Red Sox Equipment Truck Begins Trek To Fort Myers
BOSTON (CBS) -- You may still have football on your mind, recovering from Sunday night's incredible Super Bowl LI victory by the New England Patriots.
But Red Sox baseball is in your future. Your very near future.
While the Patriots return home from Houston, the Red Sox are getting ready to head south. The team's equipment truck departed for Fort Myers, Florida on Monday, a day that has become known as "Truck Day" down at Fenway Park.
Red Sox staff began loading the equipment truck at 7 a.m., and departed Van Ness Street for its 1,480-mile trek to sunny Florida around noon. The truck was led by a flat-bed carrying Wally the Green Monster, his sister Tessie, and Fenway Ambassadors who gave out some swag, including soft Red Sox baseballs, to fans.
Hardcore Boston baseball fans were on hand this morning to send the Sox truck south.
"So this is like our 'Groundhog Day,' " Ross Abbott of Ashland told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz.
"The truck comes out, sees its shadow or not, load up the boxes and send them off to Fort Myers," Abbott added.
Corpuz asked for a 2017 prediction.
"Definitely playoff bound. We got a lot of young talent and I think we'll be in it for a long time," Abbott said.
For the 19th straight year, Milford native Al Hartz is the man behind the wheel, making sure Boston's equipment makes it down to Spring Training. Here's a quick look at the precious cargo he's carrying:
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
While some players have already reported to the Spring Training facilities, including pitchers David Price and reigning Cy Young winner Rick Porcello, pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on February 14. The team will hold their first full-squad workout on Friday, February 17.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports
