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After 50 years in New York, Yankees broadcaster Suzyn Waldman still ‘Bleeds Green’
For most people associated with the New York Yankees, Boston – Fenway Park, in particular – is enemy territory.
But for Suzyn Waldman, one of baseball’s most iconic voices as a longtime member of the Yankees’ broadcasting team, it’s still home. The Yankees mainstay was born in Newton and graduated from Simmons College with a degree in economics. That the school was a stone’s throw from the cathedral she lovingly described to the New York Times as “a little green jewelry box” in 1993 wasn’t the deciding factor, but it certainly helped.
“I went to Simmons because my mother went to Simmons,” Waldman told the Herald on Sunday. “I was a special student at the New England Conservatory of Music, and I was doing shows at MIT and Harvard, and also, it was across the street from Fenway Park.”
She managed to juggle academics, performing, and a heavy extracurricular schedule: the Red Sox’s. “I just went every day to Fenway Park. I went every day in ‘67, sat in the bleachers,” she said.
Waldman then moved to New York to pursue a career in theater. But in hindsight, the baseball gods were sending her signs that she was headed down a different path.
“First show I did in New York was ‘No, No, Nanette!’ I was in the chorus,” she said. Mention that name around Red Sox fans at your own risk: it’s the musical version of the play Harry Frazee financed with the money he got from selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919.
On Friday evening, baseball’s greatest rivalry was scheduled to meet for the first time this season, and the Celtics and Mavericks were set to play Game 4 in Dallas. Waldman showed up for work with a dark-green sequined top under her blazer. Around her neck hung two necklaces: a Jewish star with lapis lazuli, and a small gold Celtics logo pendant, which had belonged to her grandfather.
Yes, Waldman still bleeds green.
“My dad took me to the basketball games. You knew everybody, like here, when I was a little girl, I knew everyone in the section. The same people were there all the time,” Waldman continued, gesturing towards the baseball diamond. “But in the Boston Garden, it was different. It wasn’t the same kind of fervor at the time. The place was empty, and Red would yell when he coached. And so I got to learn my basketball listening to Red Auerbach coach (Bob) Cousy, (Bill) Sharman, (Bill) Russell, (Tommy) Heinsohn, and (Frank) Ramsey.”
Auerbach was loud and fiery, and in an arena rarely even half-full during the regular season, everyone could hear him coaching his players at full volume. He wouldn’t yell at Russell or Cousy, so if he wanted to get on them about something, he’d shout at players in their vicinity, like Heinsohn.
“I remember him (talking) about the corner: ‘You’re guarded by three, not one, get out of that corner!’” Waldman chuckled. “Red used to say, ‘There’s eight plays, there’s 48 variations on the eight plays.’”
“You’d also notice things like, when Red thought the game was over, when he’d light his cigar, because he thought it was over. I loved to watch that,” she recalled.
The original Boston Garden was a place where a young Waldman felt hopeful about a future that was more diverse and accepting than the present. The world could be a better place, if only it was more like the Celtics, who were breaking down racial barriers.
“You always thought back then, that if the world were the Boston Celtics, with the first Black coach and all-Black starting five, that this is what we thought things could be like,” she said of the historic 1964 squad. “A lot of us who went to those games actually, that’s what we thought. How things could be, it could all be like the Celtics.”
Boston’s basketball team would shape Waldman’s life in a plethora of ways. Legendary Celtics radio man Johnny Most was her idol.
“There’s a lot of Johnny Most in me, because it’s emotion, and it’s radio, and it’s how people felt,” she said. “Red told Johnny, ‘I want you to teach the city of Boston basketball,’ and when you grow up listening to Johnny Most, there’s something that gets inside of you.”
When Waldman was preparing to embark upon her own sportscasting career, she called in a favor.
“The first interview I ever did when I was trying to get ready to do this, Ken Coleman was one of my best friends, and he called up Tommy Heinsohn,” she said. “And I drove to Tommy Heinsohn’s house with a tape recorder! I was talking about when I was a little girl, and he was telling me the greatest stories.”
It’s no longer weird for Waldman to have gone from one side of the Boston-New York rivalry to the other. “It was, but it went away pretty fast, I’ve been in New York over 50 years, and Ted Williams isn’t on that team,” she said.
There is, however, one very big exception.
“The only time it gets me is when I walk back into this place. Because nothing’s changed. It’s all changed, but nothing’s changed,” Waldman said. “The same ramp that I used to walk in with my grandfather, it’s there. So here, it bothers me. Because when I come back into Fenway Park, I’m three, holding my grandfather’s hand, and that doesn’t go away.”
Nor has her affection for the Celtics.
“I keep up with them. If they’re on and I’m home, I’ll watch. I love listening to Sean (Grande),” she said. “The last round, when he was talking about how (the Celtics) play with their food, it was pure Johnny, it really was. It was so emotional, but so right-on, about this team that’s been maligned and all that. What did he say? ‘They’re going to two places where they belong: home, and to the Finals.’ He said it a lot better, but it was perfect.”
However, while parts of Boston still feel like home for Waldman, you’ll never catch her at TD Garden.
