'Truck Day' Is Here: Red Sox Equipment Truck Set For Trek To Fort Myers
BOSTON (CBS) -- As one season comes to an end, another is just about to get started.
As the Patriots get set to return home as Super Bowl champs, the Red Sox are getting set to start their World Series defense. Monday is "Truck Day" in Boston.
The Red Sox equipment truck will start loading up at Fenway Park around 7 a.m. and depart for the team's Spring Training facilities in Fort Myers, Florida around noon.
The truck will depart from Fenway Park on Van Ness Street, led by a flat-bed truck carrying Wally the Green Monster, his sister Tessie, and Fenway Ambassadors who will be handing out JetBlue collectible baseball card schedules filled with prizes and tossing soft Red Sox baseballs to fans.
For the 21st straight year, Milford native Al Hartz will be behind the wheel for the 1,480-mile trip. He'll be hauling the following baseball equipment and supplies down 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
"Truck Day" has been a tradition in Boston since 2003, signaling the unofficial start of Spring Training.
Red Sox Spring Training will officially begin on February 14, in Fort Myers, Florida.