Sam Kennedy, executive vice president/chief sales and marketing officer for the Red Sox. "We are humbled by the commitment of the best fans in baseball, and to be clear, this is their record, not ours. The club is simply the vehicle they have used to accomplish this incredible feat."

Varitek, David Ortiz, Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin are the four Boston players who have been with the team throughout the record-setting streak, while countless others have either departed or arrived, all the while riding the wave of the passionate home crowds.

"I value it, I've enjoyed it -- I don't know how much longer I'll get to enjoy it," said Varitek, the captain, who is eligible for free agency in November. "I know I have the rest of this month, and I appreciate it. I think it's a big boost to this team's success."

Varitek, who endures an exhausting workload behind the plate, knows full well what the extra shot of adrenaline has meant to his team during a storied time in which they've won the World Series twice (2004 and '07).

"You're coming to a stadium where you know it's going to be sold out and you know that they're going to be excited. You come to the yard and you know that they're going to be ready and rooting behind you, and even when you're down, they'll be rooting for a comeback."
-- Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury

"Just, every day, they've brought excitement," Varitek said. "You have a lot of days throughout a season -- you're dragging, down, you're tired, you're sore, you're hurt -- and that energy sometimes brings you through those tough moments."

Whenever Red Sox manager Terry Francona is asked about a so-called "big game" on the schedule, he speaks of how every single game he's managed in Boston has felt big or playoff-like.

That speaks largely of the atmosphere that has filled the seats at Fenway, from the box seats to the grandstands, to the bleachers to the roof boxes and the Monster Seats.

Francona -- who managed for four frustrating seasons in Philadelphia -- finds it almost mind-boggling that he's never managed a home game that didn't sell out in his time with the Red Sox, which is nearing the end of its fifth season.

"Think about that," Francona said. "That's unbelievable. It's the norm. And I hope, when I say it's the norm, that we don't ever get to the point where you kind of take it for granted. We have a great situation going right now. Our team is very popular. Fans just want to keep coming to the games. Hopefully, that will last for a long time. We have a great situation."

Because the subject at hand is sellouts, it is fair to ask exactly what constitutes one.

"The criteria used for a sellout at Fenway Park have been the same since the early 1990s," Kennedy said in an e-mail. "Our policy is simple and straightforward, and is used by many MLB clubs [and other sports teams around the country]. A sellout occurs when the number of tickets distributed to spectators is equal to or greater than the seating capacity at Fenway Park. [The 2008 seating capacity is 36,984 for day games and 37,400 for night games]."

The Red Sox continue to reach those numbers and then some. And throughout the streak, the one other constant is that the Red Sox have played dominant baseball at home.

"You're coming to a stadium where you know it's going to be sold out and you know that they're going to be excited," said Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. "You come to the yard and you know that they're going to be ready and rooting behind you, and even when you're down, they'll be rooting for a comeback."

"For the players, this is the ultimate environment for playing baseball. Everyone on the club has worked very hard to keep it going, and the fans have shown up, and we all appreciate it. I hope it goes on for a long, long time."
-- Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka

It's not as if fans come every day to gawk at the Green Monster. The product has continually proven to be worth the price of admission.

"I think it's just the passion of the fans now with the success of the Red Sox," said first baseman Kevin Youkilis. "Having success will bring you fans. Ownership, management, coaches and players, we keep them coming back by winning and going out and performing well. It takes an all-around effort from everyone."

With the long-standing passion for the Red Sox, perhaps a streak like this was ripe once the team -- behind the ownership of John W. Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino and the front office led by Theo Epstein -- turned into what many view to be the model franchise in Major League Baseball.

"Generations of families have rooted for this team, long before any of us got here," said Kennedy. "After that, the other contributing factors have been ownership's commitment of resources to a) field a competitive team and to b) preserve and protect Fenway Park. Winning baseball games, combined with a more comfortable and fan-friendly facility, have created this atmosphere."

