esterday was his 63d birthday, and he began it by swinging the bat at Fenway Park.
He stepped into the batters box against a minor league pitcher who was nervous. And for good reason. The batter was his boss, Red Sox chief executive officer John Harrington.
A former second baseman who throws right and bats left, Harrington swung and missed a few times, reaching for outside pitches after nearly being hit by the young hurler. His hits were mostly pop-ups and fouls, but after each connection Harrington grinned like a wide-eyed kid.
''It's really an amazing and thrilling day,'' Harrington said at the morning batting practice for All-Star Game corporate sponsors. ''It's like a great wedding. You can't believe it when everyone's hard work turns into such a beautiful event. But it's all going off without a hitch.''
Harrington truly shed his reserved manor yesterday. Sporting a ruby 1999 All-Star ring, he warmly greeted baseball legends, corporate titans, and fans alike as they came up to shake his hand.
Later Harrington and a hundred other guests attended a brunch hosted by the Red Sox' All-Star shortstop, Nomar Garciaparra.
Afterward, it was back to the office at 4 Yawkey Way to deal with last-minute ticket requests by late-arriving baseball heroes and to finalize other details of tonight's All-Star Game.
At an afternoon press conference with baseball commissioner Bud Selig, an emotional Harrington rolled out the team's proposed $545 million ballpark project for the national media. ''It's very hard to think of saying goodbye to something you love so much,'' Harrington said afterward of Fenway, explaining why he became choked up at the start of his presentation. ''But it is something I know we have to do.''
As expected, Harrington left the toughest questions - about how much public funding the Red Sox will need to build the new ballpark - unanswered. As he has for the past two months, Harrington sidestepped public financing questions, saying only that the team's financial package won't be finalized for a few months.
Asked whether he was prepared to provide the level of private financing put up by the San Francisco Giants for a new ballpark (nearly 90 percent), Harrington spoke only in generalities. ''We will put up as much as we possibly can afford,'' he said. ''It will probably be one of the largest contributions of any team so far.''
He was not flustered by reports that Save Fenway, the group hoping to convince the Sox to rebuild Fenway Park, was expected to announce that its plan will cost at least 20 percent less than the team's proposed new ballpark. ''I don't know about those figures,'' Harrington said. ''I haven't seen the report. But we studied renovation plans, and we are confident it just doesn't work.''
Save Fenway officials last night declined to confirm their cost estimates, which sources said totaled $70 million less than the Red Sox' plan. Leaders of the group, however, did stress that their plan would not require the Red Sox to leave Fenway Park during reconstruction.
In the glow of the All-Star festivities, Harrington did not seem willing to be distracted. Crucial financing questions that will determine the fate of his beloved new field of dreams were put on hold. For the next 24 hours, the cautious accountant and self-described ''caretaker'' of the Boston Red Sox and Yawkey legacy was going to enjoy himself.
''This is the best birthday I've ever had in my life,'' Harrington said last night after being surprised with a cake that looked like a miniature replica of the new ballpark. ''And to share it with my family, my friends, and all the staff here at Fenway Park is the best birthday present I could imagine.''
