Fanfare fills Fenway

BOSTON ? After going from its worst season in 47 years in 2012 to a world championship few expected last year when the season began, the pressure was on the Red Sox to come up with something special for its pregame ceremonies Friday at Fenway?s opening day.And Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, the team?s maestro for all things ceremonial, didn?t disappoint. The Red Sox pulled out all the stops, using the Boston Pops, the Dropkick Murphys, both the former and current mayors of Boston, the Boston Fire Department and victims of last year?s Boston Marathon bombings to help fans celebrate last year?s World Series victory.Not even a 6-2 opening-day loss to the Milwaukee Brewers could dampen the overall enthusiasm.Steinberg and the Pops mixed musical genres during the pre-game ceremonies to maximize the drama. As the first of their seven world championship flags unfurled from the left field monster seats, the Pops played Richard Strauss? “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” better known as the theme from the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Each time the orchestra struck the trademark notes after the three-note trumpet fanfare, another flag dropped down.The climactic final three flags (2004, 2007 and 2013), which all covered the left field wall, came down to the notes of John Williams? theme from “Jurassic Park.”?I had tears,” said Kris Horgan Mason, a Lynn Classical graduate who lives in New Hampshire. “As the 2013 banner finally lowered, I could hardly see it through the blur.”The team?s journey to a world championship was more emotional than most as it was accomplished against the backdrop of last April?s Boston Marathon bombing. Mason thought it was fitting that victims from the bombing – including Jane Richard, who lost her leg in the tragedy and whose brother, Martin, was killed – took part in the ceremony.?It almost became too much (to bear),” she said.Team management received its rings to the ceremonial “Trumpet Voluntary” by William Purcell, but the team switched to a more upbeat musical menu for the players, with The Who?s “Baba O?Reilly” and Journey?s “Don?t Stop Believing” booming over the sound system as the players received their rings. The final two players to get them were American League Championship Series MVP Koji Uehara and World Series MVP David Ortiz, who entered the field with his own song: “Fanfare for Fenway,” another Williams composition first played two years ago at the 100th anniversary celebration of the park.?The music couldn?t have been more perfect,” Mason said, “especially the royalty music for (Big) Papi.”Also impressive, she said, was the tribute to the two fallen Boston firefighters, who died last Wednesday in a nine-alarm fire on Beacon Street.Lynn?s Clay Walsh, sitting along the third base line, caught a little bit of the festive air before entering the park. He found Boston Police officer Steve Horgan, better known as “Bullpen Cop,” who held his arms up as David Ortiz?s grand slam in Game 2 of the ALCS landed just out of the reach of the overturned Torii Hunter in the right field bullpen. In fact, he got a picture.?He?s a good guy to do something like that,” said Walsh. “I?m sure after posing for all those pictures, his arms must get tired (from holding them up).”Walsh, too, was impressed.?The coolest part to me was (former Boston mayor) Tom Menino (who was supposed to throw out the first pitch), passing the ball over to (new mayor) Marty Walsh. That was nice.”Walsh and Mason are both optimistic about the season.?They have a lot of the same players back,” Mason said. “I think they have a good chance of doing well. The camaraderie is still there. If they can hold onto what made them strong last year, they really can?t lose.”?Last year,” said Walsh, “they formed the bearded brotherhood. I hope they can keep the same chemistry. The fans are sure energized.”