Sox Fans Have Their Day
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| Michael Murphy shows of the tattoo he got in 2004 to commemorate the Red Sox's first win in 86 years, as friend Herb Wyand looks on. |
PITTSFIELD – While the Boston Red Sox bask in the warm Florida sun for spring training, nearly 1,000 loyal Western Massachusetts baseball fans braved the brutal winter chill to catch a glimpse of the World Series Champions' legacy.
As part of a three-day weekend tour, the 2004 and 2007 World Series trophies were on display in the Taconic High School auditorium Sunday and Berkshire County's Red Sox faithful didn't miss the chance to pose for photos and inspect a championship ring.
"I've been a fan since 1967, the 'impossible dream' year. For a kid of 11 or 12 to get caught up in all that excitement ... I've just been a Red Sox diehard ever since," said Michael Murphy of Pittsfield, who waited in line for a measly 20 minutes to see the trophies with his bowling buddy and fellow Red Sox Nation member Herb Wyand. 
A group of Sox fans get their pictures taken with the World Series trophies. [Jen Thomas]
"It took 86 years to get the first trophy and there was no reason for us to go that long without winning. When we won in 2004, it was just unbelievable," said Wyand, who recollected falling in love with the team when his brother took him to Fenway Park as a child.
Though the showing brought a steady stream of visitors throughout the morning – Red Sox security supervisor John McDermott estimated 400 people had come in by noon – lines didn't start winding through the high school's hallway until early in the afternoon.
<L2>Four soldiers from the Army National Guard armory – members of the 747th Military Police Company - took a break from weekend training to see the trophy they didn't get a chance to see after the 2004 visit.
"I'm a huge Red Sox fan. I had to watch them win the '04 series in New York, so I'm there with the Boston cap, getting hated by everyone, but I love the Red Sox," said Sgt. Matthew Nay of Springfield.
<R3>The trophies began their trek across the state on Saturday in Athol and on Monday, the trophies will be on display in Shrewsbury before going to Chicopee on Wednesday.
The 2004 trophy has been exhibited in nearly every city, town and hamlet in the state. This past weekend was the first tour for the 2007 trophy.
For Kellie Cachat and Chad Scovil, the stop couldn't have had better timing.
"We just got engaged in Las Vegas and when we got back yesterday, we just knew we wanted our engagement photos to be with the trophies," said Cachat, whose eight family members joined the couple for other photographs.
<L4>Cachat, a lifetime Red Sox fan from a huge family of Red Sox fans, said she and 25 or so other family members make almost annual road trips to national ballparks to cheer on their favorite team.
Scovil, a "converted Yankees fan," said he wasn't worried about what his New York friends would say when they receive the invitations.
"It'll be alright. Our Christmas pictures were of us at a Red Sox game, so they're getting used to it," he said.
Among the chatter about opening day, hot new prospects and Curt Schilling's shoulder, one word kept cropping up when talk turned to predictions.
"Repeat," said Wyand
"Back to back. Do you even have to ask?" added Murphy.
