There are certain traditions in life you don’t question. Like why does a peson get down on one knee to propose marriage to another? Why do we rely on a groundhog to predict the future weather? How did tailgating start? We just do it. No questions asked. But, have you ever wondered why we all break out into singing Neil Diamond’s iconic “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway park? It’s a bottom of the 8th tradition and has been since 1997. Learn the story behind why we sing “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway Park, here.
There have been many theories and rumors. For years, many people have believed the song was played in honor of Caroline Kennedy. That made sense, her family is Massachusetts royalty, afterall. The likelyhood of her attending a game at Fenway was much greater than the likelyhood of the actual reason we sing the 1969 hit song. The answer to the great mystery of the story behind why we sing “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway Park has nothing to do with the Kennedys and everything to do with a Fenway staff member.
Here’s your answer
Sweet Caroline was first played at Fenway Park in 1997 after a Red Sox employee in charge of music at the park played the song as a tribute to a friend who had given birth to a baby named Caroline.
— Only In Boston (@OnlyInBOS) September 29, 2022
The song caught on and has played before the bottom of the eighth since.
Don’t you feel better, just knowing this. Well, lets dig a little deeper into this song.
Diamond In The Rough
After the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Neil’s connection to our city became even stronger. According to CNN, he began donating proceeds from the song to the One Fund Boston. In 2014, the fund announced it was shutting down it’s operations, after raising and distibuting almost $80 million to more than 200 victims of the tragedy.
Neil Diamond sings “Sweet Caroline” during a game between the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox in the 8th inning at Fenway Park on April 20, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