As with any such streak, there has also been some behind-the-scenes work to keep it going.

"Finally, we also have to credit our tireless ticket operations team who does everything they can to ensure our 'course management' system works," said Kennedy. "We study each and every game as soon as the upcoming season schedule comes out to be sure we set proper sales timelines, rank games by demand, package games appropriately [with Sox Pax] and engage our marketing team to promote areas of vulnerability."

At the end of the day, the most vulnerable thing at Fenway is usually the visiting team.

"There's always an adrenaline rush here just because the energy is always here," said Youkilis.

"For the players, this is the ultimate environment for playing baseball," added Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka. "Everyone on the club has worked very hard to keep it going, and the fans have shown up, and we all appreciate it. I hope it goes on for a long, long time."

Do the Red Sox ever take fan support for granted?

"Never," said Kennedy. "We literally discuss this point every day. John, Tom and Larry have over 60 years of baseball experience between them [in various markets]. They remind us all the time how special this is."

And now, there will be a Major League record to serve as tangible proof.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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With the amount of people living in that area and the team they had, they should be able to double the Indians record. With us not winning a title and having a smaller city, it's a bigger deal.

Oh well. Another kick in the face to Cleveland.

Yep, they wouldn't have a record to break if we hadn't set it first,....(or before them).

And my guess is the percentage of fans who attend Boston games that are not Sox fans is much higher (as a result of visiting/vacationers) than those who attended the Tribe's record setting string. You won't hear that in any news blast,....

Let alone their best player came from Cleveland.

He was there for most of this run,...(and for a lot of Cleveland's too,...)

Not only that, but their stadium has like 75% the capacity of the Jake.

DAMNIT Congrats to the Red Sox fans

The Tribe's sellout record will always be the model. It's much more impressive than any record set by a big market club. Just as it's far more impressive when a small market club wins championships by virtue of scouting, and developing players. -Compared to the methods used by big market clubs to win championships, such as simply buying good players from small market teams, thus winning a title simply by way of purchase, with no regard for virtue, and in direct violation of the integrity of the sport itself.

Are you saying flat-rate salaries and performance based incentives ??

No,...??

Because I am,....and that is the only thing that will fix baseball. Now some will argue it doesn't need fixing,...and that would be true.

If you're on the big end of the fence.

Why is it essential to discount the achievements of others? Does putting them down make you look better? Or does it make you sound like whimpering little brats? What's the deal?

Of course Fenway is smaller but they're not done selling it out yet either.

Of course the Indians had the record first. Does that mean breaking it isn't an achievement? (That logic sure puts a new spin on the Olympics and other competitions.)

Big Market/Small Market mindedness prevails. That's fine. I want baseball to straighten itself out as much as anyone but I'm sure that doesn't mean I have to belittle every accomplishment from here until it does. Must suck to live like that!

I'm proud of my fellow Red Sox Fans; they broke an amazing record. I hope it keeps going. (Not to kick Cleveland in the face but because it's just a cool thing.)

I thought I may have contributed to the string, but I guess it was 2001 when I last caught a Sox game in Boston.

I will be at the stadium for the Indians game on Sunday before the Browns game. Maybe we can start a new Indians run??

I guess my point is if the record is so important, maybe a few more people need to buy tickets to Indians games. Why did the streak ever end if it was so important??

Congrats to the Sox nation....at least it wasn't some crappy team like Cincy who broke it.

The implication when a record is broken is that the new record holder has bettered the performance of the previous record. In this case the comparision is absurd. If I hit .450 against Joe Borowski does that mean I'm a better hitter than Pete Rose?
If you're a Browns fan you should know whats going on here. I'm not ashamed to admit it's jealosy. The Red Sox outspend nearly everyone and win 2 world championships. Their fans turn out, big deal . Hurray for the wonderful Red Sox fans. Lets see how they come out with 2 WS losses and a big payroll handicap not to mention the economic manufacturing collapse this city has endured. To compare Bostons attendace to Clevelands is a slap in the face of Indians fans and a denigration of one of the few sports accomplishments this city can be proud of. Get it? I didn't think so or you wouldn't have posted that garbage here. Then you have the arrogance to lecture Indians fan for trying to defend our record?

