BOSTON (WHDH) - The Red Sox spring training equipment truck departed Boston on Monday as it makes a nearly 1,500-mile trek south to JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.
Crews began loading the truck around 7 a.m., which began its journey to the Sunshine State around noon, according to the Red Sox organization.
Fans gathered outside Fenway Park on Van Ness Street as they watched the truck pull away.
“It’s tradition,” fan Brian Reynolds said. “I get a few of my friends to come down here. We have a good time. We celebrate the start of the spring and then we will see what happens.”
For the 24th consecutive year, Milford native Al Hartz will drive the 53-foot truck, which will carry an assortment of baseball equipment and supplies, including:
- 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
The celebration of Truck Day has been a Red Sox tradition since 2003, signaling the unofficial start of spring training.
This year’s sendoff seemed different as the Red Sox are lacking a manager following a sign-stealing scandal that led Alex Cora to part ways with the team.
“I think somebody’s coming out of left field you didn’t expect,” one fan said.
There is also talk of right fielder Mookie Betts being traded.
“He wants a lot of money; he’s worth a lot of money; we have a lot of money, but we don’t want to spend money,” Reynolds said. “That sums it up in one crazy sentence.”
With the trucks on their way, pitchers and catchers report for spring training next week.
(Copyright (c) 2019 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)