The Sports&nbsp;Museum of New England&nbsp;was founded in 1977 and&nbsp;was originally&nbsp;in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts&nbsp;before eventually moving Boston's TD&nbsp;Garden,&nbsp;home to Celtics and Bruins for the past&nbsp;twenty years. The museum's exhibits focus on the history of various sports in the Boston area.These sports include&nbsp;the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Marathon, Patriots, Revolution, boxing, college sports, and others. The museum features diverse sports memorabilia and&nbsp;curiosities.&nbsp;It also includes&nbsp;life-size sculptures of Bobby Orr, Larry Bird, Carl Yastrzemski, and Ted Williams by Rhode Island sculptor Armand LaMontagne. &nbsp;The museum&nbsp;offers several exhibits, programs, and events
centered on the world of sports. Current exhibits include The Beanpot, which displays the
trophy from the winner of the annual hockey tournament between Boston College,
Boston University, Harvard, and Northeastern; the Boston Garden Theatre, the
Banners/Arena, Adam Vinatieri’s Shoes (Vinatieri kicked the winning field goal
of Super Bowl XXXVI); Evolution of Women’s Basketball; Boston Redskins (until
the team became the Washington Redskins in 1936); Early Nose Guard; The Ball
that Changed History, where on display is the ball that hit Red Socks player
Tony Conigliaro in the eye in 1967 and essentially ruining his career; Stanley
Cup Champions; and the Original Bruin.&nbsp;
The museum programs include Boston v. Bullies, Careers in Sports, Stand
Strong, Score with Character, and several scholarships, awards, and contests
for kids and teens.&nbsp; In addition, the museum
hosts many programs, such as the Sports Museum Celebrity Golf Classic, the
Rodman Ride for Kids, The Tradition, the Boston Baseball Writer’s Dinner,
Legendary Lunch Series, and the Constellation Senior Players Championship.&nbsp;The Sports Museum is a perfect museum for any Boston sports fanatic to visit. Full of rich history and culture, this museum has been exciting sports fans for 38 years. Close to public transportation, it has easy access for Boston residents and tourists alike. Any sports fan visiting Boston would have a very enjoyable time visiting this site.&nbsp;

TD Garden, the home of the New England Sports Museum

Website

The New England Sports Museum is a non-profit, educational facility that “celebrate[s] the character of Boston sports— the unique brand of teamwork, determination, responsibility, courage, fairness, and other qualities of character possessed by our teams and athletes that make Boston ‘The Greatest Sports City in America’ (“The Sports Museum”).  

The Sports Museum - TD Garden

This driving tour of includes stops at a dozen museums, statues, and historic venues related to the history of sport in Boston. 

Boston Sports History Trail

Admin

Robert Gordon “Bobby” Orr was born the third of five children to Doug and Arva Orr on March 20, 1948 in the town of Parry Sound, Ontario. He came from a line of great athletes. His paternal grandfather played professional soccer in what is now Northern Ireland before immigrating to Canada in the early twentieth century. His father turned down an offer to play minor league hockey to serve in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Orr started skating at the age of four and began playing organized hockey when he was five years old. Demonstrating incredible potential, he caught the attention of scouts from the Boston Bruins while playing in an amateur tournament in Ontario in the spring of 1961. The next year, Orr signed a junior amateur contract with the team. Over the next few years, he excelled in junior hockey despite playing with young men much older than him. Orr made his NHL debut for the Bruins in 1966, after signing the most lucrative rookie contract in league history at the time. He was an instant success, finishing second among the league’s defensemen in scoring and winning the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league’s top rookie. Over the next nine seasons, Orr led the Bruins to eight consecutive playoff berths and two Stanley Cups. He also racked up the individual awards. Orr won the Norris Trophy (awarded to the league’s best defenseman) eight times, and the Hart Trophy (given to the league’s most valuable player) three times. Most significantly, his offensive contributions forever redefined the role of defensemen in hockey and won him the Art Ross Trophy (presented to the NHL’s top scorer) twice. In 1976, after ten seasons with the Bruins, the organization traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks. Hobbled by knee problems that caused him excruciating pain, Orr played only sparingly during his years in Chicago. In November 1978, he announced his retirement. The following year, he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Fans of the Bruins, and of hockey in general, best remember Orr for his heroics in Game Four of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final. A mere forty seconds into the overtime period, he took a pass from below the goal line and smashed a one-timer past Blues goalie Glenn Hall. Immediately after, the stick of Blues defenseman Noel Picard tripped Orr, sending him flying through the air with his hands raised above his head in celebration. Known simply as “The Goal,” it broke a 3-3 tie, completed a four-game sweep of the Blues, and won the Bruins their first Stanley Cup since 1941. On the afternoon of May 10, 2010, in recognition of the fortieth anniversary of “The Goal,” the Bruins unveiled a statue of Orr outside TD Garden. Designed by artist Harry Weber, who ironically is a native of St. Louis, the larger-than-life-sized bronze sculpture depicts the Bruins defenseman soaring through the air after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal. Present at the dedication ceremony, in addition to Orr and Weber, were Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, TD Garden President John Wentzell, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, members of the 1969-1970 team, and hundreds of fans. Originally installed just outside of TD Garden on Causeway Street, the statue now resides in The Hub on Causeway near the arena’s main entrance.

