Wally the Green Monster
| Wally the Green Monster | |
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| Team | Boston Red Sox |
| Origin of Name | the Green Monster |
| First Seen | February 2, 1997 |
| Website | Official Website |
Wally the Green Monster is the official mascot for the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball team. His name is derived from the Green Monster nickname of the 37-foot 6-inches wall in left field at Fenway Park. Wally debuted on February 2, 1997 to the chagrin of many older Red Sox fans. Although he was a hit with children, older fans did not immediately adopt him as part of the franchise. As of 2009, Wally has become more accepted by Red Sox fans of all ages, largely due to broadcaster Jerry Remy creating stories about him and sharing them during televised games.
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[edit] Biography
According to the Red Sox promotions department, Wally was a huge Red Sox fan who decided to move inside the left field wall of Fenway Park since it "eats up" hits that would easily be home runs at other parks in 1947. He was very shy and lived the life of a hermit for 50 years. On the 50th anniversary of the Green Monster in 1997, he came out of the manual scoreboard and has been interacting with players and fans ever since.[1]
[edit] Rivalry
Wally has an ongoing rivalry with Tampa Bay Rays' mascot Raymond. Before the Red Sox play a series in Tampa Bay, Raymond typically attacks or pranks either Wally or the visiting broadcast booth where the miniature Wally stays with Remy and Don Orsillo. Raymond's more publicized attacks have involved running Wally over with a four-wheeler and hanging over 40 miniature Raymond dolls in the visiting broadcasters' booth.
[edit] Public relations
- On Kid's Opening Day in 1997, Wally appeared on the field to greet younger fans at Fenway Park and threw the ceremonial first pitch.
- Wally plush toys have been given out to young fans at home games.
- Remy has discussed Wally's fictitious adventures during Red Sox broadcasts since 2002. During that time, Remy has had a miniature Wally doll sitting in a miniature white Adirondack chair in front of him in the booth, which has been known to sit upside down during rallies. Remy has written five books, all published by Mascot Books,Hello Wally, Coast to Coast with Wally the Green Monster, 'A Season with Wally the Green Monster, Wally the Green Monster and his World Tour, and Wally the Green Monster and His Journey Through Red Sox Nation!
- Wally makes appearances at many of the charities and organizations in which the Red Sox are involved, particularly the Jimmy Fund and the Boys and Girls Club of America.
- Wally's Build-A-Bear Workshop isn't at Fenway Park, but at the Build-A-Bear store in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Wally is the first mascot to have a year-round store.
- Wally has two friends that make appearances on Sundays at Fenway, a pair of socks named "Lefty" and "Righty".
- Wally has appeared in two of ESPN's "This is SportsCenter" commercials. In the first he was operating the TelePrompTer while ESPN anchors Scott Van Pelt and Rich Eisen struggled to read what he had typed. In the second, Red Sox player David Ortiz put on a New York Yankees hat to break it in for Jorge Posada when Wally, walking by, became visibly shocked into dropping his papers and dismissing Ortiz's attempts to explain.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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