BOSTON, Mass. — Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s favorite place is undeniable. It’s Fenway Park.

Saltalamacchia graced the field at Fenway from 2010-13 while playing for the Boston Red Sox. He had many memorable moments while serving as an unsung hero in their lineup.

But he also recognizes the venue’s history. At 113 years old, it’s the oldest in Major League Baseball. Nearly every great MLB player has played in Fenway, from Ted Williams to Babe Ruth to Ty Cobb.

“Every Hall of Famer you think of has stepped on this field,” Saltalamacchia said. “We live in a day and age where the fields are getting newer. So this is one of the last standing venues that you can come and just take in all the history.”

On Wednesday, Saltalamacchia returned to his old stomping grounds. For the first time, though, it was as the manager of the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Falmouth Commodores at its annual Fenway workout. Saltalamacchia said it brought back fond memories of his time playing with the Red Sox, from winning the 2013 World Series to the city rallying behind them after the Boston Marathon bombing.

“It's always great to be back here,” Saltalamacchia said. “It’s just such history here, not only for myself, but throughout baseball. You could say that this is the mecca of Major League Baseball.”

Before gracing the grass of Fenway, Saltalamacchia was a first-round pick by the Atlanta Braves out of high school in 2003. He made stops with seven teams across his 12-year MLB career, including the Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins. Saltalamacchia accumulated 662 hits, 110 homers and 381 RBIs in the majors.

But he made the biggest impact with the Red Sox. Despite only playing with Boston for parts of four seasons, he totaled 55 long balls and 181 RBIs.

He also helped them capture the 2013 World Series. His marquee moment is seared into his and Red Sox fans’ brains forever. It came in the 2013 American League Championship Series versus the Detroit Tigers, after star designated hitter David Ortiz tied the game with his iconic grand slam in the eighth inning.

Saltalamacchia said that was the loudest he’s ever heard Fenway. But the game was still tied. Saltalamacchia stepped up as the hero. He delivered an opposite-field single in the ninth to hand Boston the 6-5 win and even the series 1-1. The Red Sox went on to win both the ALCS and World Series in six games after Saltalamacchia’s clutch knock.

He also remembers how the city came together after the Boston Marathon Bombing in April 2013. Saltalamacchia said he visited patients in hospitals and saw how their worlds were turned upside down. Despite their injuries, they still cared about the Red Sox.

After they won the 2013 title, Saltalamacchia and teammate Jonny Gomes placed the trophy, sporting a ‘617 Boston Strong’ jersey, at the finish line where the bombing occurred. He said he wanted to give back to the city that meant so much to them. Saltalamacchia still remembers walking back to his apartment and taking everything in.

“It's just such a sports town, so it meant so much to them for us to win. It meant a lot to us. We all became one that day,” Saltalamacchia said.

Saltalamacchia mentioned he loves Fenway’s different nooks and crannies. Around every corner, there’s something no other park has. The Green Monster. The Pesky Pole. The triangle in center field. He also enjoys historic parks like Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium but added nothing compares to Fenway.

Since retiring from MLB in 2018, Saltalamacchia still returns frequently. He said he’s remained close with the Red Sox’s front office and clubhouse attendants and often contributes to the Red Sox Foundation. So, when he’s in the area, he’ll always make a point to visit Fenway.

But Wednesday, he returned as the Commodores’ manager. Saltalamacchia was hired in September and has since started his first season with Falmouth 2-2, capped by a 14-5 decimation of Orleans Tuesday night.

Saltalamacchia said before the workout he was most looking forward to seeing the smiles on his players’ faces. Many expressed it as a once in a lifetime feeling. Kent Schmidt (Georgia Tech) said even as a Yankees fan, it’s a place he’s always wanted to visit. Nebraska pitcher TJ Coats, who grew up a Red Sox fan but had never been to Fenway, added the workout was optional for pitchers, but there was no doubt he was going.

Despite the big day for the players, nothing changed with Saltalamacchia’s routine. Like he does before the ‘Dores’ games, he spent most of his time Wednesday near the batting cage while the Commodores’ hitters took batting practice, keying in on each player’s swing. Hitting coach Jack O’Reilly said it looked like he was right at home.

“He’s very comfortable here. He definitely has a big league mentality, and he doesn't have the same kind of wide eyes that everybody else does,” O’Reilly said.

Fenway means a lot to Saltalamacchia. It’s where many of his favorite moments within baseball originated. And by traveling back to the historic park with Falmouth, it allowed him to rehash those memories in his favorite place.

“(I have) a lot of great memories here,” Saltalamacchia said. “Anytime I have a chance to come up here, it’s a great opportunity.”

Noah Nussbaum is the beat reporter for the Falmouth Commodores. You can read all of his articles on the Commodores here.