For Red Sox and Dodgers, there's no place like home
The 2018 World Series will be one for the history books between two historic franchises.
This is the first Fall Classic between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Before the Dodgers left Brooklyn for Los Angeles after the 1957 season, the Red Sox met Brooklyn in the 1916 World Series. The Dodgers - who had many different team names in their early history - went by the Robins in 1916, in honor of their beloved manager, Wilbert Robinson.
Adding to the intrigue of this year's matchup will be the two ballparks. Fenway Park in Boston is Major League Baseball's oldest ballpark, having opened in 1912. (But it is interesting to note that the Red Sox played their home games at larger Braves Field in Boston for the 1916 Series.)
Dodger Stadium is the second-oldest ballpark in the National League, next to Wrigley Field. The Dodgers' park opened in 1962.
As venerable as the two venues are, they could not be more different even as both are situated in the midst of major American cities.
We compare and contrast.
Getting there
Driving in Boston is a nightmare, so the best way to get to Fenway is on the "T," the Boston equivalent of the Red Line to Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field on the South Side. The Kenmore stop lets you off a couple blocks way from Fenway.
If you're staying anywhere in downtown Boston, the recommended way is to walk. Stop by Boston Common for a few moments of peace and take a stroll down Boylston Street. You won't be disappointed.
In L.A., there's only one way: by car. Dodger Stadium features massive parking lots on multiple levels. If you ever wonder why fans arrive late and leave early, try getting in and out.
Ambience
Fenway's charm is much like Wrigley's. The ballpark is nestled into a city neighborhood, and hence, some of the quirky dimensions and the Green Monster. On the afternoon of night games, stop in at the Bleacher Bar for a cup of "chowdah" and a sandwich. The restaurant is under the outfield stands and gives you a partial view of the field.
The seats are up close, and the Red Sox have "expanded" Fenway Park, using Jersey Street (formerly Yawkey Way), as a spot for food and concessions. The grilled Italian sausages are a must.
You can stroll around Dodger Stadium and see the exhibit honoring Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully or see the oversized baseballs featuring the autographs of Dodgers greats. When the skies are clear, the view of the San Gabriel mountains is magnificent.
Organist Dieter Ruehle keeps things lively. Organ music for Dodgers games dates back to the Brooklyn days at Ebbets Field.
Drawbacks
The seats at Fenway and the aisles are narrow. In this way, Wrigley Field has it all over Fenway. There are obstructed-view seats, but that's a small price to pay.
Dodger Stadium is loud. Or, rather, DODGER STADIUM IS LOUD.
The sound system, with huge speakers beyond the center-field wall, will knock you over. Bring earplugs.
Big moments
Who could forget Carlton Fisk "willing" his home run fair to win Game 6 of the 1975 World Series? That was one of the greatest baseball games ever played in one of the best Series played.
Kirk Gibson matched that in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series when he hobbled out of the dugout and homered off Oakland Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley and homered in the ninth inning to give the Dodgers a walk-off victory and propel them to the Series title.
Playing the game
The 37-foot-high wall in left field, the Green Monster, dominates Fenway Park. High flyballs that settle into outfielders' gloves in other parks land in the seats for home runs with the left-field line measuring just 310 feet from home plate.
On the other hand, line drives can clank off the Monster, and alert left fielders can turn those into singles. Shortstops have to be watchful of hard groundballs hit down the left-field line because the wall in foul territory juts out, and baseballs carom into short left field. The Pesky Pole in right-field field is only 302 feet from the plate, but the wall angles out from there, and the wall in right-center appears to be a mile from the plate.
Dodger Stadium is a symmetrical park without a lot of quirks. Pitchers love it at night, when flyballs seem to die in the darkness.
Many happy returns
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is a folk hero in Boston. His stolen base in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 2004 American League championship series set the stage for the Red Sox to rally from a three-games-to-none deficit to the Yankees and go on to win their first World Series since 1918.
The Fenway faithful should give Roberts a thundering ovation before hostilities commence.
Former Cubs lefty Rich Hill, now with L.A., pitched for the Red Sox over parts of 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.