Fenway Park, Boston. It is a humid Sunday night, about 21:00 local time, and things on the field are not going well. The Red Sox are trailing by three going into the seventh, in an all-too-familiar scenario this season for fans at baseball's iconic old lady.
"A few weeks ago, fans came to watch with bags over their heads, they were that disillusioned," one supporter explains from the seat behind.
“Thousands of Scotland fans overtook Fenway Park for a World Cup celebration, singing Yes Sir, I Can Boogie amid a Red Sox game.”
But then, piercing through east coast accents bellowing "cold beer" and "get your hot dogs" from the sellers patrolling the aisles and the chatter rattling around the rows from the old main stand, an instantly distinguishable song suddenly cranks through the speaker suspended above.
"Mister, your eyes are full of hesitation…"
What was to follow will be remembered forever by all who were there to witness it in a mixture of intriguing bewilderment and unbridled joy. The old girl just off Jersey Street was opened the week the Titanic sank, but you can bet your last buck the sight of more than 10,000 Scots singing Yes Sir, I Can Boogie while suggestively dancing on a jumbotron screen is a new one here.
The last few days have been like no other in Boston. A Scotland invasion has swept across the city for this World Cup, a pilgrimage so many Scots never thought they would get to make. There are families here where multiple generations have never seen the likes. The Tartan Army has been incredibly well received everywhere, embraced like a long-lost relative at a family reunion.
They were naturally in good spirits after their team's World Cup win against Haiti as they descended on Fenway in the summer sunshine for a 'Scottish Celebration' night as the Red Sox took on the Rangers. The evening is the brainchild of Travis Pollio, director of ticket strategy and promotions at the Sox. Standing at the corner of Jersey Street and Van Ness Street, he predicts about 4,000 Scots are expected, his voice barely audible over the pipe band firing up over his shoulder. A gaggle of kilted men soon make it even harder with an impromptu verse of 'Red Sox Tartan Army' at him from 10 yards away.
It turns out to be a very modest estimate. Of the 32,000 souls shoehorned around the mystical playing field, it almost feels like you are at Hampden. That you could treble that 4,000 and not be overstating matters. Scotland fans are gifted special edition blue tartan Red Sox jerseys and there are probably more of those filtering into the ground than red and white ones. Tessie and Wally, the franchise's green monster mascots, appear in Highland dress near first base as the formalities began and the fans settled in.
The moment the song played, the Tartan Army had taken over Fenway Park, turning a baseball game into an unforgettable Scottish celebration.