BOSTON — It was less than two hours before the first pitch, a time when Tim Wakefield normally is with his teammates getting ready to play baseball. But not on this night.

Last night, Wakefield was standing in the middle of Yawkey Way, outside Gate A, signing autographs, shaking hands and welcoming fans to Fenway Park. Down the street, Sox legend Johnny Pesky was seated on Yawkey Way, meeting with fans and doing what he is so good at — talking to anyone and everyone who wants to chat.

It was one way the Sox said thank you to the fans for helping them set a record. The game against Tampa Bay was the 456th straight sellout, a Major League Baseball record. Cleveland had the record of 455, set from June 12, 1995 and April 2, 2001.

To recognize the mark, special commemorative tickets were given to fans. The Sox also issued a list of every game played during the streak, with the winning and losing pitchers, saves and official attendance for each game.

The streak began May 15, 2003, in a game in which Pedro Martinez recorded the victory in front of a crowd of 33,801. The number of fans attending in the streak surpassed 16.3 million last night.

With renovations to the park, seating capacity has grown from 33,000 to 35,000 and now to 38,000 for some games. Some seats are held back at times, most notably in the bleachers for day games to allow for a better background for hitters.

“When we arrived here in 2001, I never could have imagined a streak like this,” said John Henry, the team’s principal owner. “Everyone said at the beginning ‘You have no idea what you’re in for’ with regards to the fans and Red Sox Nation. I think that has been proven over the streak. It’s just an incredible accomplishment by our fans.”

“It’s hard to put into words,” said Larry Lucchino, the team president and CEO. “We have a deep appreciation for the commitment the fans have made with their loyalty and support. We had been in baseball and knew something about it [Red Sox fans] but until you’re here and see it demonstrated day after day, game after game, month after month and year after year, you can never really appreciate it. This is not a Red Sox record, this is a Red Sox fans’ record.”

“We hope to be constantly vigilant about it and remember this can change,” said Lucchino. “The commitment to winning is there and the fans know that will always be there for as long as we are the stewards of this franchise.”

“This is a night of dedication for the fans for their accomplishments,” he added.

“They are the best fans in baseball,” said owner Tom Werner. “We don’t take it for granted. Every day we try to make this experience of coming to Fenway Park as special as it can be.”

pkenyon@projo.com / jmcdonal@projo.com