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Truck Day is coming

The first flower of spring but with sixteen wheels

By Matt Schlichting
Minor League Team Holds Traficant Night

Spring training brings hope for baseball fans every year. It foreshadows the end of winter and signals that long, glorious afternoons are fast approaching. Soon, the voice of Tom Hamilton will boom from a nearby speaker once more.

While many fans associate the beginning of this phenomenon with pitchers and catchers reporting, there is another even more important day to mark on your calendar: Truck Day.

What is Truck Day, exactly?

I’m glad you asked. Have a seat and take notes, as there will be a quiz at the end of this post.

Truck Day is when teams load up everything that they’re going to need at Spring Training and start driving it down to their facilities. It’s gotten more interest in recent years because it’s stupid, we’re all god damned lunatics, and there is nothing else to talk about this time of year.

When is Truck Day this year?

Nothing is set in stone. However, here is the current plan according to Nicholas Roth, Account Specialist for the Cleveland Indians:

It sounds like the plan, as of now, for this season is truck day will be Thursday, January 30th. Historically, it seems like the last Thursday of January is when truck day normally is, but it is subject to change from season to season.

So, circle Jan. 30 on your calendar but be ready in case things change in the next couple of weeks. Also, sorry if this gets you in trouble for some reason, Nick.

What kind of things do the Indians bring on the truck?

In 2018, the tow included 10,000 baseballs and 72 tubs of bubblegum.

According to Boston 25 News, the Red Sox brought the following equipment on the truck in 2019:

  • 1,100 bats
  • 200 batting gloves
  • 200 batting helmets
  • 320 batting practice tops
  • 160 white game jerseys
  • 300 pairs of pants
  • 400 t-shirts & pairs of socks

I’m assuming that by the second week of Spring Training somewhere around 25% of those socks are missing.

What happens if the truck explodes?

no

How can we follow along and receive updates about the truck?

The truck, which is not going to explode, is often featured by the team’s official Snapchat, in addition to its other social media handles.

Why isn’t Truck Day a national holiday?

That’s a great question. I’ve sent the following letter to Senator Rob Portman in hopes that he introduces appropriate legislation:

What should we do in the meantime?

We have a delightful countdown of the top prospects in the Indians system as voted by you, the readers.

Also consider putting together a FanPost to share your feelings about truck day, the Indians’ offseason, or anything at all baseball related.

Finally, I’d recommend 7-8 hours of sleep per day, along with 10 minutes of mindful meditation. You do not have to meditate on the truck.

Quiz

Poll

How many baseballs did the Indians bring to Spring Training in 2018?

This poll is closed

  • 20%
    Higher than 10,000
    (35 votes)
  • 22%
    Greater than 10,000
    (39 votes)
  • 38%
    More than 10,000
    (66 votes)
  • 19%
    Above 10,000
    (33 votes)
173 votes total Vote Now

Poll

When is Truck Day in 2020?

This poll is closed

  • 57%
    As of now, Jan. 30 is the plan
    (96 votes)
  • 5%
    There will be no truck day thanks to Coronavirus
    (10 votes)
  • 36%
    Tito Francona actually loads everything onto the back of his scooter the same way the Grinch fits all the stolen toys on his sleigh, ergo, "Truck Day" is a misnomer and we’re all being spoonfed lies by Major League Baseball
    (61 votes)
167 votes total Vote Now

Poll

What is Quality?

This poll is closed

  • 18%
    I refuse to do this again
    (28 votes)
  • 64%
    Kenny Lofton
    (97 votes)
  • 17%
    The loss a product causes to society after being shipped
    (26 votes)
151 votes total Vote Now

Poll

How can we follow updates about the truck?

This poll is closed

  • 38%
    The team’s Snapchat and other social media sites
    (60 votes)
  • 41%
    Calling Paul Dolan every half hour
    (64 votes)
  • 20%
    Emailing Senator Rob Portman
    (32 votes)
156 votes total Vote Now

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