Unveiled on May 10, 2010, this statue commemorates Boston Bruins Hall-of-Fame defenseman Bobby Orr (1948-) and one of the most iconic moments in NHL history. A revolutionary player who forever changed the role of defensemen, Orr is widely considered one of hockey’s greatest players. In ten seasons with the Bruins (1966-1976), he led the team to eight consecutive playoff berths and two Stanley Cups (1970 &amp; 1972). Orr also racked up the individual accolades, winning the Norris Trophy (awarded to the league’s best defenseman) eight times, the Hart Trophy (given to the league’s most valuable player) three times, the Art Ross Trophy (presented to the NHL’s top scorer) twice, and the Calder Trophy (awarded to the league’s top rookie). In 1979, he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Fans of the Bruins, and of hockey in general, best remember Orr for his overtime goal in Game Four of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues, after which the stick of Blues defenseman Noel Picard tripped Orr and sent him flying through the air with his hands raised above his head in celebration. Known simply as “The Goal,” it broke a 3-3 tie, completed a four-game sweep of the Blues, and won the Bruins their first Stanley Cup since 1941. In recognition of the fortieth anniversary of “The Goal,” the Bruins unveiled a statue of Orr outside TD Garden. Designed by artist Harry Weber, the larger-than-life-sized bronze sculpture depicts the Bruins defenseman soaring through the air after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal. Originally installed just outside of TD Garden on Causeway Street, the statue now resides in The Hub on Causeway near the arena’s main entrance.

Bobby Orr Statue

Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934 in
Monroe, Louisiana. &nbsp;At the time when Russell was growing up in the Deep South, racial
tensions were high and Russell's father moved his family to Oakland, California in search of better opportunities. Young Bill Russell experienced tragedy early in his
life when his mother passed away after developing a serious flu illness when he
was just 12 years old. Russell also battled various
illnesses as a young man but overcame each bout and dedicated himself to his studies.&nbsp;Russell recalls developing a&nbsp;passion for sports despite being the opposite of athletic as a young man. Russell worked hard at basketball and&nbsp;eventually earned a spot on the McClymonds High School team in Oakland. The former non-athletic child secured an athletic scholarship in 1952, but only after being a walk-on player for the University of San Francisco basketball team. While at the University of San Francisco,
Russell averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds a game and led his team to two
consecutive championships in 1955 and 1956.&nbsp; After Russell graduated college, he helped
Team USA win a gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics.&nbsp; 

&nbsp;After college, Bill Russell was drafted second
overall in the 1956 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He as&nbsp;immediately traded to the Boston Celtics where he would be tutored by legendary
Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach. Coach Auerbach, the descendant of&nbsp;Jewish refugees who fled Russia, believed Bill Russell represented the missing piece to what he believed might become&nbsp;a championship team. In Russell’s first year, the Celtics won the championship, beating the St. Louis Hawks in seven
games. Russell
would go on to win ten additional championships in his thirteen-year career. Seven of the eleven championships were against
the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, sparking a fierce rivalry that would last for years to
come.&nbsp;&nbsp;Russell achieved many individual
awards throughout his career.&nbsp; He won the
league MVP five times, was selected on All-NBA Teams, NBA All-Defensive Teams,
a twelve-time NBA All-Star and an All-Star MVP.&nbsp;
In 2011, President Barack Obama presented Russell with the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, the highest award a civilian can earn.&nbsp;Every year after the NBA Finals, the
championship series MVP is presented with the Bill Russell Award.

