Carole Orland has — literally — a lifetime of memories of the Boston Red Sox.
In fact, her connection with the legendary team began even before her birth.
Her father, Cyrus Topol, was born in Dorchester in 1911 — the year Fenway Park was built. He shared his Sox passion with Carole, who was born and raised in not-too-far-away Worcester.
He taught her all about baseball, including how to keep score. They spent Jewish holidays at Fenway during pennant races — including fasting there during Yom Kippur.
“It was a concession we made to my mom,” Carole explains. “She was a good sport, because she knew how much it meant to us.”
The Sox’ World Series win at the ball park in 2004 was a huge moment for Carole and her dad. That championship, Carole says, was for him and his own parents. (He’d been waiting for it since 1918, when he was 7 years old.)
The 2007 Series victory was for her. Six years later, they won again. That was extra special: Her son Max, a 2006 graduate of Staples High School, was working for the team.
The Red Sox were world champions in 2013 and 2018. Carole was there for that most recent victory too. The emotion and electricity were as strong as ever.
But all those were warm-up pitches, compared to what happened Sunday.
Carole — a Westporter since 2002, and a founding member and partner at the Broder Orland Murray & DeMattie family law firm — threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park.
The joyful moment — celebrating her 70th birthday of a few months ago — was arranged by longtime friend Bill Mitchell. The co-owner of the Mitchells stores has known Sox owner John Henry and president Sam Kennedy for many years.
Bill Mitchell and Carole Orland, at Fenway Park.
Three dozen friends and family members were on hand. Carole was joined on the field by Bill, Max, and her grandchildren Cyrus and Chloe Silverstein — all Westport residents.
Bill also arranged for the Red Sox photographer to cover her pitch.
Her “pitching coach” — Westporter Ron Gordon — trained her the week before the game. He held his breath in Carole’s special suite as she released the ball.
It was a perfect strike.
The pitch … and the celebration.
“My dad would have enjoyed the day so much,” she says. “He taught me to throw overhand — not like a girl!”
But her father — who died in 2008, age 97 — was there in spirit.
When Carole and family headed to a special suite to watch the game (and, as an added thrill, pose with the World Series trophy), there was a photo of Cyrus Topol, on the table.
Carole Orland with the World Series trophy and a photograph of her father, in a Fenway suite. From left: her son Max, husband Burt, and the Silverstein family: grandson Cyrus, son-in-law Mark, daughter Stef and granddaughter Chloe.
Carole calls the day “an out-of-body experience.”
There was only one downside to Sunday’s memorable events. The Red Sox lost 7-4 to the Dodgers.
The Sox are having a tough year. They’re in 5th place in the AL East.
But here’s the upside: The Yankees are 6th.
The Red Sox gave Carole Orland a souvenir jersey, complete with her nickname. The number honors her most recent birthday.
(“06880” is where Westport meets Fenway Park. If you enjoy stories like this, please support our work. Click here to contribute. And thank you!)
Three Cheers for Bill Mitchell. We attended Staples together , played football together and Billy has gone on to a very successful retail clothing business ! A kind man with a generous heart. Congratulations Coco!!!
Great story- Go Sox!!!
Go Sawx…and don’t forget Worcester means Woostah
Very cool story. Kudos all the way around!
And, Bill, by your choice of wearing the Sox colors via Sacred Heart gear (and I know what a big supporter you are of SHU), is that because you are such a diehard Yankees fan that you couldn’t possibly bring yourself to wear anything with the Sox logo on it on Carole’s special day?
If so, I fully understand and applaud your loyalty. I knew enough never to consider asking Chip Damiani to wear anything Sox-related when The Remains performed “Monbo Time” at the “Hot Stove, Cool Music” charity event in Boston and posed for photos with Bill Monbouquette.
I really enjoyed this story and was glued to the TV for those World Series games in 2004! The victory was labeled breaking “The Curse of the Bambino.” Also, here in 2023, as Dan points out, the Yankees are in last place and Boston second to last! Find me another baseball season where this has happened.
You’re in luck. Still plenty of time for the Sox to sink to the bottom. They’ve done it I think 6 times in the past 10 years.
Go yanks!
Awesome story! World class organization.
(Dan – While we’re counting the Red Sox’ many trophies, they also won it all in 2013.)
Dan, I love your positive and heartwarming stories! Reading them is a wonderful way to start the day.
Happy Birthday Coco – Let’s Go Sox!! Thanks Dan
6&1/2 games out of the wild card … just sayin’
I can relate to this story! My grandad was friends w Yawkey so I got balls signed by players in the locker room and sat on the bench with Tony Conigliaro! My mom around age 13 was a bat girl in full uniform!
Without a doubt, the 2004 World Series win was the greatest World Series win in the history of baseball. If you’re not familiar with it, Google it. Sox were down 3 games to 0 and losing game 4 until…….
You’re referring to the ALCS where the Sox were down 3-0 to the Yankees, and surged back for the historic win. THEN the Sox played the Cardinals in the World Series and swept them 4-0.
Mark, I stand corrected on my comment! I can’t believe I made that mistake. But anyway, I’ll now say it was the most exciting 7 game series ever played.
I’m very disappointed that my always enjoyable, god given right of watching Judge and the Yankees choke in October will be denied this year
This is point in the plot where a Sox fan will chime in “those Yankees haven’t won since last century”. For sox fans, time starts when they say it does.
Who said I was a Sox fan?
Bitter Yankee fans are the best kind.
You think I’m bitter? Check out Red Sox nation when they bottom out from time to time. You can’t even mention the team to fan without them getting very, very angry.