Royal Rooters
Encyclopedia
The original Royal Rooters were a fan club for the Boston Red Sox
in the early 20th century. They were led by Michael T. McGreevy
, who owned a Boston saloon called "3rd Base". While M.T. "Nuf Ced" McGreevy was certainly the spiritual (in both libations and foundations) leader of the Royal Rooters, Boston Mayor John F. Fitzgerald
, the maternal grandfather of John F. Kennedy
, served as chairman for a while, and during that time, M.J. Regan was the secretary. Other members included C.J. Lavis, L. Watson, T. S. Dooley, J. Kennan, and W. Cahill, among others. Their theme song was "Tessie
" from the Broadway musical "The Silver Slipper". Though the musical ran for less than six months, the song has gone down in history. The original Rooters disbanded in 1918.
Their spirit lives on via the current version of the Royal Rooters represented within a group known as Royal Rooters of Red Sox Nation. The current Rooters are based in the Boston area and meet informally for Red Sox games as well as for "outings" in various locations around the country. There is a fairly large contingent in New York City
, and their base has been the Riviera Café (known as "The Riv") in the West Village.
The current members of Red Sox Nation keep in touch most often through a dedicated website, Redsoxnation.net. The combination message board, fan forum, and blog has several thousand members.
The 1912 World Series went down in Rooter history. The Rooter’s seats on “Duffy’s Cliff” were sold to other fans and the Rooters became angry. Mounted police were called in to stop the riot.
, when the Red Sox played the Pittsburgh Pirates
. The Royal Rooters would go to Pittsburgh and sing Tessie to distract the opposing players, especially Honus Wagner
. Therefore, after falling into a 1-3 deficit, Boston rallied to win the Series with four straight victories.
The band Dropkick Murphys
released a re-working of "Tessie
" in 2004. Their version became the official song of the Boston Red Sox 2004 World Series
run and the band was able to share in the experience of the Red Sox winning the World Series championship. Their version of "Tessie" is still sung widely throughout Red Sox games and in Red Sox Nation
.
McGreevy’s was America’s first documented sports-themed bar.
In 1920 the bar was forced to close due to prohibition. He leased the saloon to the City of Boston for the “Roxbury Crossing” branch of the Boston Public library.
In 1923 McGreevy donated a majority of the plethora of memorabilia and famous baseball photography to the Boston Public Library.
Sometime between 1978 and 1981 almost twenty-five percent of the collection was stolen with no leads to this day.
Eighty-eight years later, in 2008, Dropkick Murphy leader Ken Casey joined forces with film producer and baseball historian Peter Nash to officially re-establish and re-open McGreevy’s 3rd Base Saloon at 911 Boylston St. The new McGreevy’s is a replica of the former bar. There is even a baseball museum dedicated to Boston’s history. The collection features originals and reproductions of McGreevy’s pictures on the walls and the new McGreevy’s even has on display the original glass portrait of its founder, Michael T. McGreevy.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in the early 20th century. They were led by Michael T. McGreevy
Michael T. McGreevy
Michael T. "Nuf Ced" McGreevey was the leader of the most vocal fans of the Boston Americans , today known as the "Royal Rooters". McGreevey owned the Third Base Saloon, which got its name because, like third base, it was the last stop before home...
, who owned a Boston saloon called "3rd Base". While M.T. "Nuf Ced" McGreevy was certainly the spiritual (in both libations and foundations) leader of the Royal Rooters, Boston Mayor John F. Fitzgerald
John F. Fitzgerald
John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald was an Irish-American politician and the maternal grandfather of three prominent United States politicians—President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Senators Robert Francis Kennedy and Edward Moore Kennedy.-Early life and family:Fitzgerald was born in...
, the maternal grandfather of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, served as chairman for a while, and during that time, M.J. Regan was the secretary. Other members included C.J. Lavis, L. Watson, T. S. Dooley, J. Kennan, and W. Cahill, among others. Their theme song was "Tessie
Tessie
"Tessie" is both the anthem of the Boston Red Sox and also the title of a newer song by the punk rock band Dropkick Murphys. The original "Tessie" was from the 1902 Broadway musical The Silver Slipper. The newer song, written in 2004, recounts how the singing of the original "Tessie" by the Royal...