&nbsp;Throughout his life, and during his career in Boston, Bill
Russell experienced racial discrimination. In his early career, he and other Black players were denied service in a Lexington restaurant and denied overnight accommodations at a hotel in North Carolina.&nbsp; Russell and his other teammates refused to
play in the exhibition games in those cities&nbsp;after the way they were treated. Russell experienced pervasive discrimination in Boston after attempting to purchase a home in what had been an all-white neighborhood. As Boston fans refused to support their team's greatest player, Russell found solace among African American leaders and activists and supported the Black Power
movement. Despite the consequences, Russell vocally supported Muhammad Ali when he refused to register for the&nbsp;draft during the Vietnam War.

In later years, white Boston fans have come to celebrate Bill Russell, although he seldom receives the anything approaching the affection white fans express for Larry Bird, another Celtics great who led the team to multiple championships in subsequent years.&nbsp;In 2010, Bill Russell spoke out about&nbsp;his former coach, Red
Auerbach. Russell pointed out that the&nbsp;Celtics under Auerbach were one of the few teams that would draft and start multiple African American players. When Auerbach retired
in the late 1960’s, he asked that Russell take his place. Russell became the first Black coach of the
Boston Celtics as he served as both a coach and a player, leading the team to two consecutive championships in that role.

This statue honoring Bill Russell, one of the most dominant professional basketball players of his era, is located near Boston's City Hall. Rather than placing the statue near the Old Boston Garden, this statue of the Boston Celtics center is in a place generally reserved for political leaders and activists. In many ways, the fact that Russell's statue is located near a civic building is appropriate given his civil rights activism, particularly in the 1960s for integrated schools in Boston. Russell led the Celtics for thirteen seasons but was still despised by many white Celtics fan because he challenged residential segregation and spoke about about racism. Although few could deny that Russell was the best player for a Celtic team that dominated the 1960s, few Celtics fans wore his jersey during the years that Russell led the team to a total of eleven championships. 

Bill Russell Statue

Constructed in 1928, the Boston Garden, also known as the
Garden, was one of the most famous sports arenas in America. Although it was
built and designed for boxing, basketball, and hockey, the Garden was also good
for concerts and other major events. The design of the arena was also very
interesting. Tex Rickard, who was a boxing promoter, actually designed the
seating and inside of the arena so that fans could see the sweat on the boxers.
This was great for boxing as well as basketball and hockey.

Over the lifetime of the Boston Garden, it has hosted the Celtics and Bruins home
games. The arena became a huge factor for the Celtics. One season, they set a
record going 40-1 at home versus other opponents. It was home to many of the best players in the history of professional basketball. Some of those players include Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Bob Cousey, and Kevin McHale. Owner Red Auerbach and the Celtics hung 16 championship banners in the Garden, the first in 1957 and the last in 1986. The Bruins also won five Stanley Cups
during their time in the arena. In addition to home games for the Celtics and
Bruins, the Boston Garden has hosted multiple NBA All-Star games. It even
became the first arena to host both the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup at the same
time in 1957.

Although
the Boston Garden was mostly used for sporting events, it also was notorious
for concerts, rallies, and other events. The arena hosted John F. Kennedy’s
Presidential Rally in 1960. Some of the best artists in the music business have also
performed there, including Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones,
the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and the Jackson 5. Billy Graham and other religious
preachers have also spoken in the arena.

After all
the historical events and sports teams, the Boston Garden was demolished in
1998 because of multiple issues with deterioration such as broken seats,
structural issues, and sanitary problems. On April 21, 1995, the Celtics played their last game on the parquet; a 98-92 loss to the New York Knicks. The last event in the Boston Garden
was in 1995 when the Bruins played the New Jersey Devils in the NHL Playoffs.
The TD Garden replaced the Boston Garden and opened in 1995. Today, the TD
Garden hosts the Boston Celtics and other sporting and major events. The Boston Garden is now a parking lot which is home of "Boston's Walk into the Revolution" for the new Garden.

