You’ve heard the story before: a Red Sox postseason run has caused insane superstitions, wreaked havoc on work schedules, and inspired some amazingly creative ideas. What you probably haven’t heard though, is the version of this story coming from the Red Sox Senior Director of Ballpark Operations. Pete Nesbit, who has capably inhabited that role since 2012, recently spoke with BostInno about all things Sox in the run-up to the start of the 2013 World Series, where the Red Sox take on the St. Louis Cardinals (first pitch of Game 1 is tonight at 8:07 p.m.)

Pete started with the Red Sox in 1999, working part-time in security while he was still in school. He’s steadily moved up the ladder in ballpark operations, eventually reaching his current position.

As the Director of Ballpark Operations, his job is to oversee an extensive and diverse group of people of more than 450 staffers, all handling the day-to-day of Red Sox games.

“I’m just making sure that people are in the right positions,” Nesbit says, “and doing what they need to do. But we have a lot of great people that have been here for a long time, and they’re the ones that get it done from the ground level.”

As you might expect, the postseason presents unique challenges.

“In the playoffs, there’s sort of the element of the unknown,” Nesbit says, noting that unlike the meticulously planned regular season, no one knows what the full schedule will be, since it’s determined completely by the success of the team.

And directing operations at Fenway Park, the oldest MLB venue still around, and one of the smallest, means that Nesbit and his staff constantly have to overcome special hurdles, which they’ve done spectacularly this year (here’s a hint: you haven’t heard too much about them, so that’s a good sign that they’re doing their job’s well).

Here’s one aspect of unique postseason tasks that Nesbit’s staff has to handle, though I doubt anyone’s complaining about having to paint-in this particular logo (check below for the unique story of the B Strong logo in center field):

Crazy staff superstition

One of the more interesting aspects of the current Red Sox organization has been it’s collectively superstitious side.

The (sort of) crazy, but awesome part: they don’t like to make arrange things too far in advance, in order to avoid jinxing the team.

“It’s a very superstitious industry,” says Nesbit, “so we don’t like to plan too far out. It’s kind of like, ‘okay, they won the first game, so maybe we can start thinking about the second game.'”

This is clearly reassuring for fans, determined that (for example) there will be no premature champagne delivered to the clubhouse.

While this has never been to the detriment of the team’s planning, it’s come close.

“Our president won’t let anybody say ‘playoffs’ until it’s almost a foregone conclusion. We have to have some kind-of-under-the-radar meetings on the operations side for those that have to do some advanced planning, because we can’t wait until the last minute. But there are certain circles where we can’t speak of it.”

Why Ben Cherington couldn’t move in Game 6

And the hyper-superstition is true for everyone, even Red Sox General Manager Ben Cherington.

“Ben was up in the suite, and it wasn’t working out, so he went down to his office, and then they got the (Victorino) grand slam,” Nesbit recalls of the ALCS-clinching Game 6. “So he couldn’t leave. He had to stay there until the game was over. And a lot of us are the same way. You know, just making sure that people are sitting in the same chair. It’s pretty funny, but it is pretty stressful.”

Nesbit also relates that the fan-side of working in the organization starts at the top.

“Our president Larry Luchino has been very big on that point: you still have a job to do, and you want to make sure you do it well, but this is a special time of year, and it’s not a given to happen on a regular basis. So he’s encouraged us to invest in the team emotionally as a fan. It’s cool, because you’d think, ‘Oh, there are a lot of big-shots around the office who think they’re above different aspects,’ but you really do get to see most people get into the game, just like the fans.”

The story behind the B Strong logo, and why it’s so unique

Nesbit is in charge not merely of behind-the-scenes parts of the ballpark, but also the very visible grounds operation. In this, they have hit on a masterstroke during the playoffs, and one that has special meaning for Boston: the B Strong logo in center field.

“So obviously the logo, and Boston Strong is something that’s really resonated with the city and our organization. Normally we put a home plate in the outfield, and sometimes we’ll put the B in the middle of it, or sometimes just a hanging Sox logo.”

For this postseason though, the staff wanted to do something special.

“So our groundskeeper was planning for the playoffs,” Nesbit explains, “and we had some pictures of what we wanted to use, and we were sort of thinking it through and said to him, ‘Hey, you think you could handle putting a B Strong logo in the outfield?’ It’s been on the Green Monster and it’s something that we really identified with throughout the year.”

“My groundskeeper, Dave Mellor, is probably the best in the industry,” says Nesbit, “and he really took to the challenge, because he’s never written anything before. We’ve done a number nine for Ted Williams, and a number six for Johnny Pesky and other patterns, but never a full word like that.”

“So it was pretty cool the way they go through it. It’s very technical. They draw it up on paper, and then they get out there, measure it off with flags, they have spotters on the roof. And it’s just a lot of time and effort, between water pressure, rollers, mowing back-and-forth, they really have to work it in there.”

“It took them about three days to get it right,” Nesbit concludes, “but it really came out well.”

Lastly, if the B Strong impressed you, then check out this video, showing how the Red Sox mow the field to be checkered:

Images via vnews.com, kpug1170.com, and latimes.com