Fans Pack Into Fenway Park Ahead Of Opening Day
BOSTON (CBS) -- Fans of all ages arrived the day before opening day at Fenway Park for a quick tour and to pick up some Red Sox gear.
Natalia and Mike Zuppardi traveled all the way from California to be in Boston for opening day.
"This is my grace land, I love Boston," Zuppardi said.
Fans were rehearsing one last time for the opening day ceremony. Young Kevin Mann will be one of the fortunate few to get on the field for the flag ceremony.
"I'm just pumped. I can't wait to see all the players come out and the ceremony," Mann said.
Professional artist Mark Waitkus has been to dozens of opening days in his lifetime.
"There's no better day than seeing home plate, the smell of ball park and balls being hit off the bat," Waitkus said.
Waitkus has captured the history of the Red Sox in his new coffee table book.
"Opening Day is the sign of Spring. It's the sign of new life and the best day of the year for me," Waitkus said.
Die hard fan James Debosbriand has been building his Red Sox shrine in his home for the past 20 years.
"The atmosphere at Fenway Park it takes your breath away," James said.
Every year he has a prediction of how the Red Sox will do. He nailed it in 2013 when the Red Sox won the World Series.
"When it comes down to it, we are going to be in the World Series and face the Cardinals," Debosbriand predicts.
"Make no mistake it's going to be a heck of a team this year," he said.
