The Game Day Routine

I'm required to be at Fenway Park at least 1 1/2 hours before the game begins. The Red Sox provide me with a parking pass and also enable me to utilize their staff dining room (the food is good) free of charge. I am in my seat in the announcer's booth at least 1/2 hour before game time. Sometimes, there are special events, or pre-game ceremonies, which require announcements; such special situations are always accompanied by a script which the Red Sox Public Relations Department prepares and which is given to me, for perusal and unusual pronunciations, about 1/2 hour before I have to announce. These things sometimes involve tongue twisters that can be difficult to announce. The official line-ups are printed up in the press box and distributed to all those interested -- including myself -- about 20 minutes before game time. At 10 minutes before game time, we go to work and over the PA system people hear:

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and welcome to Fenway Park for today's game between the _______ and the Boston Red Sox. . . and now here are the starting lineups for today's game.

From this point on, it's every player as he comes to bat -- I announce number, position and name; I announce any pitching change, any pinch hitter, pinch runner, and any defensive change; I announce each team's first and third base coaches at the start of each team's first inning at bat. In addition, there are routine announcements that are made at every game: Smoke-free Fenway Park, warning about going on the field, Baseball Trivia Quiz and Answer (sponsor pays to have this done) and "Missing Persons" as advised by the Red Sox security people, on an as-necessary basis.