All of the crowd except for Donna Spengler and her husband David, that is.
"The players were all jumping around, and hugging each other," said Donna Spengler, who was attending her first-ever sporting event. "They were even touching each other on the backside, you know? That's just not natural."
The Spenglers, who had their four children - all boys ranging in ages from 26 to 18 - at the game, were so outraged by the showing of affection that they complained to a nearby usher.
"We came to this game because we had always heard that baseball was a wholesome game," said David Spengler. "That's why we brought our kids. But if we'd have known that there would be all this touching between members of the same sex, well, we would never have put our children in that type of scenario."
Usher Sibrina Guerrero acted swiftly on the complaint - she immediately walked down to the field and escorted Red Sox players Drew, Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp, Mike Lowell, Jason Veritek, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, Hideki Okajima, Alex Cora and Jon Lester out of the stadium.
"We have a strict non-discrimination policy at the Fenway Park, and when we do enforce the code of conduct it is based on behavior, not on the identity of those involved," Guerrero said.
The code of conduct -- announced before each game -- specifically mentions public displays of affection that are "not appropriate in a public, family setting." Guerrero said those standards are based on what a "reasonable person" would find inappropriate.
David Spengler, a devout Christian and an admitted "reasonable person" said that he was pleased with Guerrero's decision.
"It's really about the kids," said Spengler. "Our kids were not prepared for that type of male touching and groping in such an intimate setting, and are still trying to get the images out of their heads and complain of nightmares."
Following Drew's homer - which tied the game at 6-6 - and the ejections, the Red Sox were only able to field a team of five players afterward. The Yankees went on to win the game 38-6.
Afterward, Drew and Wakefield both said that the players that had been ejected were contacted by Red Sox management and told to "tone it down a notch" after exciting moments during games.
"We've been told that we can remain with the club, but that we should keep celebrations down to handshakes and maybe nods of confirmation," said Wakefield. "But the management made it very clear that they would not stand for anything involving the buttocks. No patting, tapping, groping or anything. It seems weird, but I guess you never know who's watching and could get offended."
Members of the Boston Red Sox management could not be reached for comment. But Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter - who hit four inside-the-park home runs during the Yankees' record 32-run ninth inning, said he believed the Red Sox should take the advice of the Spenglers and eject any Red Sox player that violates the code of conduct.
"Oh yeah, they totally did the right thing," said a smiling Jeter. "I don't think I've ever had more fun on a baseball field, and I've won, like, eight World Series' rings."
--WKW
