Fenway: Is it a stupid question?

[tyruschen]

Yeah, we all love Fenway Park. We all like its legend. (dimensions maybe not) But can anybody tell me: Why they build the Green Monster then? Why don't they put grandstands there like other teams and almost all other ballparks to make profit? (especially when your ballpark is cozy) Anybody knows the answer and the history?

Thanks a lot!


p.s. It's great to talk baseball here!

[Rajah]

Well, there's a road behind the green monster.

[RedSeat]

Yeah, we all love Fenway Park.



You may get some debate on that one.

As for the wall in left, Lansdowne Street runs directly behind the wall and the the Mass Pike is behind that. There simply wasn't room to put bleachers in.

[tyruschen]

You may get some debate on that one.

As for the wall in left, Lansdowne Street runs directly behind the wall and the the Mass Pike is behind that. There simply wasn't room to put bleachers in.

Isn't right field the same situation?
(Sorry, I'm a fan oversea never been to America keeping asking stupid question)

Thanks for the answer!

[sweaver]

I always tell my classes there is no such thing as a stupid question, but I reserve the right to give a stupid answer.

[RedSeat]

Isn't right field the same situation?
(Sorry, I'm a fan oversea never been to America keeping asking stupid question)

Thanks for the answer!

It's a triangular lot. There's quite a bit of room in right and center field. Look at this map.

Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&addtohistory=&address=LAnsdowne+St&city=Boston&state=MA&zipcode=&homesubmit=Get+Map)

Right field is to the east. Mapquest will give you a nice aerial photo of the park too. I believe you need to complete a free registration to see the photos though.

[TimmyB]

Yeah, we all love Fenway Park. We all like its legend. (dimensions maybe not) But can anybody tell me: Why they build the Green Monster then? Why don't they put grandstands there like other teams and almost all other ballparks to make profit?

I seem to recall reading Bob Gibson asked the very same question when he first saw Fenway in the '67 World Series. (More seats would have meant a bigger check.)

[WiredTiger]

A lot of ballparks in the past were built to accomodate the plot of land that was chosen for the stadium. The stadiums had to be located nearer to the city than they do now and the avilable inexpenvie land often was oddly shaped.If you go through and look at the old stadiums you'll find a lot of them have odd shapes and crazy walls.

[tyruschen]

I have another question: They add net after the Monster is build cause too many balls falling on the road out there, but I remember that when I watching games in Wrigley Field, if someone hit a ball out of the park, it will also land on the road out left field, why they didn't do something in Chicago?

Thanks for wise answering to my stupid question!

[Wolf Hopper]

Just a guess - it's easier to hit one out in LF in Boston than in Chicago? Either that, or, the people in Boston complained to get a net and the ones in Chicago did not.

[KCBOOMER]

Ty, you may want to go to the link below for the history of Fenway Park:

http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/index.htm

[sweaver]

LF at Wrigley is about 355 feet down the line. Not far if the wind is blowing out, but not a cheapie. LF at Fenway is listed as 315 feet, but some measurements put it at about 305.

[gyb13]

I always tell my classes there is no such thing as a stupid question, but I reserve the right to give a stupid answer.I thought it was "there are no stupid questions. there are only stupid people who ask questions." :D