Truck Day Is Here!

Baseball fans do not need a groundhog to tell them when spring is near.  All they need to see is a really big truck outside of their favorite team’s ballpark, loading up with team equipment.

For Red Sox fans, obsessing about the upcoming season starts with the departure of the equipment truck.  The Boston Globe has their first article online this morning at Boston.com covering the 2010 Truck Day. Within that article, you can see the first photos of the truck being loaded with the team equipment, and photos from Truck Days over the past several years.

In addition to team equipment, the truck  transports other important items as well. In the past, General Manager Theo Epstein’s guitar and a visiting clubhouse attendant’s motorcycle were among the items to be shipped down to Florida.

Though it is a tradition first celebrated by the Boston Red Sox, Truck Day is slowly becoming a trend across Major League Baseball.  MLB.com has an article that recaps all team Truck Days.

The New York Mets Truck Day arrived early this year with the impending snowstorm that blanketed the region with up to 18 inches of snow.  Mr. Met helped the equipment team load up for spring training.

The Cincinnati Reds Truck Day was a week earlier than  Red Sox Truck Day, with a departure last Friday to their new spring training home in Arizona.

The Texas Rangers Truck Day was also a week earlier than Red Sox Truck Day, but their truck was only traveling for two days. They started unpacking the truck on Super Bowl Sunday!

The blogs are also busy with updates about the Red Sox Truck Day. Here are just a few posting about the greatest day since the end of the baseball season:

The Boston Examiner is excited about Truck Day and argues no truck day could possibly measure up to Red Sox Truck Day.

Boston Dirt Dogs posted a photo featuring the equipment truck during “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”.

Fenway West wishes everybody a Happy Truck Day.

SB Nation notes that other teams are celebrating Truck Day, but suggests Wally The Green Monster’s t-shirt toss is a difference maker.

Steve Weissman of Cape Cod Today uses Truck Day as a time to start musing about 2010 team predictions.

To assist with getting excited about the upcoming baseball season, here are the important spring training dates to remember:

Thursday, Feb. 18 — Reporting day for Red Sox pitchers and catchers; MLB voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players
Saturday, Feb. 20 — First workout for Red Sox pitchers and catchers
Monday, Feb. 22 — Reporting day for Red Sox positional players
Tuesday, Feb. 23 — MLB voluntary reporting date for other players
Wednesday, Feb. 24 — First Red Sox full-squad workout

Follow Baseball Digest on Twitter!

Share on Tumblr

Topics: 2010 Baseball Season, Baseball Fans, Baseball Mlb, Baseball Season, Boston Dirt Dogs, Boston Globe, Boston Red Sox, cincinnati reds, Favorite Team, Fenway, General Manager Theo Epstein, Groundhog, Last Friday, Major League Baseball, New Spring, New York Mets, Red Sox Fans, Snowstorm, Spring Has Arrived, Spring Training, Texas Rangers, Truck Day, Wally The Green Monster, Wonderful Time

Latest Headlines

• Dodgers Suitors Finding Out A Billion Dollars Isn’t What It Used To Be
• ‘Tex’ Talks Getting On Base, Yanks 2012 and Munson
• Q & A With San Francisco Giants Prospect Justin Fitzgerald
• Bike Spokes and Shoe Boxes – 2011 Topps Bowman Sterling NFL
• Time For Baseball To Truly Embrace Modern Fans
• MLB And Project Prospect Top 100
• Morrow’s Time
• Bike Spokes and Shoe Boxes – 2011 Topps Triple Threads NFL
• Baseball Places 16 in Sports Power 100
• Buehrle Launches Campaign To Repeal Miami Pit Bull Ban
• A Little Bit On The Wild Side With Padres Prospect Cody Decker
• Bike Spokes and Shoe Boxes – 2011 Topps USA Baseball Box Set
• Bike Spokes and Shoe Boxes – 2011 Topps American Pie
• Michael Schlact Continues Baseball Career With Blue Crabs, Remains Positive
• Prince Lands A King’s Ransom

In The News

Baseball Rep Firm Legacy Sports Group Merges with The Agency Sport Management

Legacy Sports Group (“Legacy”), a leading

Gary Carter: Remembering “The Kid” Brings Out The Kid In Me

As a nine year old Mets fan, my only thought was "Who the heck is Gary Carter?"

Don Mattingly Joins Bob Salomon’s Epic Journey

By Steve Sidoti It is amazing

Gotham Baseball: The Winter Issue and WBCC Convention Guide

Gotham Baseball, the official magazine of the 2012 Mohegan Sun World Baseball & Softball Coaches' Convention, is proud to announce the release of the 2011=2012 Winter Issue, which includes a complete guide to the event beginning Thursday, Jan 19, 2012 at the spectacular Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in Uncasville, CT.

ESPN Grabs Big Sunday Night Games

ESPN today announced a portion of