Fans flock to Fenway for an up close look at the ballpark

BOSTON (WHDH) -- A day ahead of Fenway’s big birthday on Friday, the home of the Red Sox opened its doors to fans to give them a closer look at park they love so much.

Red Sox faithful packed Fenway on Thursday for a day dedicated to fans, getting access to places they've never been before.

“Never thought it would ever happen,” one fan said. “Thank you Red Sox.”

To celebrate the ballpark's 100th anniversary, the organization let fans on the field, able to walk the warning track.

“I wasn't exactly kneeling down and praying, but wanted to make sure that I had the experience,” one fan said. “I'll never have it again.”

People waited in lines nearly as long as the perimeter of the field, just to get a peek inside the green monster. They had a chance to touch the wall, the scoreboard, pesky pole, and sit in the dugouts and getting to be a part of history.

Fans say Fenway, the nation’s oldest ball park, is more than a field: it's a living museum, and something rival New York can never match.

“I have a relative who is a Yankee fan and he always says I wish Yankee stadium did this,” one fan said. “So I think what we have here at Fenway is pretty special.”

More than 50,000 people came through for the open house Thursday. Friday, fans waited in line for the ticket office to open at 1:00 p.m. hoping to get inside for the special game.

The Red Sox kick off their game against the Yankees at 3:05 p.m.