Yesterday afternoon I was lucky enough to attend the The Great Fenway Park Writers Series in the Crown Royal Club at Fenway Park. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Writers Series it's an event that began in the mind of George Mitrovich that brings baseball, and Red Sox authors, to Fenway Park to speak about their book, and baseball in general. This is the first of anything like this, and is something that seems like a perfect fit for Boston, and the Red Sox.
Like I said, the event takes place in the Crown Royal Club and it gives you a chance to have lunch in the park (hot dogs, steak tips, pasta salad, & more), receive a copy of the author(s) book, hear them talk about their book, have them sign your book, and you also have the opportunity to meet the authors and other Red Sox personalities. The event is $60.00 to the general public and $50.00 to "official" members of Red Sox Nation.
The first author to speak yesterday was legendary Red Sox radio announcer Joe Castiglione. Castiglione has been the voice of the Boston Red Sox for the past 24 years and may be most famous for his "Can you believe it?". Joe was truly a pleasure to listen to as he spoke to all of us at the event. As a Sox fan, you just feel safe hearing his voice, it's like he's a grandfather to us all, and his stories might as well been next to a fireplace instead of in the Crown Royal Club. Castiglione was speaking about his book Broadcast Rites and Sites, I Saw it on the Radio with the Boston Red Sox, which looks like it may be an interesting read. Highlights of what Joe talked about was his involvement with the Jimmy Fund, life on the road with him, introducing Brian Daubach to his future wife at an Italian barbershop, and many more.
I thought it was very interesting to hear Joe speak about Pedro Martinez whom he called the most professional, personal, and smart baseball players he's ever met. Pedro even wrote the foreword for the book, which I thought, for lack of a good adjective, was pretty darn cool. Joe was such a gentleman, and it was a pleasure to hear him talk, listening to him on the radio will definitely feel a little different for me from now on.
Next up for the afternoon was Bill "The Spaceman" Lee who spoke about his latest book, Have Glove Will Travel. In true Spaceman manner, Bill Lee was a little late to the event, however once he showed up, he stole the show and entertained the crowd with his crass, insightful, and intelligent banter. Bill Lee is like this twisted combination of Hunter S. Thompson, Ty Cobb, Owen Wilson, and that crazy guy in your neighborhood who talks to himself. Lee has no off-button and he was just oozing cool as paced, sweated, and ranted with the microphone in his hand. Bill talked about everything from Ozzie Guillen's latest comments, Big Papi, The 1978 season, FOX Sports, Global Warming, religion, traveling, baseball, and more. Lee has no off button and the (mostly upper class foofy crowd, excluding present company) was taken aback by some of the words coming out of his mouth.
Bill's like a breath of fresh air in a game where people spend a large amount of their time talking in cliches. Meeting him was truly a joy for me, and no offense to Joe, the highlight of the lunch for me. The event had Michael Dukakis and Dr. Charles Steinberg among other dignitaries in attendance, however baseball was the talk, and focus of this afternoon.
I'd suggest highly going to these future events, and would love to see more of my peers (people in there 20's) in attendance instead of almost all gray hairs! Either way, can't imagine spending a better lunch then eating in Fenway Park and listening to and talking baseball.
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