What the Sox won't tell you

Let me be the next to mention that it was 99 years ago today that -- after two days of rain delays -- America's most beloved ballpark finally opened. 

John Henry's beautiful people have just announced in the past half hour their new website: http://mlb.mlb.com/bos/fenwaypark100. Starting next week, though, you can pay JH to have your name etched on a brick at Fenway for with $250 or $475. (I'm guessing it's much more memorable to write out your name in beer piss in the bleachers. It's cheaper, and it will attract a lot more attention.)

I've already looked at the site, and here's what John Hank's BPs don't even mention. Remember, you got this from me when you begin peeing and moaning at the bar today.

In that first Fenway opening, Sox beat NY Highlanders 7-6 on a Tris Speaker RBI in the eleventh. There had been two days of postponements due to rain. JFK's grandfather, Mayor "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald threw out Fenway's very first pitch before a sellout crowd of 27,000.

Fenway's first starting pitcher for the Sox was a righthanded spitballer from Brockton named Thomas Joseph O'Brien. They called him "Buck." In extra innings, the game was carried by another righty (does that make him a northpaw? looks like I justed invented that one) named "Sea Lion" Hall, who's often called baseball's original relief pitcher. And he was called "Sea Lion" because he had a loud, raspy voice that sounded like a walrus. But Charley Hall's real name is Carlos Clolo. (This is sort of like "Rocky Raccoon," ain't it? "Her name was McGill/And she called herself "Lil"/But everyone knew her as "Nancy.")

But, I digress.

Just remember, send John Henry your money.