Anthony Greco: How important weresports to you when you were growing up?

Jon Lester: “Real important, I thinkthat was the main thing that kept meout of trouble. It kept me active; I wasnever a big sit-in-the-house, play video-games type of guy. I liked to be outsideplaying basketball, running around,doing whatever.”

AG: What were the teams that you fol-lowed when you were a kid?

JL: “Mainly just the Seattle Mariners,especially when they got good. Being from

that area, it was fun tosee them go fromnothing to making

the playoffs and mak-ing a name for them-selves. Growing up, itwas mainly just play-ers I followed morethan teams, with theexception of theMariners. I neverreally had time to fol-low a team through-out a season.”

AG: Who was yourfavorite player?

JL: “Mariners’ out-fielder Ken Griffey”

AG: In high school,you were a starpitcher from yourfreshman year on.

Did you have a time when you thought;“I might be able to go pro?”

JL: “It really didn’t hit homethat I had a chance to eitherget drafted or go into collegeuntil after my junior year. Istarted getting letters andscouts trying to contact myfamily and sit down with usand start talking about [the] pos-sibility of getting drafted. It took

a while for it to all come together,but it was pretty cool when it did.”

AG: What were your feelings in 2007when you won the clinching game in theWorld Series?

JL: “Just happy it was over. Obviouslyvery happy just to have won it, but

that day that I pitched was just sonerve-racking leading up to that point.The only good thing behind it was thatJosh was pitching two days from thenand then we had [Curt Schilling] goingthe day after that. That eased my mind

Inside:Opening Day 2011, A Fenway Reflection, Season Highlights, Puzzles and more!

Getting to Know Jon LesterInterviewed by Anthony Greco

We Want to Hear From You!

Send your stories, ques-tions, photos or ideas forupcoming newsletters to:

kidnation@redsox.comor Red Sox Kid Nation4 Yawkey WayBoston, MA 02215

Vol. 6, No. 1

July 2011

Continued on page 6

I t was a typical day at Fenway Park:the smell of burgers, the crunch ofpeanut shells underfoot, the ven-

dors advertizing their wares, the oldcenterfield screens under the JohnHancock sign displaying images andstats of Sox greats and the faithful fanschatting happily, despite the shaky begin-ning to the Red Sox season. And of course,the Sox were preparing to play a classic rival—the New York Yankees, who seemed to be noless doubtful of the Red Sox’ talent.

“They’ve got a great team. Going 0-6 is not agood indication of how they’re playing. You’renot playing the record,” Yankees’ catcher RussellMartin explained.

This 99th anniversary of Fenwaymarked the final year of renovations

at the park. And you know how I men-tioned those old screens in center? Well,

they aren’t there anymore. At the push of abutton, three high definition

videoboards that were cleverly disguisedto look like the old screens were revealedwith a stunning shattering effect, just intime for the Red Sox line-up.In the off-season, the Red Sox acquiredfirst basemen Adrian Gonzales andspeedy Carl Crawford to add to theiralready deadly roster and the core of thepitching staff was back. That day the

starter was John Lackey.

At this point, an honorary key toFenway was given to the Mayor

of Boston, Thomas M.Menino. A Navy bandplayed the national

anthem, which was followed by a fly-overof three F-16 fighters from the GreenMountain Boys of Vermont.

Several solemn moments of silencemarked the ceremony, commemoratingthe lives that were lost in Japan’s recentdisaster and to honor Lou Gorman, a

former general manager of the Red Soxwho died on April 1. “He was a wonderful and

kind human being whose heart was always withthe Red Sox,” according to the club. A renditionof taps was played in his memory. Mayor Meninowent on to declare April 8 as “Lou Gorman Day.”

This was a day that also recognized hall of famerCarl Yastrzemski, who threw out the honoraryfirst pitch. In 1967, this Sox great won theAmerican League Triple Crown (leading theleague in runs batted in, home runs, and battingaverage). He received the award with a .326average, 44 HRs and 121 RBIs.

