Phillies load up, set out for Spring Training

PHILADELPHIA -- No matter what, always get the bigger truck.
The Phillies loaded their 53-foot equipment truck Wednesday morning for the 2-day, 1,058-mile drive to Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Fla., for Spring Training. The truck will arrive Thursday night and be unloaded Friday morning, four days before Phillies pitchers and catchers hold their first official workout Tuesday.
The truck was jam-packed in years past, but this year it had enough room for a few stowaways, a couple of recliners and even a mini-fridge to make the journey a little more comfortable this time around.
"We have less personal stuff this year," Phillies equipment and umpire services manager Dan O'Rourke said. "We have a lot of young players who don't have families. But as soon as we get a smaller truck we'll start getting more stuff, so we'll continue to use the 53-foot truck."
Here is a sample of what made the journey to Florida:
• 10,000 12-ounce sports drink cups
• 2,400 baseballs
• 2,000 short- and long-sleeve shirts
• 1,200 bats
• 600 pairs of pants
• 600 batting practice hats
• 450 pairs of socks
• 350 pairs of shorts
• 250 batting practice tops
• 200 fleeces
• 200 light jackets
• 150 pairs of batting gloves
• 140 batting helmets
• 125 leather and elastic belts
• 75 assorted spike, plastic and turf shoes
• 40 heavy jackets
• 25 sets of golf clubs
• 20 coolers and a half-pallet of sports drink mix
• 6 bikes
• 1 Phanatic hot dog launcher