National Review Online

April 20, 2012, is the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox. It has become a Boston landmark through the years. Scroll forward for a history of the illustrious ballpark. . . .

On April 20, 1912, Fenway Park hosted its first official game against the New York Highlanders. While the Red Sox were on the road, left- and right-field bleachers were constructed.

Three fires in May 1926 destroyed the wooden bleachers down Fenway Park’s left-field line. The damaged seating was a reminder of the club’s woes until the charred section was taken down that August.

Wooden bleachers were installed on the outfield for spectators of football in 1928. Boston College began playing some of its football games at Fenway Park that fall.

Fenway Park’s reconstruction in 1934 suffered a setback when a five-hour fire burnt down parts of the newly constructed left-field grandstand and center-field bleachers.

When Fenway reopened in April 1934, it contained over 7,000 new seats and a new left-field wall. It also featured the first electronically operated scoreboard in baseball.

Renovations to the park reduced home-run distances. The ballpark also received a “Dartmouth Green” paint job throughout, taking on the characteristic color that it is known for today.

In 1936, a 23-foot-high net was added above the left-field wall to protect pedestrians and property on Lansdowne Street.

The year 1937 saw the removal of the roped-off, on-field standing area in deep right and center field where fans had been able to watch the team play.

New bullpens were added in 1940, shortening the distance to the wall. The reconfiguration accommodated Ted Williams’s swing so well that the bullpens were nicknamed “Williamsburg.”

Fenway Park hosted its first All-Star Game in 1946. “Sky view” seats were built for the national press covering the game.

For the 1947 season, advertising was removed from the left-field wall, which was painted green to match the rest of the ballpark. The “Green Monster” was born.

After the 1975 season, an electronic scoreboard was placed above the center-field bleachers. The Monster was reconstructed with a new tin covering with Styrofoam backing for more consistent caroms.

In 1982, Fenway Park sported its first true luxury boxes, along with more than 300 right-field roof seats.

In 1983, the last true bleacher seats (wooden planks without backs) were removed and replaced with green plastic seats.

In 1988, a multicolored video board was installed in the center-field scoreboard, replacing the electronic-message board that was built in 1976.

In 1989, a new premium seating area, the 600 Club, debuted at Fenway Park. The club was furnished with padded stadium seats and enclosed in glass.

The John Henry ownership group purchased the Red Sox in 2001, beginning a ten-year renewal project. Its first act was to add nearly 400 new seats, including 161 on the infield side of both dugouts.

In 2003, 269 barstool seats were added atop the Green Monster. The seats became highly sought after and praised.

A new field was installed in 2005 with a sand-based drainage system, which allowed the field to remain playable for far longer than before.

In 2008, the club replaced all of the bleacher seats and added more than 800 seats, which increasing Fenway Park’s seating capacity to 37,400.

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The Reggae King

Filmmaker Kevin Macdonald’s new documentary about Bob Marley’s life called Marley was released April 20. Scroll forward for a short history of the reggae legend’s life. . . .

Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley was born in the village of Nine Mile in Jamaica in 1945. Marley’s father, Norval Marley, was in the Royal Marines. Norval died in 1955, when Bob was ten years old.

In 1963, Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry Smith formed a ska and rocksteady group called “The Wailers.”

In the 1960s, Bob Marley converted to Rastafarianism, and would go on to become one of its most famous adherents.

In 1972, the Wailers entered into an ill-fated deal with CBS Records that left them broke and stranded in London. Marley turned up at Island Records, and secured a deal for a new album, Catch a Fire.

Catch a Fire received critical acclaim, and was followed by Burnin’. In 1974, when the band broke up, Bob Marley began to tour with a new band, “Bob Marley and the Wailers.”

In 1975, Marley achieved his first international breakthrough with the song, “No Woman, No Cry.” This was followed by his first big album in the U.S., Rastaman Vibration.

On December 3, 1976, Marley was shot by gunmen who feared he was going to support a rival political party. Two days later, he performed at the free “Smile Jamaica” concert for peace.

In 1977, he released the popular album Exodus, which includes hits such as “Exodus,” “Waiting in Vain,” “Jamming,” and “One Love.”

In 1978, Marley returned to Jamaica and performed at another political concert, the “One Love Peace Concert.” Political rivals Michael Manley and Edward Seaga joined him onstage.

In 1979, Marley debuted Survival, including tracks such as “Zimbabwe,” “Africa Unite,” “Wake Up and Live,” and “Survival.”

Uprising, Marley’s final studio album, was released in 1980. This is his most religious work, including songs such as “Redemption Song” and “Forever Loving Jah.”

Marley died on May 21, 1981, at the age of 36, from untreated malignant melanoma.

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