The Yankees pulled ahead to an early 2-0 leadoff of a double from Robinson Cano. In the bot-tom of the first, Pedroia closed the gap with asolo home run over the Green Monster. “Hegave us a huge lift,” manager Terry Franconaremarked. “We’re down two, he takes a goodswing and gets a little bit of momentum, a littlebit of excitement going.”

But the game continued to go back and forth,including multiple pitching changes for bothteams, and in the sixth, the Sox’ new catcherJarrod Saltalamacchia doubled to drivein Kevin Youkilis and give the Red Sox the lead.And they weren’t finished yet. In the nextinning, J.D. Drew hit a one bagger to widen thegap. The pitching staff of the Sox kept theYankees under control for the next two innings,and in the ninth, closer Jonathan

Papelbon jogged to the moundfrom the bull pen. He sealed thegame, giving the Sox the win,and himself a save. The GreenMonster and newvideoboards read the finalscore: Sox 9, Yanks 6.The fans were right tohave believed intheir team, and itlooks as if the RedSox will have anothersuccessful season.

Opening Day 2011!by GianCarlo Greco

“The fans wereright to havebelieved in theirteam and itlooks as if theRed Sox willhave anothersuccessful season.”

2

Red Sox started their2011 season in Texasagainst the Rangers.

After losing theirfirst six, the Soxbroke thestreak in theirhome openerbehind 3 RBI and a homerun by Dustin Pedroia.

Josh Beckett gave theSox a win with his first ten-strikeout game since 2009.

Youkilis and Pedroiashowed off hot bats, bothwith home runs in the thirdinning in a tough 7-6 loss toToronto.

The Sox won three in a rowversus the Jays at FenwayPark.

Jed Lowrie’s seven-game hit streak came to anend during the loss toOakland.

The Soxwent on a

five-game winstreak and swept

the Halos in afour-game

series.

Mike Cameronhit two longballs againsttheMariners.

Carl Crawford endeda two game losing streak

and prevented a Seattlesweep with a walk-off RBIsingle.

The Sox got the W withthree home runs in theeighth inning and elevenstrikeouts by Jon Lester.

Carl Crawford won thegame with an 11th inningwalkoff RBI double to downthe Twins.

Boston swept theYankees on theirturf and evenedtheir record to .500.

Crawford hit his third Maywalk-off hit to tranquilizethe Tigers.

For the first time since1918, the Chicago Cubs andthe Red Sox faced off atFenway Park with Bostonwinning 15-5.

Fenway had an old-time feel with

“turn back the

clock night” as bothteams sported retro uni-forms and caps and theCubs prevailed 9-3.

The Sox won the seriesagainst the A.L. Centralfirst-place ClevelandIndians.

Boston swept the OaklandAthletics with one of thehighlights being J.D.Drew’s walk-off RBI singlein the 14th inning ofSaturday’s game.

The Red Sox scored sevenruns in the seventh tosecure a three-gamesweep of the Yankees inthe Bronx.

Lester pitched eight stronginnings and four home runspowered the Sox to a 14-1win over the Blue Jays.

Beckett pitched a one-hitshutout and Youkilis hit athree-run bomb to beat theRays, 3-0.

The Stanley Cup visit-ed Fenway and the inspiredRed Sox scored six runs inthe first while cruising to a12-3 victory over theBrewers.

Boston ended a four-gamelosing streak thanks to sixsolid innings pitched byAndrew Miller and downedthe Pirates 4-2 at PNC Park.

Red Sox Highlightsby Griffin Andres

1

8

10

15

18

16-18

APRIL

20-24

29

MAY1

3

9

23-25

3-5

9

12

15

26

19

21

3

PHOTOS BYMICHAEL IVINS

15

19

20

JUNE

4

With the Red Sox baseball season in fullswing, it could only mean that summer ishere and it’s a great time to get out and

play! Whether it’s on the field or in your own back yard,here are some helpful nutrition tips that are sure tohelp you fuel up and keep you playing hard and havingfun.

No matter what game you play, it is important to knowthat all athletes need energy to play their best. This ener-gy comes from the foods and beverages that athletes useto fuel their bodies both before and after activity. In orderto get the best supply of energy, athletes should be get-ting a balanced diet of both protein and carbohydrates.

