Praying for Baseball
Summer is finally here, and with it, a return to normalcy for our national pastime.
Given the recent relaxation of COVID-19 protocols, many Major League ballparks are now operating at full capacity. This is a welcomed development for teams and fans alike, both eager to see stadium turnstiles spin once more. But for a sliver of Red Sox Nation, baseball’s resurrection is particularly satisfying. You might even say, it’s an answer to a prayer.
For decades, unbeknownst to many Red Sox fans, the clergy pass program has granted access to the ballpark for religious leaders of every stripe. According to Ron Bumgarner, executive vice president of ticketing, Fenway events and concerts, the program harkens back to the 1960’s.
In its earliest iteration, the pass allowed select clergy to purchase two standing room tickets at the discounted rate of $10. Over time the parameters of the program have evolved. Participating clergy can now buy tickets at half price, a system that allows for differing price points depending on the opposing team and day of the week.
Only three of baseball’s 30 teams currently offer a clergy pass program. Joining the Red Sox in this endeavor are the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals. This wasn’t always the case. The New York Giants issued clergy passes to the old Polo Grounds as early as the 1920’s. The only…
