- Wally the Green Monster
Wally the Green Monster is the official
mascot for theBoston Red Sox Major League Baseball team. His name is derived from theGreen Monster nickname of the 37-foot wall in left field atFenway Park . Wally debuted in 1997 to the chagrin of many older Red Sox fans. Although he was a hit with children, the older fans did not immediately adopt him as part of the franchise. As of 2008, Wally has become a popular mascot for fans of all ages, largely due to broadcasterJerry Remy creating stories about him and sharing them during televised games.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. Apparently, 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. [ [http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/bos/community/wally.jsp The Official Site of The Boston Red Sox: Community: Wally ] ]Rivalry
Wally has been known to have 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 Jerry 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.Use of Wally in public relations
*On Kid's
Opening Day in 1997, Wally appeared on the field to greet younger fans at Fenway Park. He also threw the ceremonial first pitch and was lustily booed by many fans.*Wally plush toys have been given out to young fans at numerous home games.
*
Jerry Remy has been discussing Wally's fictitious adventures during almost every televised Red Sox broadcast since 2002. During that time, Remy has had a miniature Wally doll sitting in a miniature whiteAdirondack chair in front of him in the booth, which has been known to sit upside down during rallies. Remy has also written two books "Hello Wally" 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 theBoys and Girls Club of America .* Wally's
Build-A-Bear Workshop make-your-own-mascot shop isn't at Fenway Park, but rather at the Build-A-Bear store in theFaneuil Hall Marketplace, which is the only 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 also appeared in a "This is Sportscenter" commericial. He was walking by as David Ortiz was wearing a Yankees hat to break it in for Jorge Posada.
ee also
*
List of Major League Baseball mascots References
External links
* [http://www.redsox.com Official homepage of the Boston Red Sox]
* [http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060516&content_id=1456243&vkey=pr_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos Wally visits the Children's Hospital in Providence, RI]
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