I Never Witnessed Racism at Fenway
Last week a story came out in which Torii Hunter remarked that he heard racist taunts while playing as a visitor at Fenway. Other people have made remarks to the media about racism at Fenway over the years and, though I can’t speak for what another player has experienced, in my 15+ years of playing in Boston, I never encountered this type of behavior directed at me, a teammate, or opposing player.
Actually, I never really heard of this type of behavior at any of the opposing ballparks that I played at. We always thought Yankee fans would be the worst but they’re just like any place else. Fans are gonna say “you suck” because you hurt their ball club. If you are just making outs and errors in the field, they won’t say a word. But when you do something to hurt their team such as hitting a home run, stealing a base, or throwing out a runner the fans will get on your case.
But as for racism, I NEVER had any experience like that. I think for a situation to escalate to that level, you have to do something to incite that type of behavior. If you talk about the fans or acknowledge their taunts by responding to them, that is when the situation can deteriorate into the type of behavior Torii alluded to. Again, I can’t say for certain what Torii experienced or what led up to it, you would have to ask him about that.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:04 am
Thats good to hear. It was pretty upsetting to hear Hunter say how he heard things like that at Fenway. Boston has such a crap reputation thanks to Mr. Yawkey and all the race issues of the mid 70’s.
If you didn’t hear anything back then, its crazy to think Torii heard stuff now. Not that he has a reason to lie or anything; he did have the no-trade to Boston clause put in his contract for a reason :\ I was just hoping racism wasn’t really the reason.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:09 am
I go to at least 10 ballgames a season at Fenway Park. I have never heard any racism either. I often sit in the bleachers where you hear a lot of different things, but nothing racist. I am glad someone is making a statement about this. Thanks to outspoken players like Bonds and Hunter, the fans in Boston are getting a bad name.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I heard plenty in the stands. At a game in 1997, sitting on first base side, I heard venom spewed at Troy O’Leary for not running a ground ball hard enough. And it wasn’t ordinary “you suck” venom, and he was one of Boston’s own players.
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
Only the ball is white!
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:11 am
At the end of last season Torii was quoted as saying the racist remarks were NOT the reason he had a no-trade clause for Boston, it’s the fact that the Green Monster would be detrimental to his aggressive fielding style. Same reason he said no Wrigley as well.
May 4th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I have been going to Red Sox games since the 60’s. I’ve sat in every section of the ball park. Not once, EVER, have I heard a racist remark said about any player. Sure you heard fans jeer the known steroid users, but that’s it.
December 18th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I have been going to Red sox games my whole life. Every game that i have been to i heard racism swears,like clock work.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I am with Russ. The few times I’ve been to Fenway ( and I am a black man living in Washington, DC)-well, let’s say I wouldn’t put it on my list of hot spots for black tourists.