Green Fields of the Mind

BoSoxLady

Rules Red Sox Nation with an Iron Fist
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 24, 2003
3,448
Since 2001, it’s tradition that I post Green Fields of the Mind at the conclusion of the Red Sox season.

https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/3549-the-story-of-green-fields-of-the-mind

“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops. Today, October 2, a Sunday of rain and broken branches and leaf-clogged drains and slick streets, it stopped, and summer was gone.”

It’s sad that baseball is gone but what a perfect way to end this historic season.

Spring Training begins in 108 days. I love that number.

Congratulations to everyone!
 
Last edited:

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2008
42,273
AZ
The only thing bad about having a lead In games in the postseason is that it’s the only time you root for less baseball.
 

fenwaypaul

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Jul 21, 2005
6,582
Boxborough MA
Winter is coming, but the Red Sox being world champions makes it easier to endure the dark days until spring training.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,754
Pittsburgh, PA
(edited out the post - BSL's got it covered)

It's always bitter to read the poem, but sometimes, like this glorious year, the reading is at least bittersweet.
 
Last edited:

BoSoxLady

Rules Red Sox Nation with an Iron Fist
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 24, 2003
3,448
Instaface:

No offense but I do mind that you posted Green Fields of the Mind. It’s been a long-time tradition that I post the poem. Please take your post down.

Thanks.
 

Skiponzo

Member
SoSH Member
The real activity was done with the radio--not the all-seeing, all-falsifying television--and was the playing of the game in the only place it will last, the enclosed green field of the mind.
This season has been such a joy for so many reasons....one of them is that I have rekindled that radio "feeling" from my youth with my youngest son. We've spent many an hour traveling to his various baseball tournaments listening to Joe and Tim on my phone. He's come to understand the game so much better for having to live the game in his "green field of the mind".

God do I love this team and this game.
 

ookami7m

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
5,657
Mobile, AL
Since 2001, it’s tradition that I post Green Fields of the Mind at the conclusion of the Red Sox season.

https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/3549-the-story-of-green-fields-of-the-mind

“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops. Today, October 2, a Sunday of rain and broken branches and leaf-clogged drains and slick streets, it stopped, and summer was gone.”

It’s sad that baseball is gone but what a perfect way to end this historic season.

Spring Training begins in 108 days. I love that number.

Congratulations to everyone!
One of my favorite - if sad sometimes - traditions. The games are over, the dark days of the offseason are here but we have the memories of an awesome team to hold us through.
108 days to go.
 

Rovin Romine

Johnny Rico
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
23,678
Miami (oh, Miami!)
The most recent competitive Sox game finished on October 28. Maybe you saw it.

The next will be March 28th, against the Mariners. That's 151 days, the midpoint of which is Jan 11th or so.

However, the first spring training game is Feb. 22. So the midpoint would be Christmas.

Pitchers and Catchers would move the midpoint to approximately the 20th of December.

Not so long to go at all. . .
 

Clemente

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2003
1,455
New Hampshire
I don’t know why I am so surprised by how much I miss baseball now, as it was a tremendous season that brought so much joy and intensity. But in the evening, just as it is time to settle in for the evening I miss not having the Sox on the screen. It’s as though my good friends have moved away, and there is an emptiness.
Maybe it is the juxtaposition of the intensity of the playoffs and now nothing.
Thanks Cheri and miss you as well.
 

21st Century Sox

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 19, 2006
762
Agree. The first week or so post championship was a whirlwind, and I kept thinking I would savor through the winter, and not miss the game too much. Nope. I miss the rhythm of watching each night. Also, I have three grown sons, and we have a text string that lights up on every key play, banter in the day about that evening's starters, injury talk, trade talk, etc.

We still share a text or two nearly daily, but the other sports do not command the dedication, it is just not the same. Can't wait....
 

Al Zarilla

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
58,870
San Andreas Fault
It was actually nice to have a week of not worrying about win or lose, but then you realize, again, that they were highly not lose this year, especially during the post season. Oh well, the other Boston teams are not chopped liver.
 

Buzzkill Pauley

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 30, 2006
10,569
This past year’s Red Sox team was one of my very favorite ever, from the energy and demeanor of the team to the performance and the end results. It was also the season my teenage son started listening to radio broadcasts either while finishing up homework or just to pass the time before bedtime, therefore giving us at least one thing to talk about that didn’t feel like me trying to extract a tooth from him.

So it’s hard to say goodbye to the 2018 team, but even good things must come to an end. I’m so glad that took as long as it did, and that the team finished the season as champs. While this would have been a special season for me anyway, it’s awfully nice they made it objectively special, as well.
 

streeter88

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 2, 2006
1,807
Melbourne, Australia
Over here in Australia, games are mostly on during middle of the day. During the WS, I was pretty much useless at doing any sort of work, so for Game 4 I put on my headphones and got on my bike. Four hours later, I was tired and happy, and the Sox were one game away from being champs. Great day!
 

timlinin8th

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2009
1,521
I'm finding myself watching MLB network a whole lot more than ever before. Anything baseball.
So its not just me. Just finished watching the first couple innings of Pedro v. Clemens from 2000 followed by the 1999 All-Star Game on Youtube with my son. He's gotten into past players through baseball cards, Youtube and a trip to the HOF so to actually watch a (kinda) full broadcast of those games I think connected some dots for him. Meanwhile, I'm sitting back remembering exactly where I was when I watched them live.
 

Monbonthbump

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 6, 2005
222
Lincoln,NE
Thanks, BSL. I always enjoy reading your post at the end of the season and agree it did not feel the same after this great year. Skip this doggerel if you feel it is too presumptuous, but I have written a "family" poem as a tradition after each Series championship and this was my effort for 2018:
Fourth Championship (October 28, 2018)

Two thousand four brought an end to the Curse,
And feeling karma would only get worse.
Tito and Papi did not buy that talk
Helped by a boost from a blood-stained red sock.

Two thousand seven came out of the blue,
With a nice mix of the old and the new.
Dice-K and Lowell had now joined the team,
Winning in Denver completed the dream.

All hell broke loose in two thousand thirteen,
Beards grew quite lengthy and players turned mean,
Pummeling rivals, showing no pity,
Papi reminded,"It's our F-in' City".

This year's great team was undoubtedly best
Winning the Series way out in the West.
Mookie's a winner, ditto Price and Sale,
Cora, like Yoda, could simply not fail.

For those of us, like me, here at the start,
Each of these victories gladdened the heart.
Memories pressed in the book of my brain,
Losses will fade but the joy will remain.