The original Boston Garden was one of the most iconic arenas in America. The arena opened its doors on November 17, 1928. It was designed by Tex Rickard, who also designed Madison Square Garden. Some of the more popular events the Boston Garden has hosted were a political rally for Massachusetts native John F. Kennedy, home games for the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins, and concerts for many popular artists such as Elvis Presley and the Beatles. The arena has won many awards such as being a finalist for National Sports Forum Achievement Award.

The Boston Garden, 1928-1998

At 2:49 p.m., a pressure cooker bomb
exploded near the finish line on Boylston Street. People frantically rushed to
get away from the bombing. Before most people had the chance to react to the
first explosion, another bomb detonated thirteen seconds later outside of Forum
Restaurant. Lu Lingzi, a graduate student at Boston University, ran from the
bombing scene after the first explosion. Sadly, Lu’s life came to a sudden end
when she ran into the second bomb at the exact moment it detonated.

First
responders&nbsp;pronounced three people dead at the scene, but over 250 people
faced serious injuries. Countless people suffered severe injuries ranging from
deep gashes to missing limbs. The injuries were extensive because the bombers
designed the explosives to inflict maximum damage. In fact, the bombers put
nails and pellets in their homemade bombs. Doctors described the injuries as
being equivalent to those a military doctor would encounter on the battlefield.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
After the initial shock of the bombings, people wanted justice. Obtaining
justice proved to be difficult because the authorities did not know the
identities of the bombers. Finally, after two days filled with numerous dead
ends, the authorities received a breakthrough tip from a man named Danny. Danny
informed the authorities that he had been carjacked by two men who claimed to
be responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings as well as the murder of an MIT
police officer. These men forced him to drive them around Boston, and they even
wanted him to drive them to New York City. Fortunately, Danny was able to
escape from his captors at a gas station. Danny's information gave the
authorities the leads that they desperately needed to identify and to locate
the suspects. The authorities identified the bombers as brothers Tamerlan and
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Luckily, Danny left his cell phone in the car that the
Tsarnaev brothers were driving, so the authorities were able to pinpoint the location
of the brothers.&nbsp;Then, police officers killed Tamerlan in a shootout in
Boston’s Watertown District and apprehended Dzhokhar several hours later at a
boat dock.&nbsp; When the intense manhunt concluded, the Boston Police
Department tweeted, “CAPTURED!!! The hunt is over. The search is done. The
terror is over. And justice has won. Suspect in custody.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Dzhokhar informed the police that he and his brother acted alone in the
attacks&nbsp;and were not part of a terrorist organization. He explained that
their fanatical Islamic beliefs prompted them to carry out the attack. He also
communicated that if they had successfully fled Boston, their next target would
have been Times Square.&nbsp;A Boston jury imposed the death penalty for
Dzhokhar, and he is currently on death row in the ADX Florence Penitentiary in
Colorado.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Following this tragedy, the residents of Boston and surrounding communities rallied together with the message, "Boston Strong." This saying represents the resilience of Boston residents to endure this tragedy and to continue living their lives.

&nbsp;

At this location on April 15th, 2013, two explosions about five hundred feet away claimed the lives of three people and caused over 250 severe injuries. This is the site of the second explosion, which was the result of two terrorists detonating pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon. This first detonation occurred near the public library ten seconds before this bomb exploded. The historic sporting event features the world’s best runners, but on this day, onlookers and participants were running for their lives. A memorial is planned for this intersection to be completed in 2020. The monument will pay tribute to first responders and commemorate the everyday heroism of the residents of Boston who unified under the iconic slogan, "Boston Strong."

