The big event at the ’02 Family Day was the Community Softball game between the Area C-11 Boston Police and the Dorchester Board of trade. Though few were sure what the final score was, it was clear from the beginning that the Area C-11 team was going to win big. One bystander later said, “I don’t know what the score is, but the police are winning-the police always win.”
Before the game the teams joked around with each other, and shook hands with local politicians, such as Mickey Roache. The rules were fairly lax, as friends and family also participated and there were modifications, such as four players in the outfield.
Nobody was there for a competitive game though, and as the game wore on through its six-innings, people wandered around eating the free hot dogs and sodas from the Dorchester Board of Trade and Stop and Shop Super Markets and chatting with friends.
There were plenty of events for the kids, in addition to the free food, such as face painting and the bean bag toss. And after 1:00pm an ice cream truck, emblazoned with City Councilor Maureen Feeney posters, showed up and served free ice cream cones. “We served 160 cones,” the driver grinned as he headed out of the park.
Later in the day there was a Ponies and Dogs exhibition, trained by the Area C-11 Boston Police Department, and a puppet show display from the Boston Public Library, Lower Mills Branch.
