this rivalry is not a good natured thing. I mean, for most of us it is. its fun, its intense, we love it. but for the louder, drunker, and more obnoxious fans its ridiculously serious. I've seen fights, although generally not violent ones. I've heard some pretty nasty stories of visiting fans getting harassed (in both Fenway and Yankee stadium). But mostly its the loud, drunk, obnoxious and usually vulgar fans that get on my nerves. and they will be out in full force.

Volcanogirl, You'll have a good time at the game. Just pretend you're a Sox fan and don't mouth off to anyone. Enjoy Dirty Water at the end, because it's easily the best sports team theme in the country. It's hardly a rivalry; it's more the fans that hate each other, not the players. Back in the 70s, that was a rivalry. The players loathed each other then.

What china cat said about behavior is kinda true. This is a wild generalization, but Sox fans are more aggressive than the average sports fan (besides maybe Philadelphia Eagles fans!). Remember the legends about Yankee fans being really obnoxious? They are, but Sox fans are worse. Check out sullystees.com, and you basically have the over-zealous Sox fans in a nutshell. I've lived in different places (Boston area for 5 years, including four years of college with a bunch of Boston-area jocks) and I've traveled a lot, and if I wanted to see or get into a fight with a random person for no reason, a Boston sports bar would be the place to do it. I have New England friends who agree with this sentiment. I'm basing this on experience.

My mom always taught me that after I say something bad about someone, I should say something good about them. Here: Sox fans are very knowledgeable about baseball (the ones who aren't blinded by Sox fervor, that is), and they truly love the team. They also have a good sense of humor, if you like vulgar, aggressive, your-mom humor. They can be really clever.

The street meat in Boston is OK, but they're way better when you're drunk. That's the only way I'd pay for 'em, because they're really overpriced.

Serious note about possible violence. It will not happen unless you get drunk and go at it with another drunk.

However, if you are near the bleachers watch - there is guaranteed to be some drunk lunatic Yankee fan who gets squawking at some equally drunk and mentally impaired Red Sox fan and someone will get escorted to the exit by police.

One other thought. The chances are best at a Yankees-Red Sox game that someone will decide to celebrate by running on the field, sometimes with minimalist clothing. They never show it on TV since they think it encourages the runner (I am sure some lost cross country competitor).

Have a great time - we go to several Red Sox games a year and have once or twice been fortunate enough to get Yankees Red Sox tickets. It is a special event.

Okay, I think I got it - Go early, wear Sox gear, eat before or eat sausage, don't get too drunk, don't mouth off, Let's go Red Sox (clapping), Sweet Caroline, Yankees Suck!, and wait for Dirty Water to ring out in the end! I am now looking forward to it more than ever - thanks to everyone for all the help. I think this will be a great way to spend my b-day.

GO YANKEES!!!

volcanogirl, you definitely have it down. Except for the most important part...

have fun!!!

and, if you want to eat beforehand, a couple suggestions...
El Pelon -- good, cheap burrito place a block off Kilmarnock St. Just picnictables outside
La Verdad -- a new, very good Taqueria on the corner of Landsdowne and Ipswitch
Eastern Standard -- excellent bistro in the Commonwealth Hotel. it gets very crowded at the bar before games...make a reservation if you want to eat there
Great Bay -- terrific seafood, also in the Commonwealth Hotel. Its kind of upscale, but there are plenty of folks in there in Sox gear on game day.

" Remember the legends about Yankee fans being really obnoxious? They are, but Sox fans are worse. "

Not true. For every bad Sox fan story you can pull out of your hat, I can pull out 10 about Yankees fans in NY.

Are there obnoxious Sox fans? absolutely. Way too many of them. Are they worse or more numerous than obnoxious Yankee fans? Absolutely not.

As for food, I second the notion about Fenway Franks....that Dirty Water song must be about how they cook Fenway Franks ewww.... They do block off Yawkey Way outside the park before games, this is a good opportunity to get a sausage sandwich from a vendor out there, or...if they're not too crowded, grab something from one of the restaurants or pubs in the area (Boston Beer Works is my favorite--micro-brews made on the premises)

Never ever ever will you hear the chant "Lugo's Better" at Fenway Park unless its completely in jest. He is the most despised member of the current Red Sox and a pisspoor shortstop. But you will likely hear "Jeter S**ks" and worse. Hardcore Red Sox fans know Jeter is better but that won't stop the chants.

As big a Red Sox fan as I am, I will not go to a Yankee/Red Sox game anymore. There are too many tourists and rookies at these games who are more interested in getting drunk and waiting for someone to start trouble.

The best games to see are against the Angels or Tigers - where the rookies stay home and the real fans show up.

Here are a few other things to watch for:
Manny Ramirez plays left field and will sometimes disappear into a door in the Green Monster - crowd will give him a good natured hard time if he does this because he almost didn't return in time for play to resume several seasons ago. We call it and some of the other crazy stuff he does "Just Manny being Manny".

When our closer Jonathon Palpabon comes out of the bullpen, he will give a high five to the cop standing guard and then race like a madman across the outfield but he stops once he reaches the dirt of the infield and composes himself. Part of his ritual.

Big Papi isn't swinging the bat this year like he has in the past because he's injured but the crowd will still get excited if he's up at bat in a clutch situation with the hope that maybe this time he'll come through for us as he has so many times in the past.

The more expensive the face value of your seat, the less likely you are to encounter idiots. The right field grandstands are the worst seats in baseball - both for the view and the fans that sit there.

