Baseball Bloggers Alliance

At the end of the award voting, I decided that since the Baseball Bloggers Alliance had come along so quickly, it might be nice to get an idea of who was actually in the group.  To that end, I’m working through the roster and asking ten questions of each member.  The first five are standard, while the last five are a little more personalized.  Hopefully this will help us get a feel for our fellow members.  So, here’s entry one in what hopefully will be a recurring series.

Allan Wood
Website: The Joy of Sox
Personal info: 46, author of “Babe Ruth and the 1918 Red Sox,” works in document production at a Toronto law firm, common-law married for 23 years, no kids (but two rescued dogs)
BBA #: 2

Question 1: How and why did you get into blogging?

I’ve always wanted to write. I created mock sports pages as a kid and began sportswriting (Burlington Vt. Free Press) while a junior in high school. After I moved to New York City in 1987, I worked as a music critic. In 2000 or so, I started a Pedro Martinez website and after a few years, I started writing more about my thoughts on the Red Sox in general. In August 2003, I decided to start a formal blog: The Joy of Sox.

Question 2: Do you have any blogging projects planned for the off-season?

Nothing baseball-related. I am re-reading Infinite Jest over the winter and a handful of readers are (hopefully) joining me in a book club of sorts.

Question 3: What’s been your most enjoyable experience as a blogger (particularly well-received post, a high-profile link, a connection you wouldn’t have had otherwise, etc.)?

In October 2008, my readers raised more than $3,000 to buy a used car for a regular commentor so he could drive his wife to her chemo appointments. (And it was great to meet him for the first time last summer at a JoS get-together at Fenway.) Having a core group of people who regularly post while watching games every night has been very enjoyable. And I broke the story in April 2007 of Gary Thorne’s idiotic comment about Doug Mirabelli allegedly telling him (Thorne) that Curt Schilling’s bloody sock was a PR stunt.

Question 4: How did you find out about the BBA and what attracted you to the group?

I think I was on your first list when you contacted bloggers about the idea. I liked it because it was coming from an actual baseball fan who wanted to build a community rather than someone cobbling a bunch of blog feeds together as content for an ad-filled site.

Question 5: What do you want to see out of the BBA in the coming year?

More recognition and bigger audiences for everyone.

Question 6: How long have you been following the Sox?

I remember a bit of the 1975 ALCS and World Series, but I really started following them in 1976 – I was 12 – listening to Ned Martin and Jim Woods on my little yellow AM radio every night.

Question 7: What’s your favorite memory of the Red Sox?

October 18-28, 2004. And my first game at Fenway: August 22, 1976.

Question 8: Was it difficult to see the Yankees win the World Series?

No.

Question 9: What’s the best part of the Fenway experience?

The wonder of walking up the ramp and catching that first glimpse of the field. I also like that you are not assaulted with noise, music and commercials as much as at other parks. I feel very happy there. Having grown up in northern Vermont, then living for nearly 20 years in New York City, and now living outside Toronto, I haven’t been to Fenway very often — maybe 12-15 games total — so every visit is special. (The team has clinched only two of its seven championships at Fenway: 1912 and 1918. I’d like to see them get a third.)

Question 10: What’s the aspect of the current team you like the most?

The progressive ideas of the front office. And the number of young players coming up through the farm.

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