BOSTON — Fifteen-year old India Bell wasn't shy when choosing her favorite ballplayer on the Boston Red Sox. It was so obvious it should have been plastered across her T-shirt.

As a matter of fact, it was.

After skipping a day of school — with the permission and accompaniment of Mom, of course — the Bridgton, Maine native made the three-hour trip to Beantown to watch the Sox take on the Oakland Athletics during Boston's final homestand of the regular season.

Hanging outside Gate D nearly two hours before the first pitch, Bell's shirt stood out amidst Yawkey Way's bustling blur of red. Bell crafted together a sparkling, white tee with the words, "I Love Jacoby," delicately marked in diagonal form.

What seemed like a teenage crush on the surface, reminiscent of something worn at a New Kids on the Block or N'Sync concert, became much more than "puppy love" when Bell talked shop.

"He's just such a great player," Bell said. "He's an amazing fielder and batter. I'm expecting great things from him."

Maybe

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because Mom, 54-year-old Roxy, was present, Bell was reserved when pressed about Ellsbury's mass appeal with female fans.

But some were more forthcoming — even with boyfriends and husbands by their sides.

"Of course," 22-year-old Allie Trancrell quipped when asked of Ellsbury's popularity with girls.

Tancrell, of Woonsocket, R.I., perused a Fenway souvenir shop with her boyfriend before the game. She sported an official Ellsbury shirt, blue with a red No. 46 printed on the back, and "Ellsbury" tacked above the digits.

Tancrell worked for the Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston's Triple-A club, during the summer, which presented an unforgettable one-on-one moment with Ellsbury.

"I was serving the box suites, just basically being a waitress," said Tancrell, still gushing over the experience. "I was pushing a cart of chicken fingers down the hallway and I held the door open for (Ellsbury), and he said Hey girl, can I get a chicken finger?' and I was like, "Absolutely.'"

Besides the thrill of seeing Ellsbury up-close and personal, Tancrell was impressed with the touted prospect's humble demeanor.

"He's down to earth. He was great," she added.

Sally Lamb, of East Bridgewater, Mass., drove to the ballpark with her husband, Steve. While Steve commented on Ellsbury's athletic prowess, his wife was busy comparing the outfielder's looks to former Sox heartthrob Johnny Damon.

"He's definitely way better looking than Damon, absolutely," Lamb said with authority.

Damon made the "Jesus" look popular during his four-year stint with the Sox, growing out his hair and beard, and branding the Sox a bunch of lovable idiots. Lady fans flocked over the center fielder's caveman mystique, as women showed up at parks all over the country with signs asking Damon, "Will you marry me?"

Baseball writer Peter Gammons summed up Ellsbury as the type of guy "you wish lived next door." But for Lamb, who has a 22-year-old daughter, "next door" may not be close enough.

"My daughter just loves him," Lamb said with a smile. "Popularity hasn't spoiled him. You can just tell he loves the game. And he's just fun to watch because he's having a good time."

While hopeful mother-in-laws pondered Red Sox match making, there was a true-life baseball couple at the ballpark Sept. 27. Attending their first-ever Red Sox game at Fenway, Dale (74) and Barbara Schultz (73) were excited to watch their favorite team together.

The Schultz's, married for 52 years, traveled from their home in Idaho to watch the Olde Town Team. After all, the club was the icebreaker that triggered their relationship.

"My mother was a big Red Sox fan, it was inherited. (Dale) is from Minnesota, and he loved the Red Sox, so when we met, he thought it was great because I knew everything about the Sox."

During the 1950's, Dale Schultz served in the Army with former Boston manager Joe Morgan. The friendship spawned Schultz to follow the Sox ever since.

Considering all the great ballplayers Schultz has seen come and go, the 73-year-old vet is rather impressed with Ellsbury's sudden impact.

"We like him," he said. "I think he'll be around for many years. He's a great player."

An impressive swing; a good attitude; or better looking than Damon; For one reason or another, Red Sox Nation is jumping aboard Jacoby's wagon.