Red Sox Nation
Encyclopedia
Red Sox Nation refers to the fans of the Boston Red Sox
. The phrase "Red Sox Nation" was first coined by Boston Globe feature writer Nathan Cobb in an October 20, 1986, article about split allegiances among fans in Connecticut
during the 1986 World Series
between the Red Sox and the New York Mets
.
as the "ultimate manic-depressive fanbase." For all the excitement over the quality of play by the Red Sox, there is often a twinge of pessimism about the team, as the team's failures are typically blown out of proportion. Boston Globe columnist Charlie Pierce
, among others, has attributed the self-perpetuating fatalism of the Nation to the intellectual legacy of the Puritans who settled Boston
and instilled in the region's inhabitants a deep-seated Calvinist determinism
.
The Nation has received mixed reaction from the rest of the country. In 2010, Forbes magazine rated Red Sox Nation as the best fans in American sports, citing points such as road attendance and overall devotion to the team. In 2011, GQ magazine ranked Red Sox fans the 6th worst in the United States - and 2nd worst in Major League Baseball behind only the Philadelphia Phillies - labeling them "insufferable hypocrites" for their "whining about the Yankees' salary-driven Evil Empire" while the Red Sox maintain a significant payroll advantage over nearly every team in MLB, including a $90 million advantage over their 2007 World Series challengers, the Colorado Rockies.
of NBC
moderated a debate among six of the candidates in a hall at Boston University (three were no-shows, and Doris Kearns Goodwin
withdrew from the race). The final election, also open to the public at the same website, was held from September 28 through October 2, 2007. The winner was Jerry Remy
, a former Red Sox player and current broadcast color commentator. The following day, Remy threw out the first pitch in the opening game of the Red Sox' playoff series.
Governors are responsible for organizing viewing parties for Red Sox Nation members in their states, as well as collecting feedback from their constituency. For their efforts, the governors enjoy the following benefits:
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. The phrase "Red Sox Nation" was first coined by Boston Globe feature writer Nathan Cobb in an October 20, 1986, article about split allegiances among fans in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
during the 1986 World Series
1986 World Series
The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...
between the Red Sox and the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
Red Sox fandom
Red Sox fans were once described by Dennis EckersleyDennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck", is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
as the "ultimate manic-depressive fanbase." For all the excitement over the quality of play by the Red Sox, there is often a twinge of pessimism about the team, as the team's failures are typically blown out of proportion. Boston Globe columnist Charlie Pierce
Charlie Pierce
Charles P. Pierce is a nationally known American sportswriter, author, and game show panelist.He graduated from St...
, among others, has attributed the self-perpetuating fatalism of the Nation to the intellectual legacy of the Puritans who settled Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and instilled in the region's inhabitants a deep-seated Calvinist determinism
Determinism
Determinism is the general philosophical thesis that states that for everything that happens there are conditions such that, given them, nothing else could happen. There are many versions of this thesis. Each of them rests upon various alleged connections, and interdependencies of things and...
.
The Nation has received mixed reaction from the rest of the country. In 2010, Forbes magazine rated Red Sox Nation as the best fans in American sports, citing points such as road attendance and overall devotion to the team. In 2011, GQ magazine ranked Red Sox fans the 6th worst in the United States - and 2nd worst in Major League Baseball behind only the Philadelphia Phillies - labeling them "insufferable hypocrites" for their "whining about the Yankees' salary-driven Evil Empire" while the Red Sox maintain a significant payroll advantage over nearly every team in MLB, including a $90 million advantage over their 2007 World Series challengers, the Colorado Rockies.
"Official" Red Sox Nation
In 2004 the Boston Red Sox began offering official citizenship in Red Sox Nation. For a small fee, fans received a membership card with the words "Official Red Sox Nation Citizen" and access to additional Red Sox merchandise offers and newsletters.President
In the summer of 2007, the Red Sox fan site on MLB.com offered "official" citizens of RSN the chance to register as candidates to become the first president of Red Sox Nation, for the 2008 season. A broad field of self-proclaimed candidates was whittled down (internally, by operators of the website) to 25, then an open-to-all online "primary" was held in August that resulted in 10 final candidates. For most of September, the ten were provided with weblogs on the website to mount their campaigns. On September 27, Tim RussertTim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
of NBC
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
moderated a debate among six of the candidates in a hall at Boston University (three were no-shows, and Doris Kearns Goodwin
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American biographer and historian, and an oft-seen political commentator. She is the author of biographies of several U.S...
withdrew from the race). The final election, also open to the public at the same website, was held from September 28 through October 2, 2007. The winner was Jerry Remy
Jerry Remy
Gerald Peter "Rem Dawg" Remy is a Major League Baseball broadcaster and former Major League Baseball second baseman. Remy grew up in Somerset, Massachusetts.-Playing career:...
, a former Red Sox player and current broadcast color commentator. The following day, Remy threw out the first pitch in the opening game of the Red Sox' playoff series.
Governors
Following Jerry Remy's election as president of Red Sox Nation, he and his vice president "Regular Rob" Crawford developed a "Red Sox Nation Five-Point Plan" to guide their first year in office. The first point of the plan called for the creation of governors to represent members of Red Sox Nation in their home states. Beginning with the six New England states, nominations were accepted through redsox.com, and from these nominations the president and vice president appointed representatives for each state.Governors are responsible for organizing viewing parties for Red Sox Nation members in their states, as well as collecting feedback from their constituency. For their efforts, the governors enjoy the following benefits:
- Unlimited Fenway Park tour pass for two
- Two tickets to a select 2008 Red Sox regular season game
- A certificate of governorship signed by the president/CEO of the Red Sox
- Periodic "governors only" conference calls with the vice president of Red Sox Nation and a select Red Sox executive
- A Red Sox Nation shirt
- A 2009 Red Sox Nation fan pack citizenship
- A subscription to MLB.tv
- Personalized "Red Sox Nation governor" business cards
- A photograph of the Fenway Park center field videoboard with their name on it.