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456

As you might have heard (not that NESN didn't beat us about the head with the news or anything), last night's sellout at Fenway marked the 456th consecutive home sellout for the Red Sox - breaking the major league record for consecutive sellouts. That record would probably have been broken long ago if they counted the sellouts at Camden and the Trop when the Sox were in town.

And since no one throws a celebration like the Red Sox, they invaded the print media and the airwaves to throw a party in honor of the record. Full-page thank you ads appeared in the Globe and Herald- naming 456 reasons to say thank you.

A whole host of current players are namechecked in the ads - including oldtimers and newcomers alike: Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Beckett (albeit misspelled as "Becket"), Tim Wakefield, Jonathan Papelbon, JD Drew, Mike Lowell, bullpen pirates, Hideki Okajima, Paul Byrd, Justin Masterson, Curt Schilling, Jon Lester & Daisuke Matsuzaka. It is also definitely worth it to read through the entire list of 456.

And in addition to the print ads, the Red Sox owners and players filmed this thank you TV spot as well - and of course found time to fit in some silliness (I'm looking at you, Pedroia).

Comments (8)

[ jules ] says:
on September 9, 2008 1:02 PM

Pleats cracked me up, too (sounds like me trying to speak Spanish).

Great video, thanks for posting it.

I'm happy to say that we had a part in setting the record--best birthday I've ever had.

[ Jai/MoonstarMA ] says:
on September 9, 2008 1:56 PM

As usual Texy, you're on top of things. I hadn't seen the commercial. Totally awesome. I really like that they included Jason Bay - he's seriously growing on me and I hope the Sox will strongly consider keeping him.

[ mhcranberry ] says:
on September 9, 2008 2:35 PM

To add to the record:

Last night, to celebrate (I know because I was THERE): early on, players were at the gates welcoming people with little keepsake cards; they had special ceremonies (duh); they showed a video with highlights from games during the streak; players with special little thank yous:

Youk: "Thanks for chanting "Youk"'
Paps: "Thanks for staying until the last out"
Jason Bay: "Thanks for being so nice to the new guy" (that was my favorite)

It was a great game. Had a BLAST.

[ mhcranberry ] says:
on September 9, 2008 2:36 PM

Oh wait-- look at that video. Well, I'm a dork and a half.

[ jules ] says:
on September 9, 2008 3:13 PM

I loved Jason Bay on that video (I also love the NESN commercial that says something along the lines of the new guy having 38,000 friends). I hope the Sox keep him, too. (Isn't he signed through next season?)

mch, what a game to be at! I *loved* the little kids at the beginning saying "play ball!"

[ jules ] says:
on September 9, 2008 4:41 PM

Hey Bostonians...how's the weather? I hope we're not rained out tonight.

[ Jolie ] says:
on September 9, 2008 6:12 PM

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/09/paps_dirty_danc.html

[ Ally ] says:
on September 9, 2008 9:12 PM

This is by far my favorite record of any sport. It's a record that us, Red Sox fans have.

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