5. The Green Monster
Apr 21, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; An American flag is unfurled over the Green Monster before the baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
All right, all right. I’m reaching a bit on this one, admittedly.
The city of Boston is widely regarded as having some of the closest and most significant ties to Irish American ancestry. The Boston Celtics come to mind, as do the high frequency of Irish pubs that cover the streets of Beantown.
The Dropkick Murphys, an American Celtic punk band that has gained an international audience was formed in 1996 in Quincy, a city just south of Boston. They band’s song “Tessie” is kind of an unofficial anthem for the Red Sox and the group has performed live at Fenway Park before.
From a sports perspective, the Green Monster at Fenway park is one of the more iconic baseball structures in American sports culture. Fittingly, it also happens to be green.
The wall was part of the original structure of the stadium which was first used in 1912, making its popularity over a century old. It stands 37 feet and two inches tall, making it the second tallest wall amongst all in existence at the pro baseball level, minor league stadiums included. Seats atop the Green Monster were installed in 2005, allowing fans to have a birds eye view of the action below while being in close proximity to the playing surface.