Patriots’ Day Is Special in Boston

For as long as most Bostonians can remember, the third Monday in April has been a special day. Officially it's Patriots’ Day, commemorating the revolutionary war, but in Boston it also goes by the name Marathon Monday. It's the day of the Boston Marathon, the oldest and most prestigious footrace in the world. Its course has hosted many of the greatest runners of all time, including current world record holder Eliud Kipchoge. It's also a special day for the Boston Red Sox because every year on Marathon Monday they get up early to play a game at 11:00 AM, the earliest game in the MLB all year. That way, once the game is over Red Sox fans can go and watch the end of the marathon, which finishes a mile from Fenway Park.

This year on Marathon Monday the Red Sox played the Angels and Shohei Ohtani, who promptly gave up four runs in the first inning. The game only lasted another inning before an hour-plus rain delay ensued. For most fans a long rain delay is a sign to head for the exits. But in Boston on Marathon Monday nobody left, and the party continued with dance competitions on the jumbotron. After the delay ended the game continued and Red Sox reliever Kutter Crawford went on a tear, throwing 6.1 scoreless innings and allowing one hit. The Red Sox offense struggled to produce the same amount of success as Crawford did, managing only four runs in their 5-4 defeat.

This game and this day means a lot to everybody involved, from the Red Sox players to the thousands of people who line the 26.2-mile course of the Marathon to cheer on their friends and even people they don’t even know. The Marathon has been going since 1897, but in 2013 the unimaginable happened. Two terrorists bombed the finish line of the marathon and killed three people. The hunt to catch them killed two more. The events left the city shocked and desperate for a lifeline. The Red Sox gave them that lifeline. They put the city on their back and put together an inspiring season and playoff run ending with the 2013 World Series championship. All of this just added to the importance of this day.

Over the past 10 years the Red Sox have finished last in their division four times and won their division three times while capturing two World Series. Last year was one of the last-place finishes and their bad luck continued into the offseason when star shortstop and last remaining member of the 2013 World Series team Xander Bogaerts was signed by the Padres. But in the first weeks of the season the Red Sox showed a little hope when new signing Adam Duvall and homegrown superstar Rafael Devers combined for ten home runs through April 15th. That's another thing that's so special about this game. It gives fans hope for a good year. It's early in the season so anything can happen. It makes it even more exciting for Red Sox Nation.

Of the almost 35,000 people at the game on Marathon Monday this yea,r many were wearing Boston City Connect uniforms. The jerseys debuted in 2021 and were an instant hit. Inspired by the marathon and the Red Sox’ connection to it, the yellow-and-blue jerseys became a good luck charm for the Red Sox, as they are 17–4 when wearing them. The jerseys have the same blue and yellow colors as the Boston Marathon and say Boston on the front. The number 13 forms the B in Boston as a nod to the 2013 marathon bombing and a marathon bib patch has the Boston area code 617 on the sleeve of the jersey.

For runners, it's a chance to make their family and friends proud by running the most prestigious marathon in the world. For kids, it's a day off from school that only one other U.S. state gets off. For fans, it's a chance to see two sporting events on the same day. And for all in the city of Boston it's a chance to take a day to celebrate and cheer for people who are doing arguably the hardest thing in sports: running the Boston Marathon!