Sox finally bringing their hardware to Maine

RED SOX RALLY

When: Friday, Dec. 17

Where: Portlandn The time, location and participants are to be announced.

The World Series trophy also will be showcased in Augusta, Bangor and Presque Isle on Saturday, Dec. 18.

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The Boston Red Sox will finally visit Portland, bringing the 2004 World Series trophy here next Friday. City officials are planning a rally that will be attended by some Red Sox players, still to be named.

"It will be the largest rally Portland has ever seen," said Liz Darling, Portland's marketing and communications manager.

Last April, Darling helped plan the rally for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, which drew a crowd estimated at 45,000. "We're anticipating this to be larger," she said.

Plans are still being finalized, with another announcement likely to come today. Darling could not say where the rally will be held - the Patriots rallies in 2002 and 2004 were in Monument Square - and she could not say which players are coming.

The tentative plan is for the rally to be held around 3 p.m., with the trophy displayed beforehand for photo opportunities.

On Saturday, the trophy will be brought to other points in Maine - Augusta, Bangor and Presque Isle - but without the players.

Maine is the only state in New England that has not received an official visit from the Red Sox and their World Series trophy, won in October with a four-game sweep over the St. Louis Cardinals. It was Boston's first World Series title since 1918.

Red Sox minority owner Les Otten of Newry brought the trophy to Maine in November and made a television appearance with it, but there was no public display of the trophy, nor was there a visit by a player.

The plans for next Friday are sketchy because neither the city nor the Red Sox were ready to formally announce the visit. Gov. John Baldacci's office made it public Thursday afternoon in a press release. "I am pleased the Red Sox have saved the best for last," Baldacci said in the written statement.

"I'm hoping we're no more than a day away from finalizing the schedule," said Chuck Steedman, Red Sox senior director of broadcast services.

Darling was hesitant to provide more details until they are concrete. The city already had to cancel one planned parade.

On Oct. 28, a day after Boston won the Series, city officials announced that the Red Sox would be coming to Portland the following week. But the next day the team canceled the plans because of scheduling conflicts. Darling said the city then worked on another date - "we wanted it definite before we told anyone" - and that also fell through.

Unlike the Patriots rallies, which began with a short parade, the Red Sox rally may not have one because of time constraints. Sunset on Dec. 17 is 4:04 p.m.

Besides the limited daylight, Darling said there are natural concerns about the weather this time of year. The Patriots rallies in April featured temperatures in the 50s and 60s.

The names of the visiting players could be announced today. Darling said there will be "three, possibly four players."

Previous rallies in New England have featured one or two players. Pitchers Alan Embree, Mike Timlin and Bronson Arroyo have appeared in various rallies, as have third-baseman Kevin Youkilis and outfielder Trot Nixon.

Youkilis would seem a natural for the Portland visit. Not only did he play for the Portland Sea Dogs in 2003, but Youkilis is scheduled to appear in a charity baseball clinic in Portland the next day, Dec. 18.

Reader Comments
Which players would you like to see bring the trophy to Maine? Who do you think will come?

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