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In a delightful twist for fans of “Blue Bloods,” beloved character Danny Reagan, played by Donnie Wahlberg, has made Boston his new home. As viewers of “Boston Blue” Season 1, Episode 2 — “Teammates” — know, Danny’s stay in the city comes with a cultural baptism. At the heart of this initiation is a classic Boston tradition: singing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” at a Red Sox game in the legendary Fenway Park. This moment becomes all the more poignant as Danny shares it with his son Sean, played by Mika Amonsen, confirming his commitment to Boston.
The beloved anthem “Sweet Caroline” has been a staple at Red Sox games since 1997. It all began when Fenway employee Amy Tobey decided to play the song as a sweet nod to a friend’s newborn. Its charm caught on, and by 2002, Charles Steinberg, Fenway Park’s entertainment director, cemented its place in the eighth inning of every game. His intention was to keep fans energized and engaged, regardless of the score. Over the years, this tradition has become so iconic that Neil Diamond himself has graced Fenway Park with live performances of the song in 2010, 2013, and again in 2022. Originally a tribute to Caroline Kennedy, “Sweet Caroline” has transcended its origins, becoming an anthem not just for Boston baseball but for sports fans everywhere.
Former “Blue Bloods” fan favorite Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) is officially staying in Boston, and he’s already participating in its most cherished cultural traditions. When Danny tells his son Sean (Mika Amonsen) he’ll be sticking around, they’re taking in a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park — and Danny has just been initiated into a real-life baseball ritual, belting out the chorus of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” along with the other attendees.Â
The Boston Red Sox have been using “Sweet Caroline” as a rally song since 1997, when Fenway employee Amy Tobey spontaneously played the tune as a tribute to an acquaintance’s newborn daughter. The song was used off and on until Fenway entertainment director Charles Steinberg made it a regular part of the team’s game time playlist in 2002. Steinberg began appending it to the middle of the eighth inning in the hope of keeping baseball fans jazzed and awake for the end of the game, whether the Red Sox were winning or losing. The anthem has become so deeply intertwined with the Jersey Street experience that Neil Diamond himself has shown up to perform the hit at a variety of outings in 2010, 2013, and 2022. But while the singer’s tribute to Caroline Kennedy may feel synonymous with Boston baseball, it’s become a touchstone for other sports teams as well.
The Boston Red Sox aren’t the only sports team that uses Sweet Caroline as a rallying cry
John Medland/CBS
Multiple sports teams use “Sweet Caroline” as their signature tune. The Carolina Panthers play it after every home game win, and actually began blasting the song in 1996, a year before the Red Sox picked it up. Iowa State Cyclones lovers have been dancing to Diamond’s ditty since 2006. The feel-good tune has also been a reliable mood lifter for fans of Penn State’s Nittany Lions football team, though they briefly excised it from the stadium’s playlist for the 2012-2013 season.
Why is Diamond’s signature love story so popular at sporting events? Mary Pink, then associate athletics director for marketing for the Iowa State Cyclones, has a theory. She told the Des Moines Register that it’s got the power to make all kinds of people join together in harmony, ignoring their differences to shout out those catchy verses. “It’s that one song that you can get into whether you’re older or younger. It’s unifying.” Danny Reagan — no stranger to teamwork — would definitely approve.