I went over this with a spankee fan last year.

Greater cleveland has 2.9 million people

Boston has 7.4 million

New York has 8.2 million

Progressive field has a 82 game capacity near 3.5 million

Fenway 3.1 million

New york 4.7 million

The entire population of the cleveland does not make capacity. Half a milion would have to double up.

But boston and new york could fill their stadiums twice with thier populus.

That is the difference between big market and small market.

42% of Bostons poplution give a chit to goto games and sell out the season.

120% of clevelands population gave a chit to goto games and sell out the season.

Who should be more proud?

Dont give me anything about current attendance, because following bostons 42% example, cleveland avg 15,000......wait the tribe will draw close to 2 million this season. 68% percent give a chit, when the economy is rubbish and the team is rubbish on and off this year.

The real shame is that Red Sox/Yankees have not sold out every game played with that kind of population base to draw from.

No matter how bad the team is, you might goto one ball game a year. That should have easliy sold out the seasons for big market teams.

Let's see, the title of the article is "Red Sox To Set MLB Sellout Record", but the thread title is "Red Sox Set To Break Indians Record".

Something tells me iam is getting exactly the reaction she wanted.

Whatever go...I titled it that way because it's of interest to Indians' fans and I knew it would be more likely to be read here if the Tribe was involved.

It's not the reaction I wanted but it sure is what I expected.
(Why would I {or anyone} want that reaction anyway?)

Also, when looking up something as important as hard numbers as facts, wikipedia is the LAST place I would look. I could easily log in, and say that Boston has 10 billion people.

*Slaping myself in the forehead* Poor Old Tribe

You win, you have the right to be more proud. And the record is still broken.

Quote:

---

42% of Bostons poplution give a chit to goto games and sell out the season.

---

Do you know how hard it is to get tickets to a Red Sox game?? With that sentence you make it sound like people don't really want to go to the game...

I understand the difference in size of city and size of the stadium... but it's still a DAMN impressive feat to beat the consecutive sell out record... and I would suspect that the Sox really distance themselves with the record.

By your numbers the Yankees should have EASILY creamed the Tribe's record but didn't.

I don't think anyone is discrediting what we Indians' fans accomplished... but to say that what the Red Sox fans are doing isn't equally impressive (especially depending on how many more games they sell out) is just ridiculous and jealousy.

Boy. You sure like to stir up trouble.

Yep, that's so me.


I just hope iam still loves me.
I still proudly wear the shirt she surprised me with...."Talk Football To Me"

Love that shirt!

Sorry you had a bad experience at Fenway. You know there are fans like that everywhere. Believe me, the Jake (or whatever) is not a friendly place for visiting team's fans either. I try to remember it's just some folks. Overall, I find Sox fans to be intelligent and fun. I'm sure there may be one or two bandwagoners in the mix now too. And 'they' always ruin it for everybody.

Ditto on that take,...I have been abused by "Cleveland Brown fans" in my own Cleveland Browns Municipal Stadium. Without a lot of detail, got hit with a flying object at a Steeler game, that we won !! I don't care what the circumstance is, no real fan throws stuff. It's dead wrong. Period.

X3

Funny thing is on that same trip we had been to Yankee Stadium and I was very apprehensive about wearing anything Indians there.A baseball game is tough for a kid to sit through so the plan was to keep her happy,let her wear her stuff and keep the food coming. We had a great time and the Yankee fans could not have been more friendly. I figured the plan worked so well at Yankee Stadium that Fenway would be no problem. Go figure . Over ten years later I'm still livid that anyone would direct nasty remarks and foul language at my baby.