L.L.Bean and Boston Red Sox Celebrate 113-Year-Old Connection with New Limited-Edition Tarp Tote

L.L.Bean and the Boston Red Sox share more than just New England origin stories––the kind that make them icons of the region. They share a parallel and often intertwined 113-year history connected by a love of baseball. This long-standing kinship-turned-partnership lives on today, coming to life through the latest iteration of the L.L.Bean limited-edition Fenway Tarp Tote.

For the past 15 years, L.L.Bean has been the official sponsor of the Red Sox infield rain tarp––a white and green, 30,625 square foot tarp stamped with an unmistakable Bean Boot design that protects Fenway Park’s infield during rain delays. A piece of Red Sox history, L.L.Bean saves the tarps and every few years transforms the surplus, waterproof material into a collection of durable, one-of-a-kind carryalls resembling its famed Boat and Tote. The 2025 Fenway Tarp Tote is the latest chapter in the storied connection between these two beloved institutions.

On Thursday, April 3, the day prior to the Red Sox home opener, L.L.Bean will host an exclusive tarp tote launch event at its Boston Seaport store from 4-7pm (56 Seaport Blvd, Boston). Fans will have an exclusive first access chance to purchase the limited-edition 2025 Tarp Tote and see Red Sox baseball related memorabilia sourced from the L.L.Bean archives, including custom original baseball scorebooks designed by Leon Leonwood Bean (L.L.) himself, photos of L.L. and Babe Ruth hunting, hand-written letters from Babe Ruth and Ted Williams to L.L., and Red Sox Tarp Totes from years past. The Tarp Tote will also be available online on April 4.

The story of L.L.Bean and the Red Sox begins in 1912—a year that changed New England forever. While Fenway Park opened its gates to baseball fans and the Red Sox went on to win the World Series, Leon Leonwood Bean was perfecting a product that would revolutionize outdoor footwear: the Maine Hunting Shoe. But L.L. had another passion – baseball.

A devoted Red Sox fan, L.L. frequently made trips from Freeport to Boston to watch his team play and maintained three seats: one for himself, one for his wife, and one reserved for either their belongings or a guest.

L.L. never attended a game without his custom-made scorebook, meticulously tracking every pitch and play––an approach that led him to invent and market the “Simplified Baseball Score Book” in the 1950s.

The bond between L.L.Bean and the Red Sox was more than just one man’s admiration of his favorite team––it was a mutual affinity between a legendary team and an iconic outfitter. Red Sox legend Ted Williams, the Splendid Splinter himself, was so enamored with the brand that he attempted to buy the company. In a letter dated November 9, 1960, Williams wrote to L.L.Bean expressing interest in merging his fishing tackle business with the legendary outfitter or even purchasing it outright. While the deal never materialized, it was emblematic of the ongoing bond between the two brands.

Babe Ruth, too, had a fondness for L.L.Bean gear. In a handwritten note accompanied by a hunting trip photo, the Great Bambino thanked L.L. for providing him with hunting clothes and boots––proof that even baseball’s biggest legends trusted Bean’s craftsmanship when they stepped off the field.

L.L.Bean’s official partnership with the Red Sox took off in 2010, when the company introduced a perfect way to honor L.L.Bean’s and Fenway Park’s shared centennial: repurposing the stadium’s rain tarp into limited-edition tote bags. The concept was an instant hit, and over the years, L.L.Bean has released special editions commemorating historic Red Sox moments, including the team’s 2013 and 2018 World Series victories and the retirement of David Ortiz, known to all as “Big Papi.”

The 2025 edition Tarp Tote pays tribute to the enduring bond between L.L.Bean and the Red Sox, giving fans a physical piece of their team’s history. Durable, functional and steeped in tradition and nostalgia, the tote captures the essence of Fenway––where every rain delay, every inning and every win becomes part of the ballpark’s rich lore.