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I have a confession to make. When it comes to the signs of the end of a long, cold offseason, the thing that gives me the most excitement is not the first images of pitchers and catchers reporting, or the first game played on the radio. No. The thing that gives me goosebumps and tells me spring is really on its way is truck day.
Truck day does not involve players. In fact the only uniforms in site are on rolling racks or sported by Rays’ mascot Raymond. Truck day, for the uninitiated, is the day the Rays equipment manager loads all the bats, balls, gloves, uniforms, and everything the team will need at spring camp, onto a big semi truck.
It’s a beautiful sight, because it means soon all those pieces of equipment will be getting used. Soon their will be infield dirt on those jerseys.
Baseball will be back.
Forget the groundhog, because the surest sign of spring is a truck loaded with baseball gloves.
Here’s a collection of images from Rays truck day.
Supervisor for #Rays equipment loading is apparently @RaysRaymond pic.twitter.com/uKXnrBl5V0
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) January 30, 2019
This is a LOT of jerseys.
#Rays equipment loading underway: pic.twitter.com/R3dKD6SEqt
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) January 30, 2019
#TRUCKDAY pic.twitter.com/uz9mf5s81o
— Raymond (@RaysRaymond) January 30, 2019
The official account understands the hype.
️ Move that truck!#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/dORVV9IHIR
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) January 30, 2019
It’s truck day at the Trop, as clubhouse attendants (and @RaysRaymond sometimes) help get the team ready for Spring Training in Port Charlotte. #Rays pic.twitter.com/SN2MHlHj3A
— Steve Carney (@stevecarney) January 30, 2019
Pitchers and catchers report in less than two weeks. Winter is almost over.