BOSTON — While many look to a groundhog for signs of spring, Bostonians celebrate the arrival of warmer weather with the Red Sox’s “Truck Day.”
Though snow blanketed Boston overnight, Monday signaled the unofficial kickoff of Spring Training. While players won’t take to the fields in Fort Myers, Florida for another week, the team’s equipment truck was packed with gear outside Fenway Park on Monday morning.
After the packing was completed, a festive send-off took place, creating a warm atmosphere outside Fenway Park.
“Seeing the truck here brings a sense of warmth,” remarked Ethan Pott, a Boston University student from Connecticut.
Joseph Kanclerowicz from Dedham has been attending “Truck Day” for years. “I just swing by, snap a few pictures, and share them with friends. It’s traditional for me,” he explained. His brothers, one in North Carolina and the other in New Hampshire, encouraged him to take photos to keep the tradition alive at Fenway Park.
“I’m a huge Red Sox fan. This really feels like the start of Spring Training,” Pott said. “I don’t know if it’s official, but I’m so excited for baseball season. Living so close to B.U., I had to be here for the start of the season.”
The Red Sox equipment truck will make a stop at Polar Park in Worcester, where WooSox mascots and fans will send it off again before beginning its 1,480-mile journey to JetBlue Park in Fort Myers.
What’s Loaded on the Red Sox Equipment Truck?
The truck didn’t just carry equipment. Almost everything associated with baseball was packed and shipped to Fort Myers. Here’s what the Red Sox announced:
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.
Who Drives the Red Sox Equipment Truck?
For the 28th consecutive year, Al Hartz from Milford is driving the 53-foot equipment truck for the Red Sox. The “Truck Day” celebration has been a cherished tradition for the team since 2003.
When Does Red Sox Spring Training Start?
Red Sox pitchers and catchers will report on Tuesday, February 11, with their first workout slated for the following day, February 12. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Monday, February 17. The team will begin its Spring Training games on Friday, February 21 against Northeastern, followed by their first Grapefruit League game on Saturday, February 22 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Red Sox will kick off the 2025 regular season on the road against the Rangers in Texas on Thursday, March 27, with their home opener at Fenway Park against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 4.
