“Sweet Caroline” is played during the bottom of the eighth inning of every Boston Red Sox home game at Fenway Park.

When it’s played

  • The song comes on just before the bottom of the 8th inning in every regular‑season and postseason home game.
  • It is not played during away games; it is strictly a Fenway‑only tradition.

How the tradition started

  • The tune first appeared at Fenway in 1997 , when music director Amy Tobey played it to honor a friend’s newborn daughter named Caroline.
  • It was used only on special “win‑friendly” days until 2002 , when Red Sox exec Charles Steinberg pushed to make it an every‑game 8th‑inning ritual , which is how it became the staple fans know today.

Why fans care

  • The 8th‑inning “Sweet Caroline” sing‑along has become one of the most recognizable ballpark traditions in Major League Baseball, with fans shouting the “So good, so good, so good!” lines in unison.
  • The song also took on extra emotional weight after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings , when Neil Diamond performed it live at Fenway, reinforcing its status as a symbol of Boston resilience.

If you tell me which specific Red Sox home game you’re asking about (date or opponent), a more precise “when” within that game can be given.