By Tiffany Williams –
The Boston Red Sox “Truck Day” has become an annual tradition of the Red Sox since 2003.
20,400 baseballs, 1,100 bats, 400 pairs of socks, 20 cases of bubble gum, and yep, 60 cases of sunflower seeds are just some of the equipment and supplies loaded onto the 53-foot truck. New England Household Moving & Storage of Holliston, Massachusetts has the responsibility of getting it all to JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.
The 1,480-mile trip will began at Fenway, on Jersey Street in Boston, and that includes a proper Boston send-off which includes a flat-bed truck carrying Wally the Green Monster, his sister Tessie, and Fenway Ambassadors who will be tossing soft Red Sox baseballs to fans.
The last time the truck made a stop on its journey to Fort Myers was in 2020, at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the home of what was the PawSox.
In 2021 the PawSox became the WooSox, however there was no “Truck Day” stop in the WooSox inaugural season at Polar Park in Worcester’s Canal District, or in the following year, 2022.
But in 2023, Al Hartz of Milford, Massachusetts who has been driving this truck for 25 straight years, will drive the 53-foot truck 45 miles down the road to Worcester’s Polar Park.
“Truck Day has been a heart-warming tradition on cold winter days for more than 20 years,” said WooSox President Dr. Charles A. Steinberg, who helped develop the traditional celebration at Fenway Park.
In Fort Myers, pitchers and catchers participating in the World Baseball Classic this March will report on February 13th. The reporting dates for those not taking part in the tournament ranges from February 15 to February 17. Position players in the WBC will report to camp on February 16, while non-participating players will arrive either February 20 or February 21.
The Red Sox first Spring Training game is February 25, at 1:05PM against the Atlanta Braves.
NewsTalk New England 