Alan Greenwood

Eight years after one of the most glittering celebrations brick and mortar ever had, Fenway Park stands empty 108 years after its opening.

On April 20, 1912, the Red Sox beat the New York Highlanders (who wisely adopted the nickname Yankees one year later) 7-6 in 11 innings.

Before The Curse was lifted by the 2004 World Series triumph, it was often noted that the Titanic’s sinking was the major news story on the day that the lyric little bandbox opened.

In other news that day:

“A meeting of the members of the Athletic Association of the Nashua High School was held at the close of the morning session Friday. A committee composed of James Coggins, the president of the association, Albert O’Neil, the captain of the track team, and Benjamin Flanders, the manager of the track team, was appointed and instructed to go to Manchester on Friday afternoon to make arrangements for the annual Triangular Interscholastic track meet.”

APRIL 20, 1950 – “Lowell High, its grid drills wrapped up until the fall, opened its baseball season this week with a lopsided 10-2 victory over Medford.

“By the time Lowell meets Nashua on Friday, May 12, Stan Stoklosa’s team should be a fairly smooth working outfit. Nashua doesn’t open its season until May 5 and probably won’t begin practice sessions until a week before its opener.”

APRIL 20, 1960 – “Alvirne High’s baseball aggregation yesterday successfully opened the 1960 season by dumping Woodbury High of Salem on a no-hit performance by Gene Gravelle.

“Gravelle also got into the hitting act when he doubled in the fourth inning to drive in two runs. All together six players smashed out the six Alvirne hits.

“During his seven-inning stint Gravelle struck out 11 and walked five in handcuffing the opposition.”

There was no mention of how Woodbury scored its run in the 5-1 Broncos win. It’s fair to suggest that the five walks played into it.

APRIL 20, 1985 – “By the time the weather turns warm, the outfield grass turns green and the scoreboard at Holman Stadium is finally operating, Friday night’s Nashua Pirates home opener will be but a misty memory; just one of 140 games on the 1985 schedule and nothing more.

“And while there was a flash of brilliance here, a flicker of hope there, ultimately the evening was as dark and dreary as the inoperable scoreboard. Thanks mostly to a hot Yankees pitcher named Brad Arnsberg, the 843 fans who shivered through the evening’s festivities went home disappointed. Except for a couple of rocky innings, Arnsberg was in command throughout a 7-3 Albany victory.”

Contact Alan Greenwood at 594-1248 or agreenwood@nashuatelegraph.com.