CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Salem Red Sox Announce Hall Of Famer Jim Rice As 2010 Hot Stove Banquet Speaker

Published on December 4, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


The 1978 American League MVP and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer teams up with the Salem Red Sox to raise funds for CHIP of the Roanoke Valley and the Mike Smith Scholarship Fund.

SALEM, VA - The Salem Red Sox, the Advanced Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox have announced that former Red Sox outfielder and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, Jim Rice, will be featured as the keynote speaker at the 2010 Hot Stove Banquet on Thursday, January 21 at the Salem Civic Center. Rice spent his entire playing career as a member of the Boston Red Sox compiling at lifetime.298 batting average with 2452 hits, 382 homeruns, and 1,451 RBIs in 16 seasons with Boston. On July 26, 2009, Rice was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

"2010 will be Jim's 38th year as a member of the Boston organization," said Salem Red Sox General Manager Todd Stephenson. "We are honored to have a speaker that has meant so much to Red Sox Nation for such a long time."

Rice, widely recognized as one of the greatest slugging outfielders in Red Sox history, led the American League in homeruns three times, was an eight-time All-Star and the 1978 American League MVP. The all-time Boston great was a valuable member of Red Sox teams that won American League titles in 1975 and 1986, and the 1988 American League Eastern Division Championship. Serving as the clean-up hitter for the Red Sox for over a full decade, Rice amassed several hitting records including leading the American League in total bases three seasons in a row, a record held only by the great Ty Cobb.

Rice will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2nd Annual "Hot Stove Banquet" to benefit CHIP of Roanoke Valley. In what has become an annual event, this evening will include a reception, silent and live auction, dinner and a keynote address by the Red Sox legend. The event will take place on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at the Salem Civic Center.

The Hot Stove Banquet proceeds will also develop a scholarship in honor of Mike Smith, dedicated supporter of Salem Baseball, 12-year game day employee and long-time City of Salem employee. Mike lost his battle to cancer in August 2008. This year, one high school or college game day employee will be honored with the scholarship. The Salem Red Sox hope in the future years is to build on the scholarship program with continued success of our event.

Thanks to community support last year the Salem Red Sox were able to raise $6,000 for Children's Miracle Network and YMCA Roanoke Valley.

Tickets for the Hot Stove Banquet will go on sale December 11, 2009. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Salem Red Sox at (540) 389-3333. For more information on the Hot Stove Banquet visit www.salemsox.com. If your company is interested in sponsorship opportunities for this event please contact Jeanne Boester at (540) 389-3333.

ABOUT CHIP

CHIP is an early intervention program that helps low-income children in the cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of Botetourt, Craig and Roanoke maintain access to comprehensive health care and public health services, contributes to measuring and monitoring healthy child development, and serves as a coordinated referral service to each enrolled child. For more information, visit www.chipofroanokevalley.org.

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