It was 1994, I was 15 years old living with my sister, Kerri, my mother and step father. My step father loved sports and constantly encouraged me to stay active in sports as well as follow our favorite professional teams. He decided to bring us to a Red Sox game one night. We had two extra tickets for my friends from the neighborhood, John Macenelly and Rob Ridel (aka the Riddler). So there we were… beautiful summer night in the bleachers at Fenway. Red Sox were playing the Mariners. Not a very exciting game since we were getting crushed! I was boy crazy at the time and told my sister, John and Rob that I thought the right fielder for the Mariners had a really nice bum and he would be my husband some day. The boys were teasing me and I felt invincible at the time and was confident that he would somehow recognize me some day. His name was Jay Buner and I was told he is really grumpy and hates fans bugging him. As this conversation continued (it was more entertaining than watching the Red Sox lose) by the 6th inning a bet was proposed to me. I am pretty sure it was John who said “why don’t you go say hi to him tonight…. Run on the field and introduce yourself”. I did not hesitate to accept the bet and run on the field to tell Jay he has a nice ass and win $50 from the guys for doing it. So at the 7th inning stretch (we were losing 6-2) I got up, told my parents I was going to use the ladies room and made my way to the seating section closest to the right outfield. (my parents had no clue what was going on at that time). I came to a gate with a security officer that divided the bleacher seats (cheaper seats) from the regular seats. No one had cell phones at this time or it never would have worked, but the officer asked for my ticket, I showed him and he told me I could not enter seating area with bleacher ticket, I used my acting skills and started frantically telling him I promised to meet my parents at the 7th inning stretch and they would be so worried if I didn’t show up (let my eyes water up a bit too). He asked if I was being honest and I assured him I was. Very close to that gate was the tunnel leading to the 3 foot wall that was a very short distance from where the right fielder is positioned. The game started back up, Jay was in the right field, I was standing in the tunnel a bit nervous but not about to back down this far into the adventure. I did not want to get hit by a ball so I observed the process, the batter would be introduced and do a few practice swings before stepping up to the plate. I decided I would just go for it when the next batter was announced … no turning back now! They announced Jose Consueqo and as he started his practice swings I just started running. Ran through the tunnel down a few stairs and easily scaled the wall. The stadium was packed but as my feet hit the grass I couldn’t hear anything but my feet running through the right field grass. As I ran toward Jay he was looking straight ahead… “oh shit” I was thinking he was going to ignore me, how do I deal with that? He looked over at me and turned his head back toward the pitcher….. ugh. But at this point there is absolutely NO TURNING BACK. As I got close to him he turned around (he jumped so he was facing me) he was smiling so I was relieved I wasn’t going to be ignored in front of thousands of people. He said “Hey” and I said “hey, I just came out here to tell you that you have a really nice ass!” he thanked me, asked for a hug and told me “go get em” pointing at the 7 officers running toward me. At this point I turn toward the officers and the crowd and realized everyone was going nuts (in a good way) this crap usually annoys people but I got away with it that night because we were losing so badly it was a least some entertainment. As a teen everyone always assumed I was older than I was which is only mildly important for this story. I looked up at the crowd who were on their feet as the officers got a hold of me. They cuffed me, I really didn’t know I would be arrested for this. There were men trying to lean over the wall and hand me money for bail (officers wouldn’t let me take it) They walked me out the back door onto Lansdown Street where I was hit on a few more times before being brought to Roxbury jail which at that time was known as “The Combat Zone” at that time. I was put in a cell called “the cage” at the jail that was located in the police office area, not with other cells because I was a minor. I was not nearly as scared or intimidated as I should have been, I just sat in the cell waiting for my parents to show up while the officers watched the game and laughed about my escapades.
I don’t know how long I waited but my dad showed up and the officers handed me over to him. I have no recollection of the ride home, we were probably laughing… but I really don’t remember. Pretty sure Dad didn’t find it at all amusing. I was told that he nudged my Mom and said “look, some asshole is running on the field”… that is when Mom looked and said “Michael, that’s Jessica!”
The next day I had to appear to court in Boston (the part my Dad was pissed about). We went to this huge courthouse and were directed to the probation department. We sat down with this man who right away began asking me questions. I remember being horrified at some of the things he was asking about previous charges or assaults. I just kept answering honestly as I became more fearful about what kind of trouble I was in. His phone rang, he picked it up and began laughing. When he got off the phone he looked at me and asked if I really ran on the field the night before, I told him I did and he shook his head and asked why I hadn’t told him, I remember telling him “ you didn’t ask”. He directed my Dad and I to another building where we ended up meeting this guy in this huge office. I had no clue what was going on or who this Mayor Manino guy we had to meet with. Him and my Dad chuckled about my behavior a bit. Manino told me that I was not allowed at any Red Sox games for the rest of the season and if I did not get in any more trouble he would rip up my juvenile record which had the charges the night before recorded. 1. Disturbing the Peace 2. Distrupting a Public Assembly 3. Trespassing and maybe more. I promised and we left.
At home I was listening to my favorite DJs on a rock station called WAAF, Opie and Anthony. They were bored and said if anyone had a story to call them. So I did, I have the recording of me on their show on the radio on a cassette tape somewhere but cannot find it. That was exciting for me too!
I did not get in anymore trouble during that baseball season so my juvenile record was destroyed.
I guess this experience was lifechanging for me. YOLO is a thing. If it is not going to hurt you or anyone else then fkn go for it! Don’t sit around wishing you HAD …. Write books about how crazy it was ... Weepppaa!! (remind me to tell you my introduction to the word and how I was able to actively use it while on vacation in Puerto Rico.
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Your friend Mark