By David Klepper
Associated Press
BOSTON — The Red Sox have now won three World Series in the past decade — but not since the days of Babe Ruth had Boston won a fall classic in its beloved Fenway Park.
The victory sent Boston fans spilling into the streets Wednesday night to celebrate the team’s 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 6. Amid the cheers and high-fives, the white lights of Boston’s Prudential Tower read “GO SOX.”
“Words cannot describe how I feel,” Red Sox fan Sam D’Arrigo said. “This is what being a Boston fan is all about.”
The win capped an emotional season for the Red Sox, one heavy with the reminder of the Boston Marathon bombings in April, which left three people dead and more than 260 wounded. Players wore “Boston Strong” logos on their left sleeves and a giant “B Strong” logo was mowed into Fenway’s outfield.
“We needed this,” said Mark Porcaro of Boston. “They were an easy team to get behind because they stood up for us when we needed them most.”
An excited Mayor Tom Menino tweeted: “Get the ducks ready, we’re having a parade.” He was referring to the duck boat parades the city had had during previous sports celebrations.
Menino and Red Sox officials later announced that the parade would begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Fenway Park and travel down Boylston Street — where the Marathon attack occurred — before going on to the Charles River. Organizers said they wanted the parade to be held at a time when as many fans, including families with children, could attend.
After the deciding game, police set up barriers to funnel the crowds away from Fenway Park and mounted police and officers on bicycles patrolled the area. Some fans were obviously intoxicated. A few young men climbed a pole holding a traffic light.
A large group gathered near the marathon finish line, chanting and blocking traffic until police arrived.
The Suffolk District Attorney’s office reported that Boston and state police made 10 arrests in the city, mostly for disorderly conduct.
Throughout the night, the Boston police department had tweeted cautionary messages, encouraging fans to “Celebrate with pride” and “Celebrate responsibly.” Police later thanked the “tens of thousands” of Red Sox fans who took their warnings seriously.
There were no reports of serious damage but at least one car was overturned.
Officials at the University of Massachusetts said 15 people — all but one of them students — were arrested after thousands gathered on the Amherst campus to celebrate the Red Sox win. Most of those arrested were charged with failing to disperse and two also with assault and battery on a police officer. No injuries were reported.
In New Hampshire, celebrations turned destructive at several college campuses. In the largest incident, University of New Hampshire officials say police used pepper spray and pepper balls to break up a crowd of several hundred students that had gathered at the Durham campus. Officials said some of the students threw bottles and cans at officers; five were arrested on disorderly conduct charges.
At Keene State College, police also used pepper spray after students flipped over a vehicle and threw rocks, glass bottles and ice. No one was arrested.
Boston has hosted several celebrations over the last decade as the Celtics, Patriots, Bruins and Red Sox have all won titles since 2004, but some of the post-championship partying has caused problems. In 2004, a 21-year-old college student was killed by a pepper pellet fired by Boston police during crowd-control efforts following the Red Sox win in the American League Championship Series. In 2008, a 22-year-old man died after police took him into custody during street celebrations of the Celtics’ title.
In St. Louis, fans were disappointed that the Cardinals lost.
Ed Moreland watched the game while cleaning offices at a downtown bank building. “We had a good team. We fought for it,” he said. “Boston was just a bit stronger.”
At The Dubliner, an Irish pub near the St. Louis Convention Center, bartender David Fitzgibbons suggested that collective excitement in the city dissipated after a 3-1 loss in Game 5 that left the Cardinals needing a two-game sweep in Boston to prevail.
“I don’t think people’s expectations were that high,” he said.
Wednesday’s game was a triumphant end to a hectic day in Boston — hours before the game, President Barack Obama delivered a talk at historic Faneuil Hall on his embattled heath care reform.
With the World Series and a presidential visit, police were on high alert. The marathon bombing prompted the deployment of extra dogs and undercover officers.
For the citizens of Red Sox Nation, the extra security, the traffic and the closed streets were a small price to pay for baseball glory.
“Since 1918, no one has experienced this,” said Russ Stappen of Rockland, Mass., who shelled out several hundred dollars for his ticket. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press