Boston Red Sox Nation: July 18, 2007

The Fan Who Would Be President

Rick Swanson at Game 2 of 2004 World Series, Fenway Park

(BDD / Rick Swanson Photo)

Red Sox Nation Presidential Candidate Rick Swanson
Shares His Plan for Red Sox Fans with BDD

Average Joe Is Ready to Take on the Celebrity Candidates
Wants to Drop Cost of Joining Team's Nation to $1
And Create a Disneyland-Style 'Red Sox World'

Boston Dirt Dogs is conducting a series of interviews with the candidates for president of the team's Red Sox Nation fan group. Today, we conducted an e-mail Q&A with Rick Swanson, who was named as a candidate last week by Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino.

ON RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF RSN

BDD: Rick, as you are not in the public eye like most of the other candidates, would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself?

Swanson: I am 56, married since 1985, wife Diana, sons Casey 19, and Teddy, 16 and Erica 13 today. I am a Physical Education teacher for the Children's Center of Conn. I teach at an alternative school in Stratford, Conn.

I live in Glastonbury, Conn. I was born and raised in New Britain, Conn. I went to Doane College in Crete, NE and graduated in 1972. I played third base on the baseball team in college. I earned my Masters in Special Education at the University of Hartford in 1995.

I played baseball in the Hartford Twilight League from 1971-1974. I presently play softball in a 55 and over league called Vernon Senior Softball League, and I am on the board of directors.

BDD: Why do you want to become the president of Red Sox Nation?

Swanson: Since I went to Fenway Ambassador day in Fenway in 2002, I have wanted to find any position with the Red Sox. That night I was told how the new owners wanted to hear from the fans, and how email was simple to reach anyone in the organization, just by using the first initial, last name, at redsox.com. I have many ideas about baseball, but foremost is my passion to help the Red Sox win the World Series.

BDD: What makes you qualified to be the president of this rabid fanbase?

Swanson: I feel I have the same passion any real Red Sox fan has, but I have been able to reach the leaders, for 5 years now, and they really do listen to my ideas. I know how Red Sox fans think. 99% of fans would never have let Cabrera or Dave Roberts ever leave the team until they retired. They were the reason they won the World Series. I also wrote in May of 2003, "If you get Schilling, it will bring rings to Boston, and make heads roll in NY." Any real fan knows it was Bernie Carbo that was the real hero of game 6 in 1975. I have been lucky enough to have been there at the most crucial times.

Top 10 games I was at:

1. Game 4 2004 ALCS
2. Game 6 1975 WS
3. Game 162 1967
4. Game 6 1986 WS
5. Playoff Game 1978
6. Game 7 2003 ALCS
7. Opening Ring Day 2005
8. Game 4 ALDS 2003
9. Papi at the Bat 6/11/06
10. 8/1/73 Fisk Munson fight on home plate. Write a Red Sox book, get the facts right

BDD: What does the term, "pink hat crowd" mean to you?

Swanson: The young females that are now in the stands. In the old days, it was only fathers and sons that followed the Red Sox. Back then few females had any passion for the Red Sox.

BDD: What kinds of things do you anticipate being able to do as the president if elected? What are your plans?

Swanson: My first goal is to put Pesky back in the Red Sox dugout. I wrote a story that BDD ran in April. If elected I hope to take it to Bud Selig, and get Pesky back where he belongs.

I plan on doing the same thing that I do now. Writing and telling the team what they could do, to get better, and win it all again. I want to be the person that lets the organization know how all the fans feel. If I was president, neither Lugo or Drew would be in Boston, but Cabrera and Roberts would still be here.

