POLITICKING: The Red Sox and John Kerry are from Massachusetts, and both are trying to accomplish the same thing: finish first.
It is the first time a World Series team and a presidential candidate have hailed from the same state since 1984. That year, Ronald Reagan was re-elected, but the Padres lost to the Tigers.
Just think about the subplots and storylines if the Red Sox had played the Astros, from President Bush's great state of Texas.
HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH: The list prices for Series tickets at tiny Fenway are high: $190 for box seats, $145 for grandstand, $70 for bleachers and $50 for standing room. But scalpers and online agencies are selling them for at least 10 times face value. A pair of rightfield box seats sold on eBay Saturday afternoon for $4,161.
FOOD FIGHT: What's it take to keep 34,000 or so Fenway Park fans well fed for a World Series game? According to the Aramark concessions people, the fans will consume 20,000 Fenway Franks, 5,000 cups of Legal Sea Foods clam chowder, 15,000 cups of hot chocolate, 10,000 bags of peanuts, 7,000 pretzels, 6,000 bags of Cracker Jacks, 5,000 Italian sausages, 4,000 gallons of soda, 4,000 slices of pizza, 3,000 hamburgers and 1,500 chicken tender and fries combos. ... The suite-holders will munch on 700 pounds of lobster meat, 500 pounds of chicken wings and tenders, 400 pounds of prime rib and 350 pounds of beef tenderloin.
SWEET BABY JAMES' LAST DANCE: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor will perform the national anthem before Game 2 tonight. Donna Summer, a Boston native, will sing God Bless America. ... Red Sox great Carl Yastrzemski threw out the first pitch Saturday.
BEST SIGN: 1918 - A New Number to Retire.
SECOND-BEST SIGN: Did You Know ... It's October and Yankee Stadium Is Closed.
