Monday Is Red Sox Truck Day -- The Unofficial Start Of Spring Training

BOSTON (CBS) -- If you're looking for a sign that spring is near, look no further than Fenway Park. Monday is Red Sox Truck Day, marking the unofficial start of spring training.

The Red Sox' equipment truck was packed up outside of Fenway Park all morning and the began its 1,480-mile journey to JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida. Crews started the loading process around 7 a.m., with the truck departing at 2 p.m.

Here's a quick rundown of what was loaded up and is now heading to Fort Myers:

20,400 baseballs
1,100 bats
200 batting gloves
200 batting helmets
320 batting practice tops
160 white game jerseys
300 pairs of pants
400 t-shirts
400 pairs of socks
20 cases of bubble gum
60 cases of sunflower seeds

This is the 24th straight year that Milford native Al Hartz is driving the 53-foot truck from Boston to Fort Myers. Truck Day -- which signifies the unofficial start of Red Sox Spring Training -- has been a tradition for the team since 2003.

There is usually a pretty large gathering of Red Sox faithful on hand to wish the truck a safe journey, but fans were being asked not to gather outside the ballpark this year to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Red Sox pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout at JetBlue Park on Feb. 17, with the first full squad workout scheduled for Feb. 22.

In:
• MLB
• Fenway Park
• Boston Red Sox