This Vending Machine Pumps Out Red Sox Prizes—For Free

Photo by Steve Annear

Baseball fans formed a line in front of a social media-activated vending machine set up by the Red Sox near Faneuil Hall on Friday for a chance to try and score free gear and tickets to next season’s games.

All they had to do to get their hands on the goodies was snap a photo near the machine, which was packed with small boxes containing everything from pens and hats, to single-game tickets and t-shirts, and share it on Instagram using the hashtag #TheGiftofSox. Within seconds, the machine would link up with their account, and release one of the green-colored square packages with the prize inside.

The vending machine at Faneuil Hall was one of two set up in Boston on Thursday and Friday, for a limited time, as part of a promotional campaign to announce the availability of April and May single-game tickets and “Sox Pax” tickets for the 2015 season. Those tickets go on sale Saturday, December 13.

While the vending machine at Faneuil Hall requires people to post pictures to their Instagram accounts using the special hashtag, the second machine, stationed at the Prudential Center, can be activated by posting about it on Twitter.

Both machines will be in use until 6 p.m. Friday night.

Other prizes that can be won at the social media vending machines are suite tickets, bats, and jerseys signed by David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Mike Napoli. Season tickets were available when the campaign launched Thursday, but one lucky winner scooped them up fast.

Wally the Green Monster was even expected to be lurking around to greet fans at certain times of the day, but don’t worry, he won’t steal your gifts and run away with them.