For fans in New England and
across the globe, the Boston Red Sox are not just a team, and baseball is not
just a sport. Red Sox baseball is a way of life, thus the evolution of the
term, Red Sox Nation.
Rob Crawford understands this first-hand. A school administrator
in Brookline (Mass.),
he was raised a Red Sox fan and attended games at Fenway Park throughout his childhood. Today, the Dartmouth
College graduate has two
sons and three daughters nine and younger, and he is sharing his raising a new
generation of Red Sox fans.
Last year, when he learned that an election would be held to
determine the president of Red Sox Nation (the official fan club of the Boston
Red Sox), Crawford decided to run for the office. As a way to differentiate
himself from the pool of candidates, the amateur musician penned a Red Sox
song. The result was “I’m a Member of Red Sox Nation,” a tune so catchy that
even Hank Steinbrenner likely hums when he is alone.
Crawford, who performed in bands during college and enjoys
strumming the guitar, co-wrote “I’m a Member of Red Sox Nation” with Dan Page
and Michele Page, a husband-and-wife team of professional songwriters.
Crawford was invited to perform the song before a Red Sox
game on NESN last summer. He later finished second in voting and was selected
as the vice president of Red Sox Nation. As vice president, Crawford’s main
role is to serve as a fan advocate.
“I consider this winning the fan lottery because I was a
guest of the Red Sox at spring training in Ft. Myers and in Japan (where he blogged about his experiences at http://imamemberofredsoxnation.mlblogs.com)
and interviewed fans as part of his responsibilities),” said Crawford, who also authors Crawdaddy Cove (http://www.crawdaddycove.com). “Jerry
Remy gave me the perks he won as president, including four tickets to 10 games.
I am giving those to children who have never attended a game at Fenway Park.
I also have a suite for the May 4 game and I am filling it with kids who have
never seen a Red Sox game, and their parents.”
You can listen to “I’m a Member of Red Sox Nation” by
clicking on the link below:
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