Green Monster

From SoSH

Perhaps Fenway Park's most distinctive feature is the Green Monster. Though it has undergone numerous changes, the high left field wall has been a part of Fenway Park since it was built in 1912. The wall as it looks today is a 37-foot, two-inch high wall, 240 feet long, has a 22-foot deep foundation, and was constructed from 30,000 pounds of Toncan iron in 1934. The wall stands approximately 310 feet from home plate at the foul pole, and approximately 379 feet where the wall meets with the center field bleachers. The manual scoreboard is a distinctive characteristic that was extensively discussed in this Jim Caple Article.

Changes Through the Years

The wall has undergone dramatic changes throughout its existance. The wall was originally 25 feet high and constructed of wood as seen in the photograph of its construction.

The wall originally had a 10 foot incline immediately in front of the wall. It became known as 'Duffy's Cliff' due to Duffy Lewis's ability to handle the awkward terrain.

Ownership was forced to remodel in 1934 due to the fire that damaged much of the bleachers. During the remodel, owner Tom Yawkey also had the wall resurfaced with tin, Duffy's Cliff disappeared and the field surface was leveled, and a new manual scoreboard installed. A room was created inside the wall for the scoreboard operators. This room has become a museum unto itself with signatures of players that have passed through Fenway.

In 1936, Yawkey had a 23 foot screen placed atop the Monster to prevent baseballs from hitting cars.

In 1947, the advertisements were painted over with green paint, and the 'Green Monster' was born.

In 2003, the screen was removed and the Green Monster Seats were born, giving fans a chance to watch a game atop the famed facade. 270 seats and 100 standing room tickets were made available, and quickly became the hottest seats in baseball. It was one of many improvements to the park during the tenure of owner John Henry.

Green Monster Moments

Perhaps the most famous Fenway Park moment came in 1975, when in an epic Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, Carlton Fisk lanched a game-winning home run over the Green Monster and off the foul pole. It ended what many believe to be one of the most compelling games in World Series history. Although the Red Sox ultimately lost to the Reds in a deciding 7th game, the moment made Fisk a legend.

Not quite as famous, but certainly infamous to Red Sox fans, was light-hitting Bucky Dent's home run off of Mike Torrez that cleared the wall in the one-game playoff between the Red Sox and Yankees in 1978. It was the final blow to an epic collapse by the 1978 Red Sox.

Left Fielders in Red Sox History

Some of the greatest players in Red Sox history played left field in Fenway park. Among those that learned to 'play the wall' include Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, and Manny Ramirez.

Playing left field at Fenway Park can make opponents look foolish at times, yet can be developed into an art form by Red Sox outfielders who are able to use it to their advatage. Yastrzemski was a consistent leader in outfield assists, often decoying runners into thinking a 'wall ball' was about to be caught. Manny Ramirez, generally regarded as an average outfielder, led the majors in 2005 with 17 outfield assists due, in part, to his ability to play the wall.