Boston Marathon Bombing

The Matthews Arena the oldest indoor hockey and basketball arena in Boston, MA, located only a mile away from Fenway Park. It can be found on the Northeastern University Campus by its original Entrance made of red brick from when it opened back in April of 1910. It was originally made to be home for the original six hockey team, the Boston Bruins. The Mathews Arena was first known as the Boston Arena until 1982 when hey changed the name to honor George and Martha Matthews.The Matthews Arena has been host to many famous and influential throughout the years. It was first and manly home to the Boston Bruins till 1928 and the Celtics until 1955. It is also known for hosting several boxing events in its early life. For example.Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Marvin Hagler and Jack Dempsey all fought here. It was also used for Muhammad Ali to train during his career. Many presidents such as Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy have also used this arena for events. Babe Ruth would also use this arena to play pick up hockey at the arena.Gordie Howe also played in this Arena when he played for the New England/Hartford Whalers.This stadium is where he became one of the only players to compete in five decades. Northeastern University purchased the arena in 1979 but have been using it since 1930. At the Northeastern University Huskies' debut game they unfortunately lost 2-1 to MIT. The Huskies have gone to the NCAA hockey tournament in 1988, 1994, 2009, 2016, 2018, and 2019 but have not won yet. The Huskies have had major success in the annual Beanpot Tournament by winning it seven times throughout their career. Another place they have had success by winning the Hockey East Championship three times. In recent years they have had a solid win rank with an NCAA title in their sites.Throughout the Matthews Arena's long life it has had a couple tragedies. These both being fires in 1918 and in 1948. Both of these fires required immediate renovations due to some structural damage. More recently they have done several renovations to the arena for athletes and fans alike. Even the oldest rink in the world needs to be updated sometimes.The fans got to see a couple upgrades to improve their game watching experience. These include the construction of a new scoreboard, the installation of new seats around the arena, and an elevator to improve accessibility. When it comes to improvements for the athletes there have been many. These renovations include updates to the men’s and women’s locker rooms, sports medicine area, and strength and conditioning equipment spaces. The arena keeps its old school style will having new modern touches within it.The experience people get from visiting Matthews Arena is unparalleled to any other hockey rink. The history that has happened within this arena doors can not be seen anywhere else. Not many stadiums can state that they are the original home of two of their national teams. With a seating capacity of just under 5,000 there is plenty of rooms for visiter from all around. Even if people are not a fan of hockey or basketball the history is worth the visit.

The Matthews Arena is the worlds oldest indoor hockey arena still in use today and is located in Boston, MA. It was built in April of 1910 for the original six hockey team, the Boston Bruins. The Matthews Arena is over a century old with an age of 110 and is also the first indoor sight for hockey in the Boston area. It has been home to many hockey and basketball teams since its opening. A lot of people have considered Fenway Park to be the oldest sports arena in Boston but Matthews Arena predates it by two years. It is now home to the Northeastern Huskies' hockey and basketball teams. 

Matthews Arena

The Huntington Avenue Grounds was home to Boston’s team, known at the time as the Americans, from 1901-1911. The ballpark was demolished a year after the first World Series. The Cabot Center, a Northeastern University athletic center, stands where the ballpark was once located. The statue of Cy Young stands just outside (at the back) of this building. This statue stands near the
middle of the campus at Northeastern University, not far from the library, the
campus center, and several classroom buildings.&nbsp;Cy Young remains one of the most famous&nbsp;American baseball players. In this statue, Young is depicted with his right hand behind his back, left hand on his knee, poised to deliver a game-winning pitch

An inscription by his foot reads
“Cy Young.&nbsp; At this site in October 1903,
Baseball’s winningest pitcher led Boston to victory in the first World Series.”&nbsp; This was the site of the Huntington Avenue
Grounds.&nbsp; Here, the Boston Americans
defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first modern World Series.&nbsp; In a nine-game contest, the Boston team won
five games to three.&nbsp; 

In 1912, the team (known as the
Boston Red Sox since 1908) moved to the historic Fenway Park.&nbsp;

This statue of Cy Young is located in the center of the Northeastern University campus. At first, it may seem curious to find a memorial to one of baseball's greatest pitchers amid drab academic buildings. However, the location of the statue reveals the original site of the pitching mound at the Huntington Avenue Grounds. The ballpark was demolished over a century ago, but baseball fans continue to visit this location as the former stadium hosted the first World Series of baseball's modern era. The Red Sox won that contest, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates in a best-of-nine series.  

