BETHEL – More than 500 Red Sox fans waited in line for up to an hour-and-a-half to touch the World Series trophy at Telstar High School Saturday.

Minority owner Les Otten posed with fans, shaking hands, signing autographs and encouraging the reluctant to touch the base of the trophy.

“I’ve never been prouder in my life,” Otten told the crowd. Otten’s children graduated from Telstar, according to school Principal Shawn Lambert. He was also instrumental in starting the Project Opportunity scholarhip fund, which awards thousands of dollars in scholarship money to Telstar graduates each year.

Lambert watched proudly as fans filed across the stage of the school auditorium. “It’s an incredible feeling,” he said. Pointing out an infant in the crowd, he remarked “There are a lot of people here who were her age the last time they won.”

The infant, 3-month-old Casey Mae Raymond of South Paris, waited in line with her mom and dad, who suspended her inside the trophy for a photo when their turn came. Casey, in her pink-striped Red Sox outfit, fit perfectly.

Casey’s mother explained that she had been born about two months early “just so she could make the series.”

Also among the eager loyalists was well-behaved Tess, a small black dog, who came dressed to the nines in her own Red Sox jacket. “Tess is the Red Sox’ biggest fan,” said owner Nancy Bennet. “She watches all the games.”

Otten said that the trophy had a busy day Friday. “Last night was an incredible night. That trophy stayed up till 3:30.”

After appearances at Hadlock Field and Monument Square, the trophy went to a sushi restaurant for dinner. Later, the players decided to take it to take it out for some culture. “The Portland Philharmonic was playing last night,” Otten explained. “We decided that we ought to just walk right out on stage.” And they did. “The trophy got a standing ovation,” Otten said.

Following its appearance at Telstar, the trophy headed off to a packed Phoenix House restaurant. The Sunday River eatery is owned by Otten, who also has a house in the Bethel area.