“I won’t go to the new Garden. I’ve never been, I won’t go,” she said. “Because I saw my first circus there, I saw President Kennedy speak there. The old one, it’s just, it’s too much, it’s too flooded with memories.
“I’m not great at ‘Bests,” she said. “If someone asks me, what’s the greatest Yankee thing I saw, out of my mouth will be, ‘The look on Derek Jeter’s face when he looked at his mother when he had his 3,000th hit.’ But I can’t remember a great play here and there, because that’s not what gets me. I know it’s part of sports, but that’s not what I remember. You remember the feelings. You remember the feeling of sitting with your father.”
Especially at Fenway.
“I always say everything I’ve ever done in sports is because I grew up in this town and went to Fenway.”
Local News
Boston is preparing for a significant combination of major events this summer, from the FIFA World Cup to the return of Tall Ships and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Boston is preparing for a significant combination of major events this summer, from the FIFA World Cup to the return of Tall Ships and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Millions of visitors are expected to pass through the city, many of them navigating Boston for the first time. Here are answers to some of the most common questions visitors may have before they arrive.
Where is rideshare pick up at Logan Airport?
Passengers using a rideshare app can only be picked up in designated areas for ride app vehicles. Look for signs to your terminal’s designated Ride App pickup area before requesting your ride.
Taxis are available at designated stands on the Arrivals level at Terminals A, B, C and E. Taxi dispatchers are located in all terminals to help you. Taxis are priced per mile, according to the Boston Police Department: for the first ⅛ of a mile, you pay $3.80, then, for each ⅛ mile after, you pay $0.40. Passengers also pay a $2.75 toll for all trips from Boston proper to Logan Airport and communities on the North Shore. However, passengers don’t have to pay a toll from Boston proper to East Boston (not including the airport).
Do I need a CharlieCard to ride the T?
No, you don’t need a CharlieCard to ride the train (the T). Most MBTA subway and bus riders can pay directly with a credit card, debit card, smartphone, or smart watch. If you’re riding the Commuter Rail, you’ll need to download the MBTA mTicket app before your trip to purchase and scan Commuter Rail tickets directly from your phone.
However, if you’d like to purchase a CharlieCard, you most certainly can. In fact, the MBTA launched a special edition collectable CharlieCards featuring iconic Boston landmarks to celebrate the summer’s slew of major events. As of Tuesday, cards are available at fare kiosks at Park Street, Downtown Crossing, and Forest Hills stations. Cards will be rolled out at over a dozen more stations throughout the subway system this week.
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Wickedpedia: Why is it called a CharlieCard?
How do I get to Boston Stadium?
Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) is located in the town of Foxborough, which is about 22 miles (35 km) south of Boston.
The Boston Host Committee for the FIFA World Cup 2026 suggests fans leave plenty of time to travel to the stadium. If you’re driving from Boston, allocate between 60 to 90 minutes to get to the stadium, and 45 to 50 minutes if you’re driving from Providence.
If you’re taking the Commuter Rail to the stadium, you must buy a Boston Stadium train ticket in advance ($80 roundtrip) from the MBTA mTicket app. The train will take you directly to and from each World Cup match. Arrive at South Station at the time shown for your boarding group (you can see all Boston Stadium train ticket schedules here). The train ride is about an hour long. All Boston Stadium train tickets include a return trip after the match, with trains starting to leave Foxboro Station 30 minutes after the final whistle and roughly every 15 minutes until all trains have departed.
If you’re taking the Boston Stadium express bus ($95 roundtrip), you must buy tickets in advance. Bus service starts three to four-and-a-half hours before kickoff. Arrive at your bus pickup (there are over 90 locations across Greater Boston plus from the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence) no later than 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. After the match buses will start leaving 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Boston Stadium’s gates open three hours before kickoff. Parking (which must be booked in advance) will be open to fans fours hours before kickoff. FIFA encourages fans to arrive early for security screening, ticket scanning, and entry before kickoff. For more information on getting to and from the stadium, see the Boston Host Committee’s fan travel guide.
Where can I watch the World Cup, Sail Boston, and Fourth of July fireworks in Boston?
There are plenty of World Cup watch parties hosted at local bars and restaurants across Boston’s neighborhoods. Standout spots include Boston’s only Scottish bar, The Haven, which is the de facto home base for Scottish fans; and The Lansdowne Pub in Fenway, which will offer World Cup-themed cocktails and food tied to specific games. There will also be a FIFA Fan Festival at Boston’s City Hall Plaza from June 12 through 27 featuring live match broadcasts and a cultural showcase highlighting local artists, musicians, and performers.
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Where to watch the World Cup in Boston
From July 11 through 16, a fleet of tall ships will sail into Boston as part of Sail250, a global gathering of tall ships to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Most Sail Boston activities are expected to be concentrated along Boston’s waterfront. If you’re coming from outside of Boston, take the Commuter Rail into South Station. From there, take the Silver Line to the Seaport District and Boston Waterfront, where you can visit the Tall Ships. If you’re coming from North Station, it’s about a 0.6-mile walk to Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in the North End, where you can enjoy a great view of the ships. Other spots to see the Tall Ships include Castle Island, East Boston and Charlestown. You can find a schedule of free events here, and can use Sail Boston’s interactive harbor map to see the Parade of Sail route through Boston Harbor, recommended viewing locations along the waterfront, and public access to piers and Tall Ship berthing areas.