It’s also important for athletes to getthe vitamins and minerals found infruits, vegetables and whole grains.While a proper diet is important for allathletes, it’s especially important foryoung athletes. Eating a healthy diet

is important for young athletesbecause their bodies rely on whatthey eat to fuel their growth as wellas their activity.

Another key building block of an ath-lete’s diet is making sure that they drinkenough fluids. During activity, athletes sweat to get ridof the heat produced by working muscles. The fluid thatthe body releases needs to be replaced to keep the bodycool so athletes can keep playing. While most liquidshave the ability to rehydrate your body, the best fluid forthe job is water. Water rich fruits such as watermeloncan also rehydrate. Fluids such as soda, sports drinksor “enhanced waters” should generally be avoidedbecause they contain large amounts of sugar that ath-letes simply don’t need. During physical activity, allathletes should have water with them so they can givetheir bodies what they need to keep working hard andhaving fun all summer long.

Looking for a GoodRecovery Drink? Look in Your Refrigerator!

Athletes of all ages and skill levels are discovering the benefits ofdrinking low fat chocolate milk after physical activity. Recent stud-ies have shown that when compared to popular sports drinks andcalorie-free beverages, low fat chocolate milk has proven to be sig-nificantly better in improving athletic performance in athletes of allages and abilities. This is because low fat chocolate milk naturallycontains protein and electrolytes that muscles use during exercise. Help your body refuel with this delicious chocolate banana recovery shake!

Eat Like a Pro! Nutrition Tips to Help Fuel Your Fun

Red Sox Kid Nation Partner

A Y A W N E F I O E Y T H

G A P Y A W Y E K W A Y M

Y P O P H I L M Q W J U N

L L A B E S A B U T I G W

G H O M E R U N E W K E C

W F F O X S D D Y M Z X H

G R E E N M O N S T E R C

W L L A B T S A F A D T A

C Z T R I P L E P L A Y W

W A R H M R N F N L V H H

C U Y P P L A Y L L A W Y

R A Y K I D N A T I O N P

K L G M T R E D S O X I D

Find these words in the puzzle above!

baseball Kid Nationfast ball Red Sox Fenway triple play Green Monster Wally homerun Yawkey Way

HOOD MINI SEARCH

5

Wedged between the winding, narrowstreets of Boston is an historic stadium.From Pesky’s Pole to the Green Monster,Fenway Park is unparalleled by any othersports venue. The ballpark is the oldest

of any Major League ballpark, opened in 1912, and hasbeen the site of many historic moments, such as in 2008when the Red Sox broke the MLB record for most consecu-tive sell-outs. Though the park has undergone numerousimprovements and additions, some of the old, quirky ele-ments, like the balcony supports that can block your view,are still in place. While someclaim that the Sox shouldlevel Fenway and build anew stadium, I adamantlyfeel that Fenway shouldnever be torn down becauseit provides fans with a one-of-a-kind experience.

Unlike some of the new mon-strous stadiums, Fenway isnavigable and intimate; evenin the concourse fans areonly a few steps away fromthe walkway leading back totheir seats. Fans can easilyget to those seats from anyentrance in a short amount oftime. This also allows all thefans to feel as they are a partof the game. Everyone isclose enough to see what isgoing on; there are very fewseats where binoculars wouldremotely be needed. Whilebig stadiums may lookimpressive on television, fansaren't as connected whenthey are sitting 500 feet awayfrom home plate. At Fenway, everyone is involved, whetherit is in singing “Sweet Caroline” or doing the "wave."

The players also get to experience the tight quarters ofFenway. Instead of a spacious garage, the players park in asmall lot that lays underneath the steps to the grandstand.There isn't a secret passage into a hidden lot allowing theplayers to run and hide from ecstatic fans looking for auto-graphs. It is fun to be able to watch the players drive downYawkey Way..

During the game, the atmosphere is ener-getic. Helped by the proximity, everyonesees everything on the field. While all seats are good, Ihave a favorite spot: behind the flagpole, where the GreenMonster folds back into the stadium, there is a short walk-way. During a warm summer night, with a calm breeze,looking out at a luscious green field, watching the Red Soxplay baseball, there is no place I would rather be.