I hope you have a good time.

I respectfully disagree Bennnie. Lugo (while clearly NOT better than Jeter, and I was joking about that part) has come around a little bit and the fans don't despise him at all. During his 0/21 slump there were clearly chants of "Let's go Lu-go, clap-clap clap-clap-clap"

no, fans ire is clearly saved for JD Drew. " No JD, they are not saying "Dreeeewwwwww"". And Wily Mo Pena, should he still be with the team after tomorrow (I doubt it).

One more thing. If Jon Lester pitches he will get an ovation far in excess of his playing ability. He was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago, has undergone chemo, done some rehab starts, and pitched at Fenway for the first time this season yesterday.

Also, since signing Matsuzaka as pitcher, there are many red shirts with Japanese characters on them. While we are all supposed to believe that they say the players name, or Red Sox in Japanese, I want to secretly photo them and find out what they really say. Because of this, they now sell sushi at Fenway. Unless you have a death wish, I would suggest avoiding sushi at a 100 year old ballpark with equally old utilities, refrigeration.

Ralphie mentioned the Boston Beer Works brewery right next door to Fenway. In my opinion, this is, hands down, the best dining option when going to see a Red Sox game! beerworks.net

I saw a dude eating sushi at Wrigley a few weeks ago. I wanted to buy him a hot dog.

I haven't actually seen sushi sold to the common masses at Fenway. I was under the impression it was in the luxury boxes only, but I'm not so sure?

Some of those shirts definitely say "Yankees Suck" in Japanese.

Yeah, I don't think we despise Lugo. True, when he was in his 0 for 30 something slump, things got a little rough but we certainly don't despise him. He went out there and played hard everyday.

And our closer is Papelbon.

As a lifelong fan who has been going to the games since I was a kid, I honestly don't think the crowds have changed that much. I remember being a kid and listening to a lot of drunks who shouted obscenities and slurred their words.

The bottom line is this, going to a game at Fenway is one of the most enjoyable things one can do. It's sold out every game, the fans are into it and it's generally a very exciting experience.

Any traditions? Yes. Watching the demise of the Red Sox at the end of a season.

Go Yankees!

coldwar27, did you miss 2004??? Watching the Sox take a dive is so last century!!

volcanogirl what fun to spend time at a national landmark on your birthday!

Bow your heads and say a hello to the Yawkeys.

Bow you heads and say a thankyou to all the people that stood up, spoke up and demanded that the last thing Boston needed was a new ball park.

Consider the city block and what a true gem of pure Americana Fenway is and how easily all may have been lost by those silly polaticians, or evil?

Participate in the wave while hating and respecting it all at once. Aint nothin' sadder then seeing a half empty ballpark trying to do a wave and failing to set you attitude straight. The wave annnoys, but is truly a wonderful thing.

If you make it to Boston Beerworks, order a blueberry ale with extra blueberries and toast my husband!

Live, Laugh, Love

kealalani - note to self - we should never have a discussion about politics, since we disagree on everything!

Fenway is a quaint landmark, but if one lives in area and wants to go to games more than once in a lifetimke it quickly becomes so uncomfortable as to make the experience extremely unpleasant. Seats too narrow, rows too narrow, seats facing the wrong way, disgusting concourses (despite extreme efforts to clean up and renovate, it is what it is - 100 years old). Depends if you want to view history or enjoy a game with reasonable creture comforts. Time for it to go.

Not sure what you mean about the Yawkeys, but their racism was memorable and revolting.

I used to live 3 blocks from Fenway - 25 years ago. It was a nice lower middle class area and I could walk to ballpark and pick up day of game tickets cheap. Most of the surrounding area is now expensive and gentrified.

I refuse to participate in the wave.

Never tried blueberry ale, but am a beer/ale purist - no flavors. (None in coffee either).

But disagreements as yours and mine above are what make trip to Boston and Fenway a thrill - after living in this area for 30 years, so many other parts of the country seem so bland.

HOW LUCKY CAN YOU GET...A SOX-YANKEES GAME!!! if you can try to book a tour of Fenway Park to see that beautiful gem.. The Today Show picked Fenway as one of the wonders in the US. Go into the shops and buy a t-shirt with your favorite player.it can be Ortiz, Youk, Varetek, etc before the game. Th Fenway Experience is something special..the closed streets with the kosks, the sausages, and yes, our Jerry Remy.. Be sure to take a picture inside with Ted Williams..Anybody who is anybody in Massacbusetts will be at the games.. from Ben Affleck to Joseph Abboud (clothing designer), Mayor Menino..these are the games that bring out some of the "beautiful people".. and the most avid and rabid fans...When Youkalis comes to bat you will hear "YO, YO".. and the fun of seeing Manny being Manny...let's just hope Ortiz is on his game..he is so beloved in Boston..Boston fans even according to other baseball players know their baseball and it's only the Yankees that drive them crazy... but we have the greatest respect for their manager Torres.. Welcome to Boston...

Sorry but I have to disagree - Lugo is despised - listen to WEEI for an hour and you'll hear it. Come to my house and watch a game with us and you'll hear it. Yeah he got some support when he was so down but that was short lived. Not saying Drew isn't despised too.

To be honest there is just way too much marketing of the Red Sox for my taste. They are very close to jumping the shark. Have you seen the advertisements for the Sox Appeal show. Give me a break - I don't want to see some aging figure skater unsure of his sexuality watch a Red Sox game while making passes as stupid women. Its horrifying and embarrassing. Just play baseball would ya.