If you are talking about baseball in October, something has gone right.  And this year something has gone REALLY right!  Yes, the Red Sox are World Champions, having beaten the New York Yankees for the ALCS, and the LA Dodgers in the baseball World Series.

Now if you have been a Red Sox fan for more than a season, you know life isn’t always like this.  As we grew up, one never put Red Sox and World Series in the same sentence.  Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, so to speak.   Still, everyone was an avid fan – the team you hated to love.

Even so, some of the greatest names in baseball have been members of this prestigious team.

Since 2000 (technically 2004), the Red Sox have been World Series champions four times!

I decided to attend the City of Boston parade to honor the Red Sox.  The parade began at Fenway Park, which in itself is a venerable place steeped in history, and ended up around Haymarket Square – about a 3-mile trip through the Fens, Back Bay, and downtown.

Fans from near and far arrived in Boston to cheer on the boys of summer.

Who doesn’t love a parade… confetti and everything!

Opening up the parade was a “float” with the Dropkick Murphy’s, a favorite local (Quincy) band that re-released a Red Sox anthem Tessie,which gets played frequently at Red Sox games.

And then… here come the ducks!

In Boston, there always exists the balance of new and old.  The Park Street Church, the Old Customs House… even the (new) John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Building have become icons of Boston, whereas within our lifetimes – they were the new editions to the skyline!  Even the Citgo sign, now a historical landmark, was established within our lifetime.

So too it was fitting that the parade honored previous heroes of the Red Sox as well as commemorating this year’s team.  Names like Jerry Remy, Jim Rice, Jason Varitek, David Ortiz… in the same parade with youngsters like Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers – awesome!

And the parade continues… team members obviously, but including members from the Red Sox front office, medical, and training staffs as well.

The Red Sox are a class team.  Picture David Price pitching in the 5^thgame of the World Series – an unbelievable performance.  Yet in the 4^thgame, which the Red Sox lost, Nathan Eovaldi pitched one of the most incredible performances of a pitcher that I can recall!   Arguably a top contender for MVP (no disrespect to Steve Pearce who did earn it), David Price during the parade held up a placard for Nathan Eovaldi.   I mean, David Price’s stock in my trading book zoomed to the moon.  What a class act.

As you might expect, and as you may have noticed in some of the pictures, security at this event was ever-present.  Thanks to all the law enforcement professionals from the Boston Police Department, the Mass State Police, Quincy Police and all the other untold folks who helped to make this event a huge (and safe) event.

I was also reminded what a beautiful town Boston is; so much beauty, character, charm and love.

I’m gonna tell you a story
I’m gonna tell you about my town
I’m gonna tell you a big fat story, baby
Aw, it’s all about my town

Yeah, down by the river
Down by the banks of the river Charles
(Aw, that’s what’s happenin’ baby)
That’s where you’ll find me
Along with lovers, muggers, and thieves
(Aw, but they’re cool people)

Well I love that dirty water
Oh, Boston, you’re my home
(Oh, you’re the number one place)

Frustrated women (I mean they’re frustrated)
Have to be in by twelve o’clock (oh, that’s a shame)
But I’m wishin’ and a-hopin’, oh
That just once those doors weren’t locked
(I like to save time for my baby to walk around)

Well I love that dirty water
Oh, Boston, you’re my home (oh, yeah)

Dirty Water (The Standells)