I feel I will make an impact on the organization, even if not elected. right now I want them to use a six man rotation. I feel the way they do things in Japan is better than how we do them. I want every starting pitcher to go out there, and expect to pitch a complete game every time out. by changing to a six man rotation this will happen 50 percent of the time. I want all fans to decide right now, who belongs in the rotation Delcarmen or Tavarez? I sent this to Larry {Lucchino] today:

Larry,

Time to cut the cord with Wily Mo. His last at bat was brutal. Even Orsillo said, all the pitcher needs to do is throw a curve ball with 2 strikes, because Wily Mo will swing and miss. He did, and Pena looked lost again. We don't need Sanders, we need Jacoby Beep Beep Ellsbury, the Navajo Roadrunner, back in Boston now. Just release Pena

Don't let Tavarez start tonight. He looks like a deer in headlights. Switch roles with him and Delcarmen. Manny could give you 85 pitches tonight, and next time more. Gabbard Schilling and Delcarmen give us the six man rotation, without Tavarez. When Schilling returns you could start that. Until then put in the hometown kid in the rotation.

I know all of my ideas will not work, but I feel if elected at least they will check out some of the innovative ideas I have come up with. Wouldn't you like to see if CoreControl really worked?

I feel my writing helped them win before as this is what I wrote after game 2 against NY in 2004:

"I'm going to say something now that probably no other Red Sox fan would even say, or even think. I hope they lose game three and fall behind 3 games to zero. Then I want to see the greatest comeback ever in the history of baseball. The 2004 Boston Red Sox will be the first team in baseball history to come back from the grave, and win a 7 game series after losing the first 3 games. Then on top of that they will then go on to win the World Series in four straight, over the Cardinals."

Then I wrote this the morning of game 4. I called it The Sermon on the Mound:

"The Sox are my (Bob) shepherd; I shall not want (more after ending this 1918 chant). He maketh me to lie down in the shadow of the green (monster) pastures: he leadeth me beside the still (muddy) waters. He restoreth my soul, (with confidence to hit and catch the ball): he leadeth me in the paths (of the baselines in spite of the third base coach's poor decisions) for Smoky Joe's name's sake. Yea, though I walk (on four straight pitches) through the valley of the shadow of (a sweeping Yankee) death, I will fear no evil (empire): for thou art with me; thy bat and thy glove they comfort me. Thou preparest a seventh game before me in the presence of mine (NY) enemies: thou anointest my head with (glove) oil; my cap runneth over. Surely goodness and victory shall follow me all the days of these playoffs: and I will dwell in the house of Ted for the World Series."

I met Jeff Goldenberg director of event operations last November. I explained how a Walkstool could eliminate [standing room only] at all games. I demonstrated how this product could help ushers and security. I explained how a platform added to the [standing room only] section of State Street Pavilion could add 200 tickets to each game.

ON TICKETS AND FENWAY PARK

BDD: How often do you get to Fenway Park to see a game?

Swanson: Since 1957 I have gone to between 3 to 10 games a year, every year, except the strike year of 1994

BDD: How do you get your tickets to games?

I never bought tickets in advance. Up until 2003, I just went to any game, and always got in. In 1967 at a doubleheader with Minnesota, (this was the largest crowd ever in Fenway listed 35,469, but there were over 40,000 that night), between games my father said, "lets get tickets for the last game of the year, maybe it will mean something." We sat in section one row 5 on the last game of the year. He made me wear a suit with a red tie to the game. I said it would be different that day. Then I went with him to 3 World Series games, (he let me skip school) and we never had tickets. For game 7 it was Columbus Day, and Jersey Street was filled with people trying to get in. It was five of one, and we did not have any tickets. A man said to my father, 2 bleachers $50. My dad said $40, and he took it. Then another said to my father, who now had the tickets, I will give you $75, another said $150, then someone said $200. I got nervous that he was going to sell. I said "Dad, it is game 7 of the World Series, the Red Sox will never get here again in our lifetime, lets go to the game, forget money." We ran around to the bleachers, and entered the park when the Anthem finished.