Now, you may beg to differ; maybe you prefer to sit in thegrandstand seats. That's why I love Fenway. Everyone can

find their own spot: firstbase, bleacher, behind thebullpen, down the third baseline. Every spot at Fenwayhas its own unique vantagepoint. But let's not forgetthat this is baseball, and thegame can take a long time(even longer if the Yankeesare in town). So, what do youdo when the game slowsdown a bit? Eat, of course.

The sausages are heavenly,and if you don't want oneearly in the game, the smellwill eventually get to you. Ittakes incredible self-controlto resist the tantalizing smellof grilled meat for threehours. Peanuts and sunflow-ers seeds are also good,just make sure you don'tspit on the back of the guy infront of you. Soft-serve icecream is my personalfavorite, but you must hurry,on hot days it goes fast.

When the game ends, you can join the throngs headed tothe T, conveniently located a short walk from the stadium.If you aren't ready to go home, there are numerous restau-rants located around the park. Again, there are manychoices; it is easy to find what suits you best. Howeveryou mix and match your trip to the ballpark, it is a specialand unique experience. Great food combined with die-hardfans combined with a great baseball team combined with abeautiful ballpark combined with a historic city makes atrip to Fenway one that you are sure to remember foryears to come.

Essay:

A Fenway Reflectionby Anthony Greco

“While all seats are good, I have a favorite spot:behind the flagpole, where the Green Monsterfolds back into the ballpark, there is a shortwalkway. During a warm summer night, with a calm breeze, looking out at a luscious greenfield, watching the Red Sox play baseball, there is no place I would rather be.”

and my tensions alittle bit, but justleading up to me actual-ly warming up, it was justa lot of nerves and a lot of“what ifs.” Once I startedwarming up, it was a lotbetter.”

AG: Were you more nervous then, or when youwere throwing a no-hitter?

JL: “Then. Just because of the anticipation. Younever know when you’re going to throw a no-hit-ter, or if you’re ever going to get the chance to doit. It’s one of those deals where the ninth inningcomes around; it’s either going to be your night orjust a complete game. [In the] World Series, themoment you wake up to game time you’re think-ing about it all day.”

AG: Jason Varitek is notorious for his skill withpitchers. What makes him so special?

JL: “The way he studies, the way he knows. He’sbeen around a long time, he’s seen a lot of differenthitters, he’s seen a lot of the same hitters a lot.Anytime you can see a hitter and face a hitter yougain knowledge and you gain that experience.Whether they hit a homerun off you or you strikethem out or whatever it is, it’s information. He’svery good at storing that information and using itdown the road. Plus, he’s a presence back there hegive off the aura that he’s got his game under con-trol and that calms us down on the mound.”

AG: Was it a difficult change to Saltalamacchia?

JL: “Yes and no. Just because they’re two differentguys. Just like when we had Victor [Martinez] here,it was an adjustment period for that, but he figures

you out and you figure him outand you end up working welltogether. That’s what we havebeen able to do with Salty, there’sbeen a grace period where he istrying to figure us out, and he cancatch us in spring training andlearn some stuff about us, butuntil you get out there and it mat-ters, there is no way to draw thatinformation if he’s never caughtus in those situations. He’s done agreat job of learning quickly andmaking adjustments.”

AG: What is your favorite ballparkto play in and why?

JL: “Obviously here, it’s a fun

place to play. I like the old YankeeStadium, it kind of had the same feel as[Fenway], that old, the history involvedwith it. There’re some other nice ones,Kansas City is nice, I like Baltimore.There’s a few on the way that look nice,but you don’t necessarily want to playthere.”

AG: Where do you spend most of your time inthe off-season?

JL: “Georgia.”

AG: What do you like to do there?

JL: “Hunt.” (Laughs)

AG: What are some other activities that you like to do?

JL: “My wife’s family lives up in South Carolina, sowe go back and forth quite a bit up there. I wenton a couple hunting trips this year. I’m sure we’lldo some family vacations this year. Just travel, relaxand mainly hunt.”

AG: Do you stay active in the off-season?

