Stephen King BOSTON – OCTOBER 13: Author Stephen King watches as the Tampa Bay Rays play against the Boston Red Sox during game three of the American League Championship Series against during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Fenway Park on October 13, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Stephen King is one of the most famous authors of all time, known for penning classics like The Shining, The Dark Tower, and Carrie. King has also written about his love for the Boston Red Sox, as the 68-year-old is a longtime season ticket holder and is often seen at games. His latest essay is Red Sox related, as King unleashed a piece for the Boston Globe ripping the new protective netting at Fenway Park.

King wrote the Red Sox contacted him letting him know his dugout seats would be covered with protective netting due to safety concerns, asking the author if he wanted to move. King was reluctant given his history with the seats and opted to stay.

King wrote his seats are now obstructed by the netting. He openly wondered in his essay why the netting was put up, considering the unlikelihood he was to be struck by a baseball.

“According to a Bloomberg News report, 1,750 fans are injured in game-related incidents every year. That’s more than the number of batters hit by pitches (about 1,500, according to the Elias Sports Bureau). But almost 74 million fans attended MLB games in 2015, so the chances of being struck by a piece of bat or a foul line drive are pretty slim. Right up there with getting struck by lightning, I’d say. Maybe even less, if the fan is paying attention. Close to the field at Fenway, fans are specifically instructed to do just that by signs reading BATS AND FOUL BALLS HURT! PAY ATTENTION!”

It’s funny that King stresses paying attention given the number of times he’s pulled out a book and started reading during a game.

Still, he’s not having the safety nets. King said he understands why the Red Sox bear responsibility but admitted he can take care of himself and that the nets “steal away the pure joy of being there.” He said the nets make him feel like he’s “paying good money to sit in a cage.”

King is known for being dramatic in his writing, and it appears he’s doing the same here. Sure, it sucks Fenway put up protective nets, but it’s for valid safety concerns. He had the option of moving and elected not to do so. So, unless he wants to change seats, he’s going to have to deal with it.

[Boston Globe]

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com