AtL Somerset Patriots

Joe Torre Signs New Book At Special Event

Published on February 6, 2009 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Somerset Patriots News Release


Steve Kalafer and the Somerset Patriots hosted a special book-signing event with legendary baseball manager Joe Torre for his release of "The Yankee Years" on Tuesday, February 3rd.

Approximately 150 people were in attendance to receive a personalized copy of Torre's new book that focuses on his twelve years as the manager of the New York Yankees.

Torre was in the middle of book signings, interviews with the top media outlets in the area, and a fundraiser with Yogi Berra when he stopped by the Patriots event at the Short Hills Hilton.

"It's nice being here with Steve Kalafer and all his friends. It's great being back in New York...I'm very proud of this book," Torre said to the crowd.

Torre and the book have been the center of a media frenzy for the past two weeks centered around excerpts released about players and the handling of the end to his illustrious Yankees career.

He admitted to being surprised by all the controversy surrounding the book, co-authored by Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci.

"I've been uncomfortable from all the attention I've received...I think the book caught a lot of people by storm because some of the details that came out ahead of the book made it sound like it was going to be a tell- all type of novel. But it's a great book that I think is going to stand out on its own," said Torre.

Yankees radio voice John Sterling was also on-hand and served as an emcee. He interviewed Patriots manager Sparky Lyle before the crowd as the guests awaited Torre's arrival. Sterling and Lyle also posed for pictures, mingled with the crowd, and signed some autographs.

"The Yankee Years" officially went on sale on February 3rd and is expected to be one of the year's best selling books.

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Send A Sparkee-Gram To A Loved One This Valentine's Day

The Somerset Patriots are once again offering fans the opportunity to send a Sparkee-Gram this Valentine's Day.

A Sparkee-Gram is a special visit from Sparkee, the Somerset Patriots Mascot, to a person's home or office to deliver Valentine's Day gifts for a loved one.

Sparkee will make ten appearances throughout Valentine's Day to deliver a Sparkee-Gram, consisting of a Patriots Championship t-shirt, Championship hat, and two tickets to a 2009 Patriots game for $75. Sparkee will also deliver any additional gifts provided by the sender to the team in advance.

Sparkee-Grams are on a first-come first-serve basis and are available from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Friday, February 13th. Sparkee will travel to areas close to the ballpark, mainly consisting of Somerset, Middlesex, and parts of Hunterdon Counties.

To book a Sparkee-Gram, please contact Ian Haggerty at (908) 252-0700 ext. 211.

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Player Tryouts Scheduled For March 28th

The Four-Time Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots have announced that open tryouts for the team will be held at Commerce Bank Ballpark on Saturday, March 28th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

There will be an administration fee of $40 to tryout, with proceeds being donated to the Somerset Patriots Children's Educational And Sportsmanship Foundation, which has been established to give to various charities supported by the Somerset Patriots.

Players are to report to Commerce Bank Ballpark at 8:00 am for registration. Participants must be high school graduates and at least eighteen years of age. All those present should provide their career statistics and must supply their own wooden bats and baseball gloves. All participants will be required to sign a release form before trying out for the team.

Coaches and representatives from the Patriots will be on hand to evaluate the players at the ballpark, including Manager Sparky Lyle, President/General Manager Patrick McVerry, and Vice President/Assistant General Manager Rob Lukachyk.

The Patriots have signed a player from four open tryouts held by the team, including Tony Gsell, who played for Somerset from 2003 through 2006, and Jim Burt Jr., who played for the team throughout the 2006 season.

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National Anthem Auditions Set For March 7th

The Somerset Patriots have announced that the team will host National Anthem auditions at Menlo Park Mall in Edison, NJ on Saturday, March 7th from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

The Patriots will audition 100 soloists/ small groups during the event with up to ten being selected to sing the Star Spangled Banner before a Somerset Patriots game during the 2009 season.

The Patriots are looking for participants of all ages with no prior auditioning experience for the team. Singers will be judged on vocal talent, stage presence, and their ability to perform before a large crowd.

The Patriots will also have a waiting list set up to provide a chance for singers in the case a selected individual cannot make the audition.

The event will take place in Center Court on the lower level of Menlo Park Mall. In addition to the National Anthem auditions, the event will include interactive games and contests for mall patrons to win prizes, special offers for tickets and merchandise, and the ability to interact with team representatives. Sparkee and Slider, the team's mascots, will be at the mall to entertain young fans.

Magic 98.3 FM will be at the event with on-air talent, music, and entertainment. This is the sixth year the Patriots will be hosting National Anthem auditions.

Interested individuals can register for the audition by calling Brian Cahill at (908) 252-0700 ext. 222 or bcahill@somersetpatriots.com.

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Atlantic League Stories from February 6, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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