top honour

ON May 24, Barbadian Alphonso “Al” Green will be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Boston Red Sox.

The customer service representative for over four decades will be this year’s non-uniformed inductee, joining other 2018 inductees – former Red Sox players Kevin Youkilis, Derek Lowe, Mike Lowell, and the late John Frank “Buck” Freeman.

Now 91 years old, Green, who hails from St. George, ventured to North America 54 years ago where he spent some time at the Harvard University as a maintenance worker.

He spent the last 44 years working for the Red Sox, mostly in the team’s Fan Services information booth. He was hired as a member of the game day staff in 1973, one of the few ballpark minority hires at the time.

Over the years he has became a familiar face at Fenway Park to generations of fans, who go out of their way to see him in his Gate D booth, and he treats many young staff members as family.

While speaking to The Barbados Advocate on the sidelines of a reception held at Ilaro Court for repeat visitors on Wednesday night, Al recalled that he would have interacted with countless persons over the years, stressing that “it is all about customer service, not disservice”.

Noting that Barbados is a service-driven economy, he advised persons to be conscious of how they treat others with whom they come into contact on a daily basis.

“People come in the front door and that is where business starts. If you’re not good to people from the front door they won’t want to come back.”

He believes it is also critical not to let disagreements play out in front of customers, noting that a quick word inside an office would be more effective and professional.

Saying that he was elated to be given such a distinguished honour, Green says he will be looking forward to the ceremony which will take place at a Red Sox Foundation gala on May 24 at the Westin Copley Place in Boston.

The inductees were chosen by a 21-person committee led by Red Sox team historian Gordon Edes and made up of team executives, local and national media members, historians and fan representatives. (JH)