And Now, The End is Near

It's the end of an era : Derek Jeter's last season in Major League Baseball. When he announced his retirement at the start of the season, my dad said - we should get tickets to his last game at Fenway! I started to look into it, and put my name on a waiting list to buy tickets. I sort of forgot about it until mid - September when I got a call that I needed to update my credit card info in order to process the tickets! WHAT?! These bad boys were selling on stub hub and everywhere else for $200+ per ticket, and we just scored face value seats!! WOOOT!!

We broke the news to my dad and Scott's dad the week before, and they were SO excited!! Steve declined at first since they had a family friend's daughter's wedding to attend the same day - but when Laurel found out about the game - she told him to skip the wedding!! What a sweet wife!

The dads drove up together and we headed to Fenway!

NYC Color Guard alongside Boston on the field

Red Sox Message to Jeter: With Re2pect to Derek Jeter

Past Red Sox captains came to celebrate Jeter: Carl Yastremski -

Jim Rice, Luis Tiant, Tim Wakefield, Rico Petrocelli, Jason Varitek and Fred Lynn. [Yes, I had to google it!]

Other prominent Boston sports figures came too - Bobby Orr (Bruins), Troy Brown (Patriots), Paul Pierce (Celtics)

And the entire 2014 Red Sox roster came out to shake his hand

Gifts from the Sox include: Second base from Dustin Pedroia, 

$22,222 donation to his Turn 2 foundation, 

Respect sign in Green Monster green

Lastly, local singer from the Voice, Michelle Brooks Thompson sang "R-E-S-P-E-C-T". A slight cord tangle kept her farther from the team than planned, and it looked like the guys out there were pressuring Jeter to dance with her! He opted for a hug instead.

Every time Jeter was at bat - the entire stadium was on their feet.

His last MLB at bat: He had a hit to 3rd which could have been an easy out, but the 3rd baseman, Garin Cecchini tipped it with his fingers and Jeter made it to first. He called out a pinch runner and with that - ended his run as an active Yankee player. 

Great time with great guys !