Why do the Red Sox use "Sweet Caroline" for their 7th inning stretch song?

1. 84

   theframjakposted 11 years ago

   Why do the Red Sox use "Sweet Caroline" for their 7th inning stretch song?
   
   I'm curious how this song ended up as a signature song for the Red Sox.

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2. 73

   Marisaupaposted 11 years ago

   Incredibly the song was merely one which was selected by the video and communication coordinator for the Red Sox during her tenure in that position from 1998-2004.  The song itself has no intrinsic connection to baseball, neither does Neil Diamond have such a connection to Boston. 
   
   According to the the Boston Globe the communications coordinator, "had noticed ‘Sweet Caroline’ was used at other sporting events, and she decided to send the sweetness over the Fenway speakers.”  It seems that she simply thought it was a nice tune.
   
   It became iconic with Red Sox games mainly due to the fact that the spectators began to associate its turn in the play cycle (during the middle of the 8th inning) as a quasi-tradition.
   
   Recent events in Boston have of course brought light onto the song and it has been played as a sign of support for the city of Boston following the tragic events of April 15th.  In so doing, the once quasi-tradition has been rightfully elevated to a real Red Sox tradition which will likely endure for decades to come.

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3. 71

   BLACKANDGOLDJACKposted 11 years ago

   Mariasaupa, you must be a Red Sox fan. Who is your favorite Sox player? I love Big Papi.
   
   theframjak, I suspect you watched the Red Sox game yesterday, which brought to mind your question. And Neil Diamond showed up to sing the song himself. Awesome. Great pre-game show and such to pay tribute to all those affected by the tragedy and those who dealt with it.

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   1. 73

      Marisaupaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Actually I'm a Dodger fan.   ; P

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   2. 71

      BLACKANDGOLDJACKposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Actually I'm watching the Dodgers game right now on TBS. I have Adrian on my fantasy team. Go Gonzo! I hope he hits a couple homers. He didn't have a real good day in the doubleheader yesterday.

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   3. 73

      Marisaupaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I just hope that the Dodgers come out of their 6 game losing streak against the Orioles today. I hate being 6 full games behind the Rockies.

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4. 0

   number2sonposted 11 years ago

   I don't know.  I'm a Phillies fan, so I'm not as knowledgeable about Boston teams, even though I know that the Bruins have that song sung before games also.  Personally, I hate Neil Diamond music, and hope to never have to hear that song, or any other sung by him.

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   1. 59

      Lor's Storiesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Go Phillies

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   2. 0

      number2sonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm with you on that.  Go Phillies!  It's time for a repeat of 2008!

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5. 69

   WalterPoonposted 11 years ago

   If you want the best answer, you gotta asked the Red Sox themselves. There was once an author who sang praise about an Australian building, saying how the architect took great pains to consider this and that to come out with the concept, only to find the architect denying that he ever considered any of those things when he designed the building! I cannot remember the name of the building because it was told by my professor some 40 years ago.

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