This Woman is the Reason the Boston Red Sox Play ‘Sweet Caroline’

Whenever anyone from New England hears the song ‘Sweet Caroline,’ the Neil Diamond 1960s classic, they think of the Boston Red Sox. The best version of that song is standing inside Fenway Park, hearing thousands of Sox fans sing it together.

For me, and many Sox fans, the song reminds me of 2004 – the best year to be a Red Sox fan. We all have our own memories with the song being affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, but do we even know why?

Why do the Boston Red Sox Play Sweet Caroline?

According to the below ESPN Originals Instagram post, the song became a Fenway Park tradition because of a girl named … you guessed it… Caroline.

Billy Fitzpatrick worked at Fenway Park for 20 years, starting in 1984. His primary job was the scoreboard operator. In 1998, when he welcomed his baby, Caroline, into the world, she became part of the Fewnway Park family.

Ed Brickley, the Red Sox PA announcer from 1997 to 2003, asked Amy Tobey,  Fenway’s music director, to play ‘Sweet Caroline’ for Billy’s daughter.

According to a Chowdaheadz article:

She began by playing the song only between the 7th and 9th innings, and only if the Sox were winning. Fans came to view the tune as a good luck charm and anticipate its joyful notes. Noticing the fan response, the Sox’s 2002 group of new owners requested that Tobey begin playing the song during the eight inning of every home game.

And the tradition has lived on ever since…GO SOX!

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