BOSTON — Opening day came well before daybreak for baseball fans watching the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics start the season in Japan.
Bars around Fenway Park and elsewhere catered to big breakfast crowds as the season officially began Tuesday about 6:05 a.m. Eastern time.
The area around the park was packed with cars and fans in Red Sox caps and jerseys. Just like a normal game day, the cheers began with the opening pitch, and "Let's Go Red Sox!" chants followed after a few innings.
But some things were different.
"Coffee and breakfast instead of beer, kind of unusual," said Tony Massarotti, 48, of Watertown, who joined a large crowd who watched the game on the 90 HDTV screens at Game On, a sports bar attached to Fenway Park.
The bar opened earlier than usual, but had no plans to serve alcohol during the game. State law bans alcohol sales before 8 a.m.
Oakland fans had it a bit tougher, with the game starting at 3 a.m. there. Christy Hofmann, an editor of the fan website AthleticsNation.com, said she planned to visit a friend who owns a big screen television and watch the game with popcorn and pizza.
"I took a preliminary poll, and at least 392 people will be up at the same time, watching the games," Hofmann wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
Terry Boccelli, 47, of Stoneham said she would have made the trip to Boston to watch the defending World Series champions, no matter what time of day or night.
"I could not wait for the Red Sox," said Boccelli, who was at the Cask'n Flagon, across the street from Fenway. "I have withdrawal all winter long."
Mark Gillis, 41, a lawyer from Reading, said he thought he was going to be in court first thing in the morning, but the judge moved the case.
"I was like, 'Yes!"' said Gillis, who packed his two sons and daughter into the car and headed for Game On. "I figured, what the heck, the opportunity to watch the Red Sox on opening day and still make it to school on time doesn't come around very much."
Some fans at the bars had taken the day off, but others were dressed and headed for work, even if they weren't optimistic about how much they'd get done.
"Productivity is going to be nil this morning," said Leslie Murphy, of Somerville.
Once the game started, the Japanese ads behind home plate were among the giveaways that something was unusual about opening day. It's still just baseball, said Matt Mozzone, of Taunton, who added he was glad to be watching the game with people across the globe.
"We're sharing something of ours, and the Red Sox get to appreciate something of theirs," he said.
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