BOSTON -- At the time, there was no reason to think May 15, 2003, was anything but another Thursday on the Fenway Park schedule. The Red Sox defeated the Texas Rangers by a score of 14-3 that night, backed by Pedro Martinez''''s pitching and the offensive firepower of Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller and Jason Varitek.
And yes, there was a sellout at Fenway Park to cheer the home team through that win. For whatever reason, that was when the never-ending string of packed houses started at the historic bandbox on Yawkey Way. More than five years later, it has yet to stop.

When the Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night to kick off their next homestand, they will make baseball history.

Well, check that. Red Sox fans will make baseball history. The 456th consecutive sellout at Fenway Park will break the record set by the Cleveland Indians'''' die-hards, who packed Jacobs Field for all 455 home games played from June 12, 1995-April 2, 2001.

Who could have seen a record like this coming back in 2003, when the Red Sox were consumed with trying to snap a so-called curse -- or championship drought -- that had lasted more than eight decades?

"While we recognized and appreciated the incredible passion for the Red Sox, I do not think any of us in the front office could have imagined that this streak was about to begin," said Sam Kennedy, executive vice president/chief sales and marketing officer for the Red Sox. "We are humbled by the commitment of the best fans in baseball, and to be clear, this is their record, not ours. The club is simply the vehicle they have used to accomplish this incredible feat."

Varitek, David Ortiz, Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin are the four Boston players who have been with the team throughout the record-setting streak, while countless others have either departed or arrived, all the while riding the wave of the passionate home crowds.

"I value it, I''''ve enjoyed it -- I don''''t know how much longer I''''ll get to enjoy it," said Varitek, the captain, who is eligible for free agency in November. "I know I have the rest of this month, and I appreciate it. I think it''''s a big boost to this team''''s success."

Varitek, who endures an exhausting workload behind the plate, knows full well what the extra shot of adrenaline has meant to his team during a storied time in which they''''ve won the World Series twice (2004 and ''''07).