The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will take place on Saturday, July 4 at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Esplanade from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The event features the Boston Pops led by Keith Lockhart, guest performances by Lainey Wilson and Chance The Rapper, and a fireworks show starting at 9:15 p.m. There are several places to watch the fireworks, including the Charles River Esplanade near the Hatch Memorial Shell; Castle Island Beach in South Boston; and Memorial Drive in Cambridge. The Hatch Shell is accessible via the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge. The Esplanade is accessible via a footbridge at the intersection of Silber Way and Back Street near Boston University’s campus; a footbridge at the intersection of Fairfield and Back Streets in Back Bay; a pedestrian ramp where the Harvard Bridge goes over Storrow Drive; the Frances Appleton Pedestrian Bridge in Beacon Hill; and from the Charles River/MGH T stop on the Red Line.
What should I do if the T is crowded after a major event?
Walk. Boston was ranked as the second-most walkable city in the world, according to a 2025 Time Out survey. Downtown Boston is approximately 1.5 square miles, making it easy to access many points of interest in a short amount of time.
Where can I find public restrooms in Boston?
There are many public restrooms hidden in plain sight in Boston. From libraries and to firehouses, here’s a running list of public restrooms.
Can I get anywhere interesting by water?
Yes. In addition to subway and bus service, the MBTA also operates ferry service from Boston to several coastal neighborhoods, islands, and even Logan airport.
In Boston, the main ferry terminals are located along Atlantic Ave, just outside of the Aquarium Station on the Blue Line. Each MBTA ferry terminal is marked with a T sign. Fares depend on the route you take, but range from $2.40 to $9.75 each way. Ferries operate year-round and include both indoor and outdoor seating. They also offer a fantastic view of Boston and the Boston Harbor Islands. You can find schedules and maps here as well as a beginner’s guide here.
What’s parking like in Boston?
If you see a “Resident Parking Only” sign in a neighborhood, it means you need a resident parking permit sticker for that space. However, metered parking and garage parking is available throughout the city.
Most meters operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday (on Sundays and City holidays you can park for free). You can generally only park in a metered spot for two hours before needing to move your car. You can pay your meter with quarters, credit cards, and by using the ParkBoston app (if a ParkBoston decal is on the meter where you parked). Metered parking ranges between $2.50 and $3.75 per hour, depending on the neighborhood.
Downtown Boston has more than 6,300 parking spaces in thirteen public parking garages, according to the Downtown Boston Alliance, with most garages offering discounted parking rates on nights and weekends. Garage parking typically ranges from $10 to $20 for the first hour, with daily maximums up to $75.
FIFA World Cup host cities lay out security plans ahead of matches
Host cities ramp up security and anti-human trafficking efforts ahead of FIFA World Cup matches across the U.S.
The FIFA World Cup is coming to Massachusetts, and when it comes to having a place for people to hang out together, there will be a free fan zone where everyone can celebrate the big event.
Seven World Cup matches will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA this summer, and the first one is right around the corner, to be played on June 13, with Scotland taking on Haiti.
Fan Zones are a public space to watch the game for people who don’t have tickets to the actual game. Held in public places, they broadcast the mach on giant screens to offer an immersive experience to watch the game, according to FIFA>
“At the heart of FIFA Fan Festival Boston, (a) Cultural Showcase will ignite the stage with a vibrant celebration of the spirit, creativity, and cultural heartbeat of Boston and communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” FIFA said.
Where will the fan zone be located when the World Cup games start in just 11 days?
Where is the World Cup fan zone going to be in Massachusetts?
The official FIFA Fan Festival for the 2026 World Cup in Boston will be located at Boston City Hall Plaza at 1 City Hall Sq. Boston, MA.
“The festival will run daily from June 12 through June 27, offering live match broadcasts, cultural showcases, food vendors, and entertainment,” according to FIFA.
The fan zone will open between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will stay open until after dark, between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. according to reports.
Activities at the fan zone
Here are some of the offerings at the fan zone in Boston, according to the FIFA website:
- Live broadcasts: Giant outdoor screens that broadcast tournament matches in high-definition.
- Entertainment & music: Live concerts, DJ sets, and performances celebrating global culture.
- Interactive activations: Skills challenges, mini-pitches, inflatable games, and sponsor booths.
- Food & merch: International food stalls, local beverage offerings, and official tournament merchandise.
How to go to the fan zone
While the game is free, you do need to register in advance.
“You can select which days and matches you plan to attend through the FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 website or the Meet Boston events page. Up to six people can register on a single application,” the World Cup Boston website says.
The Boston Bruins increasingly relied on a new wave of young players in the 2025-26 season. Their speed and energy became an intrinsic part of the team’s structure, complementing a more experienced core. Boston entered the offseason on May 2 after a 4-1 loss to Buffalo in Game 6 of the first round. Despite this, […] The post Who Will Form the Boston Bruins’ Future Core? appeared first on The Lead.
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