Cy Young and the First World Series (1903) Statue at Northeastern University

The Huntington Avenue Grounds were built in 1901, and
reportedly constructed on what was previously an old circus lot. This resulted
in a few oddities on the field that have persisted in memory perhaps for their
quaintness, but didn't make for an ideal playing space. There were several
places on the Grounds where grass would not&nbsp;grow, resulting in several sandy
patches that punctuated the grassy field. An old tool shed remained from the
field’s past life as a circus in the outermost part of the grounds, which was
actually in play, posing a unique obstacle when hits would bounce around or
against &nbsp;it.<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/huntin.htm">1</a>

The Grounds were also unique in its physical dimensions,
being substantially larger in parts of its lifetime than modern baseball
fields, although the measurements for the field were periodically redrawn.2&nbsp;With
a very open design (barriers were made of rope, which were sometimes ignored
entirely by fans who wanted to spectate more actively), the Grounds could accommodate
a large number of people, but usually only saw about 5,000 at a time. 3&nbsp;

Despite the quirks of the field and what would now be
considered an unconventional layout of the field, the Huntington Avenue Grounds
have the distinction of hosting the very first modern World Series game in
1903, and witnessed the first perfect game, played by Cy Young, in 1904.4 &nbsp;Unfortunately,
these claims to fame were not&nbsp;enough to keep the Grounds open forever – in 1912,
barely a decade after its inauguration, the Huntington Avenue Grounds were closed,
to eventually be replaced with Northeastern University’s indoor athletic Cabot
Center.&nbsp;5

The Huntington Avenue American League Base Ball Grounds was the first home of the Boston Red Sox, the land of which is now occupied by the Cabot Center of Northeastern University. The site was active as the Huntington Avenue grounds from 1901 until its demolition in 1912. In 1903, the Grounds hosted the first modern World Series. In addition to its famous home team, the Grounds possessed several physical quirks that help distinguish its memory. 

Huntington Avenue American League Base Ball Grounds

Built during the “Golden Age of Ballparks,” Fenway Park is the nation’s oldest operating Major League baseball stadium and the home of the Boston Red Sox. Construction of the stadium began on September 25, 1911. The ballpark opened seven months later with a seating capacity of 24,400. Boston mayor John Francis “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald threw the ceremonial first pitch of the first official game on April 20, 1912, before a crowd of 27,000. Prior to this, a game took place on April 9, 1912 between the Sox and Harvard University. In their first year at Fenway Park, the Red Sox won the 1912 World Series.Over the years, Fenway Park has been associated with a number of significant major league baseball players, including Ted Williams and Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth was the first to hit a home run over the new left field wall in 1934 when Ruth was a New York Yankee. The first significant renovation of Fenway Park took place in 1934 under the ownership of Thomas Yawkey at a cost of $1.25 million. This project enlarged the grandstand and replaced wooden bleachers with concrete and steel structures. The Red Sox and Fenway Park were acquired in 2002 by New England Sports Ventures, the first change in ownership in 68 years. The tradition rich atmosphere outside of Fenway Park before games is truly unique. Yawkey Way is closed prior to every game so fans can mingle and enjoy live music, food, and the company of other Red Sox fans outside Fenway Park. Inside, Fenway Park's interior is full of character with its small seating capacity, the Green Monster, and non-electronic scoreboard in left field. There is also the lone red seat in right field where the longest homerun ever hit, 502 feet by Ted Williams. The outfield includes the retired numbers of Red Sox legends on the right field facade.

One of the most iconic stadiums in the history of baseball, Fenway Park has been home to Major League Baseball since 1912 and has been home to legends of the sport including Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Carl Yastrzemski. The oldest current Major League Stadium, Fenway is known for its small size compared to modern stadiums and its unique shape including the "Green Monster" in left field. 



