The Red Sox celebrate their 100th anniversary

CARL YASTRZEMSKI

ON THIS DATE (May 27, 2001) ... The dampness of the day pushed them way back to the warning track in front of the Green Monster while a tarp covered the infield where the ceremony was to be. But nothing could put a damper on the occasion.

The Red Sox trotted out players and managers and scouts and coaches and general managers and assorted other front office types yesterday at Fenway Park in a celebration of their 100 years as a ball club.

There were video tributes to Ted Williams, recuperating from heart surgery in San Diego, and Bobby Doerr, who could not make it because of an illness in the family, and there were dozens who walked out from the corner deep in left field to seats set up along the warning track. Jerry Remy and Dick Radatz, Bill Monbouquette and Bob Montgomery, and Dom DiMaggio and Walt Dropo all were on hand. Out came Carlton Fisk, who joined the Hall of Fame last year, and finally captain Carl Yastrzemski.

The fans cheered the old-timers. And then whooped it up some more when Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez and the rest of the current Sox were introduced.

Garciaparra, speaking for the Red Sox past and present, returned the favor. "Fenway doesn't become Fenway without you fans," he said. "I can honestly say we appreciate all your support the last 100 years and look forward to another 100 years. For that, we thank you and tip our caps."

Scouts Bill Enos and Willie Paffen and general managers Dick O'Connell, Haywood Sullivan, and Lou Gorman were in attendance. So, too, were managers Ralph Houk, John McNamara, and Joe Morgan, who ran the team on the field from 1981 to 1991.