The Left Field Scoreboard: History

The left-field (“Monster”) manually operated scoreboard is a Fenway icon, practically as significant as the wall itself.  It is a visual focus throughout the game, and an integral part of the fan experience for 90 percent of the fans.

Tom Yawkey embarked on a renovation streak after he bought the Red Sox in 1933.  Before the 1934 season, the wall in left field was built to contain the game within the park and block the view from outside, and it was built with a scoreboard somewhat similar to what we see today.  It showed 10-inning line scores for four American League games (including the Red Sox game), and pitcher, inning number and run totals for four National League games.  Since there were only 16 teams in the Majors, that sufficed. And the board also showed balls, strikes, and outs with colored lights, H (hit) and E (error) lights, and a dot-matrix light display for the batter’s number.  These indicator lights were similar to today’s but in a different location (between pairs of American League games).

The 1934 scoreboard on July 2, 1958. Note AL scores have no run totals!  The Senators went on to beat the Sox 5-3 that day. Ted Williams drove in all three Boston runs.  Starting pitcher Tom Brewer was charged with the loss.

This scoreboard had 116 slots for numbers.  In the narrow room behind the scoreboard, there were originally 288 double-sided metal plates with numbers and letters (the only letters were R, A, I, and N to indicate rain delays or postponements; later, the letters N, I, T, and E were used to indicate night games).  The highest displayable number of runs per inning was 13, and the highest pitcher's uniform number was 33.  Plus there were 16 plates for team names, including BOST., PHILA., N. YORK, CHI'GO, ST. LOU, WASH, CLEVE, DET'RT, BROOK, PITTS, and CINN. The abbreviations changed over the years (in photo above, note CHICAGO, DETROIT, and NEW YORK are spelled out).

Remote control of lights, including the batter’s number, was a high-tech innovation at that time.  Wires ran from there to switches in the Press Box area.  In the 1960s into the 1970s, the control box for the lights was a box about 5” x 14” and 2” thick with simple small toggle switches.  The At Bat number was selected with two rotary switches.  These were often operated by the PA announcer Sherm Feller during those years.  The system was strictly electrical, not electronic.

Due to expansion from eight to ten American League teams in 1961, the scoreboard was modified before the 1961 season.  The format changed to much like today’s. Under a wide AMERICAN LEAGUE heading, the Sox game was given a full line score with 10 innings plus P (pitcher number), and R, H, and E totals. Under that is the AT BAT, BALL, STRIKE, OUT, H, and E. To the right of all that were spaces for 5 more American League short line scores (P, IN, and R only) and an announcement area for upcoming games.  This area was soon changed to show the numbers of the game’s umpires.  The furthest right-hand part of the scoreboard under a NATIONAL LEAGUE heading had space for six National League games.  This scoreboard had 83 slots for numbers, and 87 after the umpire numbers were shown.

The 1961 scoreboard, May 20, 1961.  The Sox went on to beat the Tigers 4-3 in 10 innings, thanks to a walk-off Jackie Jensen single driving in pinch runner Tom Brewer, who was mentioned in the caption of the first photograph!

The next change came the following year when a lineup board was installed to the right of the scoreboard.  This unit used a dot-matrix light bulb display, controlled by a bank of rotary switches inside the scoreboard.  The control unit is still in place there.

The lineup board, June 15, 1969.  The A's beat the Sox 13-5 that day.  Also note style of team name abbreviations.

72 rotary switches controlled the lineup board.

After the American League pennant winning season of 1975, the decision was made to invest in the first electronic scoreboard above the centerfield bleachers.  This display, using 8640 40-watt bulbs, was very versatile, so it was thought that the National League scores and the lineups could go there.  As a result, the unfortunate decision was made to remove the National League scores and the lineups from the left field wall, leaving only the American League scores.  This scoreboard had only 58 slots for numbers.

In 1977, the American League expanded to 14 teams, so to accommodate 7 simultaneous games the umpire numbers area was converted to another score area.

In 1997, interleague play began, meaning NL teams might appear on the AL scoreboard. To specify the New York and Chicago teams, NYY, NYM, CHC, and CWS were used, and the rest of the team names were changed to the standard two- or three-letter codes.

In 2003, the National League scores were restored to their former place in left. Because the National League had expanded to 16 teams by then, the scores had three columns of three games each rather than two columns.  At each side, permanent advertising was added, and an American League East standings board was added.  These changes bring the scoreboard to its present state. 

There are now 103 slots for numbers.  Because the National League scores extend beyond the original room behind, they must be changed from the field; the others are changed from inside.  The red and green lights and the At Bat number are operated from the control room behind the plate on Level 5.