HAVERHILL — With a few exceptions, every true New Englander is, of course, a Red Sox fan. Greg Caliri could be called a megafan.
He’s a proud member of the BoSox Club, the official booster club for the Old Town Team. He faithfully attends spring training in Florida every year, and he gets to 30 home Sox games a year. For the last 22 years, he has had grandstand seats behind first base.
A computer analyst, he’s also a member of Lost Nation, an online group of Sox fans that gets together about five or six times a year.
He sat for this interview in the basement of his Bradford home, in one of two bleacher seats he salvaged from Fenway Park after renovations. They are seats 1 and 2, from row 28, section 38, in case you remember where you sat a few years ago.
The North Andover High grad has been a Sox aficionado for most of his 57 years and remembers Ted Williams playing. And yes, his wife, Joan, is also a fan.
His best moment as a fan?
July 1, 2005, when the Sox got “shellacked by Toronto.” What made the occasion special was that his daughter, Army Maj. Jill Caliri, was home from Iraq and attended that game.
Jill went to school with Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena, a native of Haverhill, and they still keep in touch.
“She wants the Red Sox to win, but hopes he does well,” Greg Caliri said.
During the long drought, Caliri was always a believer, “even though I sat through two seventh games,” in 1967 and 1975. He was also present for that October 1978 game when Bucky Dent’s homer dashed the Sox’s hopes for a championship.
His favorite player?
“Bill Lee. He exemplified the rebellious spirit of the 1970s.”
His favorite in the current lineup?
“Jon Lester. He came back from adversity and became a star.”
Caliri was a diehard supporter of Manny Ramirez, until the Red Sox-turned-Dodgers slugger declared that the Sox didn’t “deserve” him.
He predicts another championship this year.
“Wouldn’t I be unfaithful if I said they won’t go on to win it all?” he said.
Haverhill
October 12, 2008
Red Sox ‘megafan’ predicts another World Series win
- Haverhill
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City eyes dangerous turn at routes 110 and 108
City councilors said they fear someone will be hurt or killed in a crash at a dangerous intersection near Kenoza Lake.
Continued ... -
Series of train track deaths has city reeling
The reasons people walk along railroad tracks in Haverhill include taking shortcuts and acting as daredevils to impress their friends, police said.
Continued ... -
Family of 8 in close call during early morning fire on High Street, Haverhill
HAVERHILL — Alexis Barton was driving up High Street last night around 1:30 a.m. when she encountered thick smoke shrouding the neighborhood.
Continued ... - Early morning, two-alarm fire on High Street, Haverhill drives family out of house
- Decision time for Hunking School
- Haverhill Chamber gives annual Business Awards
- Friday, February 10, 2012
- City braces for big bills
- Police target drug sales near park, school
- SUV hits house on Route 110
- Thursday, February 9, 2012
- SUV crashes into house in Haverhill
- Police: Street drug sale seen by Haverhill detectives nets 3 arrests
- 1,500 attend wake of boxer killed by train
- Scully gets a scalping
- Men arrested at gunpoint
- Cool guy visits rehab center
- Wednesday, February 8, 2012
- Groveland woman pleads guilty to motor vehicle homicide
- Verbal battle erupts outside council meeting
- Dog rescued after falling through lake's thin ice
- Worker who collapsed is rescued from rooftop
- Witness emergency delays teacher theft trial
- Performances of 'Drop Dead!' begin this weekend
- People in the News
- Tuesday, February 7, 2012
- City braces to pay big fire award
- Council calls for review of Haverhill finances
- Witness told police boy walked into passing car
- Fraza calling hours tomorrow at Boxing Club
- Monday, February 6, 2012
- Andover teen charged in pistol whipping at Ritz-Carlton Super Bowl party
- 8th grader struck by car, injured
- City: Building sold, firms staying
- Haverhill woman new leader of region's Tea Party
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City eyes dangerous turn at routes 110 and 108
Details in terror plot revealed
Red Sox players, fans react to the epic collapse
Buy Shonda Schilling's clothes for a good cause
Sox fans feeling let down again
