2022 Mascot Hall of Fame Greatest Community Impact Award Winner
Wally the Green Monster made his official debut at Fenway Park in 1997, taking his name and his unmistakable look from the famous 37-foot left field wall that has been terrifying opposing outfielders since 1912. Standing tall — and very, very green — Wally became an instant fan favorite across New England. He was joined in 2012 by his sister Tessie, making the Green Monster officially a family brand. In 2022, Wally earned the Mascot Hall of Fame Greatest Community Impact Award for his MLB category, a recognition driven by one of the most enduring mascot literacy programs in professional sports.
Wally’s Making Books Come Alive
Off the field, Wally has a secret passion: reading. And true to the Red Sox tradition of going all-in, he didn’t just quietly enjoy books; he built Wally’s Making Books Come Alive, a full interactive literacy program performed alongside his friend Big League Brian. The presentation is fast-paced, highly interactive, and can be scaled from a single classroom to an entire school gymnasium.
The program was well-established long before COVID-19. When schools went remote, Wally didn’t take a day off — he took the show to Zoom and kept kids engaged through one of the most disruptive stretches in modern education. That kind of adaptability earns its own standing ovation.
Beyond the Ballpark
Wally makes dozens of appearances annually at schools, hospitals, and community events throughout New England. For a region as fiercely loyal to its sports teams as this one, a visit from the Red Sox mascot carries emotional weight that goes well beyond entertainment.
The actual Green Monster wall at Fenway still has a manual scoreboard operated entirely by hand — and there’s a small door in it that Wally presumably uses for his daily commute.
