Boston Braces For World Series Parade, Huge Crowds

The city is prepared for a World Series parade today that's expected to draw hundreds of thousands of Boston Red Sox fans to thank the team for a remarkable season.

The duck boat parade is set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, when the players will climb aboard 24 amphibious vehicles at Fenway Park, then travel through the city and finally go on to the Charles River.

The parade route will be the one used in 2004, when the Red Sox won their first World Series title in 86 years. It will travel down Boylston Street, where in April two bombs killed three people and injured more than 260 during the Boston Marathon.

Security will be tight during the event, with extra police on hand throughout the day and random searches of backpacks along the parade route.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority plans to run extra trains and subways at a rush-hour level to accommodate the crowds. MBTA officials said they expect to provide 2 million rides on commuter rail, subways and buses.

The Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 at Fenway Park on Wednesday to take the best-of-seven series in six games, an unlikely success for a team that finished in last place last year.

Organizers said they decided to hold the parade on Saturday so more fans, particularly families with children, could attend.

Red Sox officials said they expect most, if not all, players to be in the parade.