The Boston Red Sox have introduced a quirky new home run celebration—and it’s turning heads. During their home-opening 13-9 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, Trevor Story and Wilyer Abreu sparked laughter when they celebrated back-to-back first-inning homers by wearing the head of their mascot, Wally the Green Monster.
“I promise you I had no idea,” said manager Alex Cora. “I walked into the cage, saw it, closed my eyes, and thought, ‘Oh, my God.’” Still, Cora embraced the fun. “We’re in the entertainment business, and people like it. So if they want to do it, they have the green light.”
Baseball has seen a shift in recent years, embracing flair and personality. Gone are the days when celebrations drew scorn or retaliation. The 2021 Red Sox famously rode a laundry cart through the dugout after homers. Around the league, teams have used props like chains, hats, and wigs. This year, Boston chose the furry green head, similar to Wally’s, though smaller—more like a motorcycle helmet wrapped in green fur.
The team even posted a video of outfielder Jarren Duran receiving the helmet from Wally and his sister Tessie. “I think Jarren went out of his way to make that up,” said Story. “It barely fits on our heads, but I’ll slam it on mine no matter what. It’s fun—and hopefully we wear it a lot this year.”
The Red Sox launched two homers in the first inning, quickly building a 5-0 lead. They finished with 16 hits and held off the Cardinals for a third straight win. “It was great to have it come out on the first day we had it,” said third baseman Alex Bregman. “Hopefully, many more of those.”
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