Fenway Park

Theodore Samuel Williams was born on August 30, 1918 in San Diego, California. His father, Samuel Stuart Williams, was a New York-born photographer and alcoholic, while his mother, May Venzor, was a Mexican-American evangelist who worked with the Salvation Army, often preaching on street corners late into the night or traveling to Mexico to save souls. As a result of his father’s drinking problem and his mother’s zealous devotion to her religious faith, Williams and his younger brother often suffered from neglect. Taught to throw a baseball by his maternal uncle, he played in neighborhood sandlots before starring on the baseball team at the city’s Herbert Hoover High School. In the summer of 1936, Williams, at the age of seventeen and still in high school, signed with the San Diego Padres, then a minor league team competing in the Pacific Coast League. He ultimately spent three seasons in the minor leagues, playing two seasons with his hometown Padres and one with the Minneapolis Millers, the top-level affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. In 1939, Williams received a call-up from the Red Sox, beginning what would become a lengthy major league career. During that span, he led the American League in on-base percentage twelve times and homeruns four times. The slugger also won six American League batting titles. In 1941, Williams finished his third season with the Red Sox with a batting average of .406. He remains to this day the last major league player to hit .400 or above in a season. The following year, Williams won his first American League Triple Crown with a .356 batting average, thirty-six homeruns, and 137 RBIs. In 1946, he led the Red Sox to a World Series berth and captured the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award. The next season, he won his second American League Triple Crown. In 1949, Williams won his second American League Most Valuable Player Award and nearly captured another Triple Crown. Following the 1960 season, he ended his major league playing career, but not before hitting a homerun on his final at bat. Williams finished with a .344 batting average, 521 homeruns, and 1,839 RBIs. In 1966, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Williams returned to Major League Baseball in 1969 as the manager of the Washington Senators (who soon after became the Texas Rangers), earning American League Manager of the Year honors in his first season. Following the 1972 season, he retired from coaching. Williams passed away on July 5, 2002. Williams, however, was much more than simply a great professional baseball player. He was also an American patriot and humanitarian. In 1942, with the United States at war, Williams enlisted in the U.S. Navy, eventually becoming a flight instructor. He went on active duty that November and subsequently missed the 1943, 1944, and 1945 big league seasons. Early in the 1952 season, military duty called once again. Flying combat missions over Korea, Williams missed nearly the all of the 1952 and 1953 seasons. In addition to serving his country in the military, he made frequent visits to local hospitals to visit ailing children during his playing career. Shortly after Williams’ death, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino suggested that a statue of the Red Sox great be erected in the city. A. Hank Evanish, who received his flight training under Williams many decades earlier, agreed to bankroll the project. Designed by sculptor Franc Talarico, the eight-and-a-half-foot-tall bronze statue depicts Williams standing, holding a baseball bat on his left shoulder. He gently places his baseball hat on the head of a bronze cancer-stricken boy, with whom he shares a four-foot-tall granite pedestal. Talarico drew inspiration for the statue of the boy from Einar “Jimmy” Gustafson, the sickly twelve-year-old who in 1948 helped kick start the Jimmy Fund, which still raises money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dedicated in April 2004, the bronze pair stands outside Gate B of Boston’s historic Fenway Park.

This statue commemorates Boston Red Sox Hall-of-Fame slugger Ted Williams (1918-2002). A native of San Diego, he spent his entire major league career with the Red Sox. During that time, Williams won two American League Triple Crowns and six batting titles. He remains to this day the last major league player to hit .400 or above in a season. More than simply a great professional baseball player, Williams served his country in the Second World War and the Korean War. He also made frequent visits to local hospitals to visit ailing children during his playing career. Shortly after Williams’ death, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino suggested that a statue of the Red Sox great be erected in the city. A. Hank Evanish, who received his flight training under Williams many decades earlier, agreed to bankroll the project. Designed by sculptor Franc Talarico, the eight-and-a-half-foot-tall bronze statue depicts Williams standing, holding a baseball bat on his left shoulder. He gently places his baseball hat on the head of a bronze cancer-stricken boy, with whom he shares a four-foot-tall granite pedestal. Talarico drew inspiration for the statue of the boy from Einar “Jimmy” Gustafson, the sickly twelve-year-old who in 1948 helped kick start the Jimmy Fund, which still raises money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dedicated in April 2004, the bronze pair stands outside Gate B of Boston’s historic Fenway Park.

