100 Things Red Sox Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die written by Nick Cafardo takes a tour through the history and lore of the Boston Red Sox. Cafardo, a long time Boston Globe baseball writer and NESN contributor, provides incredible insight into 110 years of BoSox baseball. In this book, 100 aspects of Red Sox baseball are explored. From the home of the Boston Braves, to the array of players injured in the 2010 season, 100 Things Red Sox Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die provides a wide spread of topics to peak your interest. Ever wonder about Clay Bucholtz’s no-hitter? Check. Want to learn more about Joe Morgan’s “magic” nostalgia? Got it. This novel written by Nick Cafardo includes every little detail of the proud Red Sox organization throughout the history of the franchise, and gives readers like me a new perspective on the pride, agony, defeat and triumph that has taken place.

One aspect of 100 Things Red Sox Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die that I really enjoyed was the theme depicted by Nick Cafardo. The message embedded is that the Boston Red Sox is a very proud franchise. The city, along with all of New England, loves it’s sports, and the Sox are no exception. From the great teams of the 1910s, to the 86 year drought full of heartbreaks, and the 2000s resurgence, Boston has been a storied franchise. One surprising aspect is the fact that the franchise was racist, and was the last team to integrate. With that aside, the Red Sox, along with Fenway, the fans and the history has made the franchise one of the best in the league.

Another part of 100 Things Red Sox Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die Cafardo does well is the statistics, and amount of them in this book. Nick Cafardo includes stats from the careers of Ted Williams, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Yastremski and more. He also mentions their personalities, perceptions, and accomplishments for the Red Sox organization. The knowledge and research put into this book has great depth, as shown in the 100 different topics spanning 100 plus years. Being a Boston Globe writer for 25 years, Cafardo provides an experts’ edge, another reason you should pick up this sports novel.

Also done well in this book is the visuals and photography used to promote the readers’ experience. Every few chapters, which are only a few pages each, has a photo representing the main idea, along with an explanation about it. These images help the reader, like me, understand what Cafardo is talking about, and give me a more in depth explanation of the topic at hand. One example of this is the Huntington Avenue Grounds, the home of the Boston Braves (now Red Sox) before Fenway Park. With the photo, I understood better the complexions of old stadiums, and how the crowd acts as a wall for home runs to go over. This, along with Cafardo’s expert analysis I had mentioned before, add multiple senses and depth to 100 Things Red Sox Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die.

In conclusion, I would rate 100 Things Red Sox Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die 4.5 stars out of a 5 star rating. It is an exceptional book, with many aspects to it that make it a must read by any New England sports fan or Red Sox fan. This is also who I would recommend the book to. The theme put into the book is that the Red Sox are a proud franchise, a fact backed up by Cafardo’s knowledge of the team. The statistics and detail put into each topic of the book are spot on, and really help enhance the book. The same could be said for the many photos pertaining to the topics in the book. Overall, 100 Things Red Sox Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die is a great sports read that really peaks your interest in the Boston Red Sox. ( )