JL: “For the first couple weeks, no. Both me andmy wife, we like what we do up here, but at thesame time when we get home we want to sit andrelax, and not have to be somewhere all the time.For the first couple weeks we just stay at home andget our house organized and situated, after that westart moving around a little bit.”

AG: From a players’ standpoint, is there a noticeabledifference between fans here and fans in other ball-parks that you visit?

JL: “Well, most of the stadiums we visit there’s90% Red Sox fans in it. It’s always a home gameunless it’s Yankee Stadium. The biggest thing is,people here pay attention to the game, they under-stand it, they know what’s going on. . . . . peoplehere want to see us win and they know baseball. Itcan be a tough place to play sometimes.”

AG: As a fan, it seems that Red Sox-Yankees rivalryhas died down a little bit since 2004. Do you feel lesspressure playing them now?

JL: “No, not at all. The biggest thing is, a lot of

Interview with Jon Lester, continued from page 3

6

Continued on next page

We Want to Hear

From You!Send your stories,

questions, photos orideas for upcoming

newsletters to:

kidnation@redsox.comor

Red Sox Kid Nation4 Yawkey Way

Boston, MA 02215

guys’ mindsets going in to play them now is [theyare] just another team. With that being said, weunderstand the importance of playing these guysand trying to beat them just because of the stand-ings.…the media makes such a big deal aboutus…they don’t realize that a lot of guys when theseason is over with or even after games you hangout with them; we’re all friends, we all get along.But on the field, you want to beat them.”

AG: On this team, there are four different pitchers thatcould be considered “aces.” Is there any pressure in-between you guys?

JL: “No, you ask anybody in that clubhouse, theydon’t care about [personal] titles; everybody wantsto win. And, obviously, the main objective is to wina World Series. Whoever has that title, for me itdoesn’t matter, I just go out and pitch, and seewhat happens at the end of the year.”

AG: How do you compare this team to the 2007 team?

JL: “A lot of similarities. There’s the lineup that wehave, us getting [Alex Gonzalez] adds that Mannyfactor back into our lineup, [it] takes some pressureoff David [Ortiz], having Carl [Crawford] takes pres-sure off Ellsbury, there’s so many components, andour pitching staff, we’re going to hold our own. Wegoing to have some good ones and we’re going tohave some bad ones. Hopefully we get on a roll at agood time and we can get in the playoffs and pitchwell. It doesn’t matter how you pitch during theseason, it’s those three series that matter the most.”

AG: Midway through a successful rookie season, youwere diagnosed with cancer. How devastating was thatat the time?

JL: “Obviously on more than one level, it was abad deal. I had to leave the team, go on the [dis-

abled-list], go get treatment for cancer. That was abig deal at the time. Looking back on it, it wastough, but I think it helps strengthen you as a per-son. It made me figure out a lot of things bymyself. I was fortunate enough to come back quick,a lot sooner than I think people thought it wouldbe. On my time table it would have gone a littlequicker, but these guys handled it great, they tookcare of me, they waited for the right time for me tocome up to where I could succeed, instead of tak-ing a couple steps backward.”

AG: What helped you to get through it?

JL: “Obviously my family, that most importantly,but the guys here [were] a driving motivation forme. The front office [was] great, John Henry all theway down, they took real good care of me, not onlyme but my family. That was nice to see, becausethey could have just said, ‘You’ve got insurance, gotake care of it, and we’ll see you when you getback,’ but they constantly checked in on me, theymade sure everything was going well, the doctorshere are great. On all fronts, this organization ispretty classy.”

AG: Do you have any advice for kids dealing with lifethreatening diseases?

JL: “The biggest thing for me was being myself.The days that I felt up to going outside and work-ing out or throwing or going fishing or doing what-ever, I did it. I didn’t sit at home and do the “woe isme,” and watch TV all day and just mope around.Obviously there were days like that, where youdon’t feel as good and don’t want to do anything,but the days where I was able to get some energyand go outside it helped me get away from that andnot think about it and do stuff that I enjoy.”

7

“Anytime you can see a hitter andface a hitteryou gainknowledgeand you gain thatexperience.”