Red Sox's Jason Bay becomes US citizen
BOSTON -- Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay has long played America's pastime and can now call himself an American.
The 30-year-old from Canada was among 360 people to became U.S. citizens Thursday in a ceremony led by U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin at Boston's historic Faneuil Hall.
Bay said "it's a pretty proud day for me." He said his wife and daughters are Americans.
The British Columbia native is the first Red Sox player to be naturalized since Dominican Republic-born David Ortiz was sworn in last summer in Fenway Park.
Bay said he's not denouncing being Canadian, "but I'm definitely proud to be an American."
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)