" from the Broadway musical "The Silver Slipper". Though the musical ran for less than six months, the song has gone down in history. The original Rooters disbanded in 1918.
Their spirit lives on via the current version of the Royal Rooters represented within a group known as Royal Rooters of Red Sox Nation. The current Rooters are based in the Boston area and meet informally for Red Sox games as well as for "outings" in various locations around the country. There is a fairly large contingent in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and their base has been the Riviera Café (known as "The Riv") in the West Village.
The current members of Red Sox Nation keep in touch most often through a dedicated website, Redsoxnation.net. The combination message board, fan forum, and blog has several thousand members.
History
On game days the Royal Rooters marched in procession from the 3rd Base Saloon to the Huntington Avenue Grounds, which was the team’s home field before Fenway Park opened in 1912. The Rooters had a reserved section of seats along the third base line, close enough to the field to intimidate or distract opposing players with their insults and vicious taunts.The 1912 World Series went down in Rooter history. The Rooter’s seats on “Duffy’s Cliff” were sold to other fans and the Rooters became angry. Mounted police were called in to stop the riot.
"Tessie"
The Rooters sang "Tessie" at games to encourage their Sox, while simultaneously distracting and frustrating the other team. They were especially important in the first World Series, in 19031903 World Series
The 1903 World Series was the first modern World Series to be played in Major League Baseball. It matched the Boston Americans of the American League against the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in a best-of-nine series, with Boston prevailing five games to three, winning the last...
, when the Red Sox played the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. The Royal Rooters would go to Pittsburgh and sing Tessie to distract the opposing players, especially Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
. Therefore, after falling into a 1-3 deficit, Boston rallied to win the Series with four straight victories.
The band Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
released a re-working of "Tessie
Tessie
"Tessie" is both the anthem of the Boston Red Sox and also the title of a newer song by the punk rock band Dropkick Murphys. The original "Tessie" was from the 1902 Broadway musical The Silver Slipper. The newer song, written in 2004, recounts how the singing of the original "Tessie" by the Royal...
" in 2004. Their version became the official song of the Boston Red Sox 2004 World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
run and the band was able to share in the experience of the Red Sox winning the World Series championship. Their version of "Tessie" is still sung widely throughout Red Sox games and in Red Sox Nation
Red Sox Nation
Red Sox Nation refers to the fans of the Boston Red Sox. The phrase "Red Sox Nation" was first coined by Boston Globe feature writer Nathan Cobb in an October 20, 1986, article about split allegiances among fans in Connecticut during the 1986 World Series between the Red Sox and the New York...
.
McGreevy's 3rd Base Saloon
In 1894,“Nuf Ced” McGreevy opened his “3rd Base Saloon” in Boston. It was the place to be for ballplayers, politicians, and gamblers. Every inch of wall space decorated with historic pictures from Nuf Ced’s own collection and memorabilia he got from friends like Cy Young. The light fixtures were made from bats used by Red Sox stars and the painted portrait of McGreevy that hung above the bar looked down upon customersMcGreevy’s was America’s first documented sports-themed bar.
In 1920 the bar was forced to close due to prohibition. He leased the saloon to the City of Boston for the “Roxbury Crossing” branch of the Boston Public library.
In 1923 McGreevy donated a majority of the plethora of memorabilia and famous baseball photography to the Boston Public Library.
Sometime between 1978 and 1981 almost twenty-five percent of the collection was stolen with no leads to this day.
Eighty-eight years later, in 2008, Dropkick Murphy leader Ken Casey joined forces with film producer and baseball historian Peter Nash to officially re-establish and re-open McGreevy’s 3rd Base Saloon at 911 Boylston St. The new McGreevy’s is a replica of the former bar. There is even a baseball museum dedicated to Boston’s history. The collection features originals and reproductions of McGreevy’s pictures on the walls and the new McGreevy’s even has on display the original glass portrait of its founder, Michael T. McGreevy.
External links
- Royal Rooters of Red Sox Nation
- Red Sox Nation Fan forum and interviews from Red Sox Nation
- Boston Red Sox official site at mlb.com
- Royal Rooters Baseball League Boston-based adult baseball league named after the famed fans.
- McGreevy
- McGreevy
- McGreevy's
- Boston's Royal Rooters