Wally the Green Monster

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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 wall in left field at Fenway 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 2006, Wally has become a popular mascot for fans of all ages, largely due to broadcaster Jerry Remy creating stories about him and sharing them during televised games.

1 Biography
2 Rivalry
3 Use of Wally in public relations
4 Facts
5 See Also
6 References
7 External links

[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. 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.^[1]

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 white Adirondack 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 the Boys 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 the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, which is the only mascot to have a year-round store.