In 2002 I went to a game about a month after I contacted Charles Steinberg for the first time. Looking for tickets, the price was high for me, and my two sons, and son's friend, Jon. I found 2 SRO, and the guy sold them for $30 instead of $36, so I was up. I decided to knock on the glass for the offices at 4 Yawkey Way. I told the attendant that I was communicating with the VP of the team, and wanted to know if I could get 2 tickets now. He let me go to the office on the second floor, the receptionist, offered me soda and a snack, I asked if Charles could find 2 SRO tickets for me. She came back and said he did not have any SRO but I could buy 2 grandstand, directly behind home plate. I was thrilled and for $88 more all 4 of us were in. The seats next to us were empty, and we sat together for a memorable game. I took my mini cam to the game and took footage of one of the most memorable games of the year, Terrence Long running over 100 feet in 5.65 seconds. Here it is. Including replay, as our tickets had a TV right in front of us. If you listen to the audio you can hear Jon's reaction when Boston lost. Ever since then, the leaders of the team have read my thoughts on how to help the team, this new ownership has let me go to practically any game I want. I try not to abuse this privilege, and only ask for about 5 games a year. I was once told, "If you feel like you need to be there, let me know, and you will."

BDD: Do you think Fenway is filled with the most passionate Red Sox fans, or is it filled mostly with people who can afford to be seen at the Fenway scene every night?

Swanson: I usually have SRO tickets, and those have always been the true passionate fans.

BDD: Are the Red Sox doing all they can to protect fans on the streets outside Fenway and wiping the scalpers out of the area on a nightly basis?

Swanson: It is better now than in the past. Most of it is done on the internet now anyway.

BDD: Do you think the ticketing system is fair?

Swanson: I think they are doing their best with only 36,000 for each game.

BDD: How do you feel about the massive number of Red Sox tickets that are available only through online ticket brokers and dangerous street scalpers?

Swanson: I think this ownership has tried to stop scalping. I can't understand why they let stub hub be a sponsor though. The last time I did not have tickets I stood in line on Lansdowne Street, and made it into the park, because they save tickets for the day of the game.

BDD: According to Team Marketing Report's Fan Cost Index, which compiles the cost for a family of four to attend professional sports events (two average adult tickets, two average child tickets, two small beers, four small soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking, two programs, and two baseball caps), the Sox were the most expensive take in the major leagues at $313.83. Should the Red Sox be working harder to make a night at Fenway more affordable for working families?

Swanson: I never pay to park, and get SRO tickets. I don't think it costs too much.

BDD: Are you in favor of a new Fenway, or building a new park?

Swanson: Never.

BDD: How do you feel about all the advertising at Fenway Park?

Swanson: I liked it better when the green monster was just green, and only Tom Yawkey and his wife used Morse code as the only other sign.

BDD: Do Fenway vendors scream too loudly in fans' ears when walking the stands at Fenway, interfering with the enjoyment of the game?

Swanson: In SRO sections they don't scream as loud.

BDD: At the end of the day, are Green Monster seats just high-priced obstructed view bleacher seats?

Swanson: I feel I was the first to think of putting those seats there. In 1999 I wrote to Ted Williams and said that they should put bleachers on top of the wall, instead of having a screen there. Ted had his secretary Mary Duhly Xerox my email and mail it in a letter to the then leaders of the team.

BDD: Have you ever waved into a camera while being on a cell phone at Fenway?

Swanson: No. This year a friend said ESPN zoomed in on me using my camera to take my own footage of a game. It was the night they wore green, and beat NY 7-6. He told me the announcer said: "Look at that fan with the grin on his face, soaking in every moment and memory of this game."

BDD: What should happen to front row fans who reach onto the field of play at Fenway?

Swanson: I have written many letters telling Boston to stop this from happening. I want ushers to wear shirts that say "Keep your hands in the stands" I want signs on top of the wall from canvas alley to the bullpen.

BDD: Do you think foul balls grabbed by the ball boys and girls should be handed to kids in the front row seats? Or should the Sox have an usher take the balls up to the kids in the cheap seats between innings?

Swanson: Bringing them up to cheap seats would be a good idea.

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