2013 Red Sox World Series trophy heads to Japan

[Nomars Last Twitch]

http://www.soxanddawgs.com/redsox/articles/2013-red-sox-world-series-trophy-heads-to-japan.html
 

 
BOSTON, MA - Boston Red Sox bullpen members Junichi Tazawa and closer Koji Uehara will be joined by Wally the Green Monster in Tokyo to share the 2013 World Series trophy with baseball fans in Japan.
 
The trophy will be in Japan January 20-22. The tour is part of a broader effort to share the World Series trophy with fans throughout New England, the U.S., and the globe.
 

The schedule will include a visit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe at his residence on January 21. During that visit, Tazawa, Uehara, and Wally will present the trophy and a Red Sox jersey to the Prime Minister. 
 
The trophy will then be unveiled at Akasaka Sacas, the Tokyo Broadcasting System. The event is open to the public.
 
Later in the evening, the trophy is scheduled to appear at a reception at the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Bouvier Kennedy.
 
In addition to Tazawa, Uehara, and Wally, Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa will be in attendance.
 
Baseball fans in Japan will have a chance to see the trophy on January 22 at a viewing at the MLB Café Tokyo.
 
Before making the trip to Japan, the trophy will first stop in California, today, January 17, where it will visit three popular gathering spots for Red Sox Nation residents living in Southern California, including Fat Face Fenner's Fishack in Hermosa Beach, The Garage in Los Angeles, and Sonny McLean's in Santa Monica.

 
More information:
 
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140118/red-sox-pitchers-visit-japanese-pm-trophy-0
 

 
Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara and relief pitcher Junichi Tazawa will visit Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as part of a trip to Tokyo next week to share the 2013 Commissioner's Trophy, presented annually to the World Series champions, Major League Baseball said Friday.
 
The schedule will also include events for members of the public to view the trophy. On Monday, Red Sox club mascot Wally the Green Monster will land at Narita airport with the trophy.
 
On Tuesday, Uehara, who was named the American League Championship Series MVP, Tazawa and Wally will present the trophy and a Red Sox jersey to Abe. In the evening, a reception is scheduled to be held at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, MLB said.
 
On Wednesday, fans will have the opportunity to get an autograph and pose for photos with Wally, as he explores the sights of Tokyo before bringing the trophy in the evening to the MLB Cafe, a MLB themed restaurant serving a menu inspired by American ballpark food.

 

[singaporesoxfan]

 
the MLB Cafe, a MLB themed restaurant serving a menu inspired by American ballpark food.

 
Jiro Dreams of Fenway Franks.

 

[montoursvillefan]

The 2004 trophy made it to South Williamsport in 2005, Little League World Series.
The 2007 did not make an appearance at the LLWS.
Does anybody know if the LLWS is on the agenda for the 2013 trophy tour?

 

[TheYaz67]

Trophy in Japan - visiting the Ambassador:
 

 
And Prime Minster Abe basking in the glow of the trophy (and getting a shirt signed by Taz and Uehara)....
 

 
The fight for the hearts and souls of Japan's baseball fans continues - Yankees sign Tanaka, but we send back two native sons who bring the hardware....

 

[brandonchristensen]

Now...do they just ship the suit and hire a local guy to wear it, or is there a guy that only wears that and that's his gig?

 

[Al Zarilla]

Now...do they just ship the suit and hire a local guy to wear it, or is there a guy that only wears that and that's his gig?

Changed my mind.

 

[TheYaz67]

There was footage of Wally getting off the plane at the airport, carrying the trophy through the terminal.  When he gets to customs/immigration, does he present a valid US passport of himself dressed as Wally?  So many questions....
 
I figure you sweat and suffer in that damn thing all summer, the least they can do is hook you up with a week long all-expenses promotional paid trip to Japan - mascot quid pro quo as it were.

 

[geoflin]

I have a friend who works at Delta - he told me that the guy who is Wally brought the suit on board in a duffel bag but traveled in his regular clothing. The trophy itself had its own seat on the plane and was accompanied by a security person.

 

[moondog80]

I have a friend who works at Delta - he told me that the guy who is Wally brought the suit on board in a duffel bag but traveled in his regular clothing. The trophy itself had its own seat on the plane and was accompanied by a security person.

 
Jared Remy's old gig, right?

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

 
Jared Remy's old gig, right?

Domestically, at least, that job has traditionally rotated among a handful of the more senior Red Sox security personnel.  Same folks you see at a game, or in the offices on an offday. 
 
They look more for more "in control" type people for this job than they do someone who could wrestle it back away from you when you stole it.

 

[moondog80]

Domestically, at least, that job has traditionally rotated among a handful of the more senior Red Sox security personnel.  Same folks you see at a game, or in the offices on an offday. 
 
They look more for more "in control" type people for this job than they do someone who could wrestle it back away from you when you stole it.

 

 

[brandonchristensen]

He looks killer in that jacket.
 
Thanks for the info, geo. Pretty crazy that they'll pay that dude to be him even internationally.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

of the dozens of times I saw the trophy (mostly work, some pleasure), I never saw him there.  I guess that's why I'm still walking on this green earth