Nationals Moving Day

On Monday, the Washington Nationals set course for the Club’s Spring Training facility in Viera, Fla., as part of the annual ritual that has come to be known as Moving Day.

 “With Moving Day, we know it’s the beginning of the 2011 season because the offseason is now over,” Nationals Clubhouse Manager Mike Wallace said.

While the players still have some time before reporting to Florida, Monday marked the unofficial start of the season as the Nats loaded up their JK Moving & Storage tractor trailer with 30,000 pounds of equipment for the 800-plus mile trek to Space Coast Stadium. In preparation for the start of Spring Training, Wallace and his staff packed up and loaded a vast assortment of gear, ranging from weight training equipment and medical supplies to player uniforms and apparel.

“As the stuff gets loaded, you keep saying to yourself, ‘please have enough room, please have enough room.’ But it always works out to where we get everything on there and then the truck is on its way,” Wallace said.

There’s no doubt that a lot of work goes into coordinating the big move, but according to Wallace, it’s all worth it–if only for one reason in particular.

“I’m looking forward to being in a place where I don’t have to worry about the ice and snow,” he said.

Florida is a good place to start.

MOVING DAY FACTS

Nationals Spring Training headquarters………Space Coast Stadium (Viera, Fla.)*

Official moving company…………………………JK Moving & Storage

Moving truck size …………………………………53-foot trailer

Estimated trip mileage ………………………….. 869

Estimated weight of equipment……………….. 30,000 lbs.

Approximate number of baseball bats ordered for Spring Training…………. 600

Approximate number of baseballs ordered for Spring Training………………  14,400