Welcome to KeyAction Summer 1999: Page 8

Major League Baseball’s Ultimate Celebration — The All-Star Fanfest

Kids line up to take their turn “on the bench” during Fanfest

While the stars of major league baseball gathered at Boston’s venerable Fenway Park for the 70th annual All-Star game on July 13th, fans were being treated to an interactive baseball show at the Hynes Convention Center. Fanfest, held from July 9 - 13th, was adopted by major league baseball nine years ago in order to extend the All-Star game experience to the fans in the host city. The event employed the latest technology, including a Yamaha Clavinova® digital piano, to simulate real life baseball sounds and activities, providing the fans with their own field of dreams.

Fanfest is meant to commemorate the wonder of our national pastime, giving people young and old a chance to immerse themselves in a true baseball experience. Among the more than 40 interactive exhibits was a video batting cage where the visitor could bat against, or pitch to, his or her favorite big leaguer. For those who have dreamed of attempting the exciting steal of home, there was the “Steal Home Challenge” exhibit that timed participants from third base to home plate. Finally, for those who have ever fantasized about being the organist at a big league game, an interactive display featuring the Clavinova CVP98 made this dream come true — allowing the player to sit at the Clavinova and play the universal chant “Charge.”

Music is an integral part of baseball, and the Clavinova allowed participants to experience the thrill of performing live music for a stadium full of baseball enthusiasts, ready to explode in cheer when that final note of “The National Anthem” is played. Through the combined efforts of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Organ & Piano, and Yamaha, Fanfest participants were given the opportunity to play “The National Anthem” and “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” on the Clavinova. Yamaha produced a special disk that also featured a multitude of ambient baseball sounds that the fans were able to reproduce directly on the Clavinova digital piano.

A little boy gets a taste of what it’s like to “play” for the Red Sox while the team mascot gets into the act

“The Clavinova exhibit at Fanfest was a wonderful way for people to experience and appreciate the musical aspect of major league baseball,” says Ray Totaro of Boston Organ & Piano and a Red Sox organist along with Richard Giglio. “We were there as part of a celebration of baseball, and it was gratifying to be able to present music as part of baseball in an interactive, fun way. In addition, Yamaha’s quick response with the disk was sensational and vital to the success of the exhibit. The exhibit was very popular, especially with children who often waited in line for their turn ‘on the bench.’ The fans were really able to get a taste of what it is like for Richard and me when we play for the Red Sox.”

Fanfest was a huge success, complete with memorabilia displays, apparel for sale, trading cards, and collectibles. There were also a number of baseball legends on hand, including Boston’s very own Carl Yastrzemski. Many observers consider Fanfest to be the best effort major league baseball has made in decades to reach out to the average fan. As one departing fan commented, “When people actually get to interact with baseball, they learn to love and appreciate the game more.”

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