Annie recently wrote a post called “What’s a Tar Heel?”. In her post, Annie wrote about her team, the North Carolina Tar Heels. She also wrote about the history of the name “Tar Heels” and about the team’s mascot. I loved how she described the Tar Heel mascot: But here’s what really confuses people. Our mascot is a ram named Ramses. But we are NOT the UNC Rams, we’re the UNC Tar Heels. Even I don’t completely understand that. Maybe it was just too hard to make a furry suit that looks like a foot?
I made a comment on her blog about my trying to picture how one would portray a tar heel. Annie in turn asked me about the Red Sox mascot. Well, I am always more than happy to talk Sox here, so Annie, here is the short history of our Red Sox mascot, Wally the Green Monster.
The Red Sox did not have a mascot until 1997. I personally think they should have kept it that way. However, being a huge Red Sox fan, I am usually happy to go along with most of their new promo ideas and I guess the mascot is fun for kids. Our mascot, Wally the Green Monster, like the Tar Heel’s mascot, Ramses, has nothing to do with the name of the team it represents. I guess like the Tar Heels, it would probably be pretty silly seeing a person dressed up as a Red Sock. Instead of being connected to a red sock, Wally the Green Monster, is supposed to somehow represent the “green monster”, which is the famous big green wall in left field. I personally think it is a big stretch.
I find the history of Fenway Park and the Green Monster much more interesting than our mascot, Wally the Green Monster. Fenway park opened on April 20, 1912. The original wall in left field was a 37-foot wooden left field wall. In 1934, the wall was replaced by a more durable, 37-foot sheet metal structure. The wall was covered in advertisements. In 1947, the wall was painted green and the Green Monster was born. In 2003, 247 seats were added atop the Green Monster. What a cool place that must be to watch a game. For more detailed history about Fenway Park, check out this link and this link.
The Green Monster (the big green wall):
3 days, 8 hours, 5 minutes til opening day…GO SOX!!!!
shave ice & gelato 
Wally looks like a cross between Shrek and the monsters from Monsters, Inc. He’s kinda cute, in a monstery kind of way.
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Thanks for such a great answer to my question! I think Wally is cute too – he reminds me of a Sesame Street character, and I bet you are right that they brought him in just for the kids. My nephews go nuts for those mascots.
So I have to tell you…I have been to one Red Sox game and saw the “real” Green Monster. It was in the early 90’s (before Wally’s time – I didn’t think I remembered seeing a mascot then). A friend and I were in Boston for a long weekend and there was an afternoon game, so on the spur of the moment we went down to Fenway and bought tickets outside. The Red Sox were playing the Yankees which is a pretty fierce rivalry, I learned – we were sitting in the outfield in a section with a bunch of old men, some Sox fans and some Yankees fans, and those old guys were talking so much trash to each other the whole game. It was hilarious – we felt like we were in a movie or something because those old men were more entertaining than the game! It was a lot of fun and I loved that old ball park. The Red Sox won!
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I’m not sure where they got the inspiration for Wally. At least he is a friendly looking monster.
Annie, I can’t believe you were able to just walk up and get tickets, and to a Yankees game!! Glad to hear they won the game and you had a good time. Yeah, Yankees games are always a show both in the stands and on the field.
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