Ted Williams Statue

One of several historic ballparks in the area, like the
close neighboring Huntington Avenue Grounds, the Braves Field was fairly
long-standing and earned several nicknames over the course of time and
evolution of the Boston Braves. At one point, it was nicknamed The Wigwam, then
the Beehive, and then The Wigwam again as the Braves underwent various team
changes.1

A significant amount of time and money went into developing
the Braves Field&nbsp;over a period of decades, which changed its layout considerably from the
original blueprint. Originally 402x550x402 feet, at least $500,000 was invested
in expanding the field to accommodate the increasing demand by baseball fans.
Thousands of new seats were added by shrinking the field’s dimensions, the
score board was replaced, and cosmetic changes were made to update the stands
and buildings surrounding the field. Despite these many renovations, the field
didn’t always see enough action to justify its capacity, often receiving only
enough visitors to fill a very small number of seats.

Partially due to the troublingly low attendance at
the Braves Field, it was suddenly and (to the public) unexpectedly closed in
1952. &nbsp;Unlike other historical fields in the area, though (such as the
Huntington Avenue Grounds), much of the Braves Field remains standing today.
Boston University acquired the property and integrated part of the existing
structures, like stands and administrative offices, into the new Nickerson
Field. The property is still owned and utilized by various Boston University
athletics teams.

The Braves Field was a historic baseball field which was massive for its time period, seating up to 40,000 fans. It was named after its home team, the Boston Braves, and opened in 1915 in Boston, Massachusetts. Although the Braves Field closed its gates in 1952, parts of the field were incorporated into Boston University's Nickerson Field which stands in the former location of Braves Field.

Braves Field, Boston (1915-1952) and Nickerson Field 

Harvard University played home football games in several locations until the creation of the historic stadium in 1903 on 31 acres of land known as Soldiers Field donated to the University by Henry Lee Higginson.1&nbsp;Constructed in less than five months,&nbsp;the stadium was a&nbsp;25th anniversary gift of the Class of 1879 that cost approximately $310,000.2&nbsp;However, the field has served more purposes than just for the famous Harvard-Yale rivalry football game. The stadium is home to track and field, rugby, lacrosse, soccer, professional football and ice hockey.3&nbsp;The American Football League Boston Patriots called the Harvard Stadium home for two years in 1970.4&nbsp;The Stadium has also&nbsp;hosted the U.S. track and field Olympic trials in 1916 and 1920 as well as an Olympic soccer competition in the summer of 1984.5 Recently, the stadium has become home to the Boston Breakers of the Women's Professional Soccer league.6&nbsp; Aside from being an engineering marvel, Harvard Stadium helped change the game of football. In 1905, President Charles W. Eliot threatened to get rid of the rough game that football had become.7 Fearful of injury and potential long term damage, football was almost removed from Harvard University just two years after completing the new stadium.8&nbsp;&nbsp;The National Collegiate Athletic Association decided to implement new rules promoting player safety, forbiddance of tackling out of bounds, face mask tackles, and tackling below the knee as a way to salvage the game.9 Another measure to ensure player safety was to increase the width of the playing field.10 However, due to the permanent nature of the newly built Harvard Stadium, it was not possible to increase the width of the field. As an alternative measure, "the committee agreed to ratify the novel and somewhat controversial forward pass, changing the sport forever."11&nbsp;Fortunately Eliot got what he was after and Harvard Stadium continues to serve as one of the most recognized football stadiums. "In hindsight, however, it was the adoption of the forward pass curtailed the sport's violence and led to the surge in popularity that remains to this day."12 Since its grand opening, Harvard Stadium has hosted over 635 football games for an all-time stadium record remaining as one of the greatest venues in organized football.13 Over the years the stadium has made improvements including the removable dome-like "bubble" used during the end of football season.14 The "bubble" covers the playing field from November until the spring allowing the space to be utilized during the cold winter months.15&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Harvard Stadium opened on November 14, 1903 as the first collegiate athletic stadium in the United States. The nation's oldest stadium is located in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. With Greek and Roman influences, the U-shaped stadium is also the world's first massive reinforced concrete structure used solely for collegiate sports. Harvard Stadium could accommodate as many as 57,166 spectators in the steel stands located in the north end zone until the stands were removed in 1951. Currently, the stadium has a capacity of 30,323. Rich in sport history, Harvard Stadium is one of four athletic arenas recognized as a National Historic Landmark.  

Boston Sports History Trail

The Sports Museum - TD Garden

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information