Manchester, New Hampshire - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, are excited to announce the first group of guests confirmed for the 2012 Granite State Baseball Dinner, presented by Northeast Delta Dental, on Saturday, November 17, at 5 PM at the Radisson Hotel and Expo Center in Manchester. The annual event will once again benefit the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD), the Ted Williams Museum, and the Fisher Cats Foundation.
Headlining the introductory guest list are baseball Hall of Famer and Red Sox legend Wade Boggs, former MLB slugger Cecil Fielder, and current Major Leaguers and New Hampshire natives Chris Carpenter and Sam Fuld. Additional guests include former big leaguers Scott McGregor, Ron Blomberg, and Darrell Evans, and New Hampshire native Jordan Cote of the New York Yankees.
"We are once again excited to host this incredible event with our partner, Northeast Delta Dental," said Fisher Cats Owner Art Solomon. "Every year our guest list becomes more and more impressive, and this year is no exception. We welcome back New Hampshire's Chris Carpenter and look forward to meeting new guests like Wade Boggs and Cecil Fielder, all to support the work of three outstanding organizations in CHaD, the Ted Williams Museum and the Fisher Cats Foundation."
Tickets for the charitable event are $80 and will go on sale in two stages. Fisher Cats Season Ticket holders can obtain preferred seating courtesy of a 24-hour exclusive pre-sale opportunity beginning Thursday, September 6, at 10 AM. Tickets will be available to the general public beginning Friday, September 7, at 10 AM. Tickets may be purchased at the Fisher Cats Ticket Office, by visiting www.nhfishercats.com, and by calling 603-641-2005.
Doors to the event will open at 5 PM with a silent auction and an autograph session with the honored guests from 5-7 PM. Dinner will begin at 7 PM leading into the start of the evening's program.
The primary benefactor of the dinner is the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD), New Hampshire's only NACHRI approved, comprehensive, full-service children's hospital. CHaD provides an extended regional system of care that offers advanced pediatric services dedicated to giving each child the best care, in the right place, at the right time, every time. CHaD is also the only pediatric service in New Hampshire that is an integral component of an academic medical center where children receive enhanced care thanks to an environment of learning and inquiry.
The Ted Williams Foundation works to preserve and build on the rich tradition of our national pastime through education and outreach. Proceeds from the Granite State Baseball Dinner are instrumental in the Foundation's mission to provide youth baseball programs and scholarships for deserving student-athletes. The Foundation is also an active partner with community organizations, providing assistance to several charitable groups, including the Boys & Girls Club, the Children's Dream Fund, and the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats established the Fisher Cats Foundation to be a catalyst for the betterment of communities statewide by supporting youth programs that encourage education and promote healthy living. Through the generous support of players, employees, sponsors, and fans, the Fisher Cats Foundation continuously works to make a positive impact throughout New Hampshire and north central Massachusetts. As the primary funding source for the team's philanthropy, the Fisher Cats Foundation supports a wide variety of non-profit organizations and coordinates several fundraising programs and events. Since its inception in 2006, the Foundation and the Fisher Cats have provided more than $1.87 million in monetary and in-kind donations to over 2,500 non-profit organizations.
"What an exciting batch of guests to begin our countdown to this year's dinner," said Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner. "Fans are already familiar with some of the Granite State's best players in Chris Carpenter and Sam Fuld, and Red Sox fans will certainly remember the highlights of one of the best hitters of our generation in Wade Boggs. It will be fun to watch this impressive guest list grow leading up to the dinner."
Boggs, a first time guest of the dinner, is no stranger to New Hampshire baseball fans. A member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2005, Boggs spent the first 11 years of his career with the Red Sox before moving on to the New York Yankees and the then-named Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He recorded 3,010 hits over his 18-year career, including seven straight seasons with 200 or more hits. Boggs won a World Series with the Yankees in 1996 and finished with a .328 career batting average.
Fielder was one of the most intimidating power hitters in baseball for 13 seasons, spending the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers. He amassed 319 career home runs, highlighted by a 51-homer campaign in 1990. A three-time RBI champion, Fielder was also a member of the 1996 World Series champion New York Yankees. His slugging son, Prince, is following in his footsteps as the current first baseman in Detroit.
Carpenter is simply one of the greatest and most decorated players to hail from the Granite State. A longtime supporter of the dinner and CHaD, the Raymond native has put together a 14-year major league career with the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals. The former Trinity High School Pioneer has won two World Series rings, the most recent in 2011, thanks in large part to several gutsy postseason starts by Carpenter himself. He was named the 2005 National League Cy Young Award winner after posting a 21-5 record with seven complete games and 4 shutouts. During last year's dinner, Fisher Cats owner Art Solomon presented Carpenter with a special award and named one of the Fisher Cats Foundation yearly high school scholarships after the Granite State icon.
Fuld, a Durham, N.H. native, has made quite a name for himself since being acquired in a trade by the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the 2011 season. Sidedlined by injuries at the start of this summer, the Phillips Exeter Academy graduate is often seen on the nightly highlights, displaying a flair for the dramatic with his defensive abilities. After a solid campaign in his first full major league season a year ago, Fuld recently came off the disabled list, and is hitting better than .300 since returning from injury.
McGregor, a first round pick by the New York Yankees in 1972, pitched his entire 13-year Major League career with the Baltimore Orioles, winning 138 games, including a career-high 20 in 1980. He was a member of two Orioles World Series teams, losing in 1979 to the Pittsburgh Pirates before defeating Philadelphia for the title in 1983. In that championship season, McGregor was 18-7 with a career-low 3.18 ERA, and finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.
Blomberg is best known for being the first designated hitter in Major League history when he batted for the New York Yankees against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park on April 6, 1973. The number one overall pick by the Yankees in 1967, Blomberg was nicknamed "The Great Jewish Hope" as the first significant Jewish player on the Yankees, and had a successful career in baseball both during and after his playing days.
Evans had a lengthy and successful career that spanned from 1969-1989, covering 21 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Detroit Tigers. In addition to 414 career home runs, Evans finished with 1,354 RBI, 1,344 runs scored, and more walks (1,605) than strikeouts (1,410).
Cote is a native of Sanbornton, N.H., and made his much-anticipated professional debut this summer with the New York Yankees' Gulf Coast League affiliate. A graduate of Winnisquam Regional High School, the 2011 third-round draft pick posted a 3-0 record and 0.98 ERA for the GCL Yankees before a promotion to short-season Staten Island. A guest of the dinner in 2011, Cote threw a no-hitter for Winnisquam in the team's state title game in 2010 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
For more information about the charitable Granite State Baseball Dinner, presented by Northeast Delta Dental, please contact Fisher Cats Director of Marketing & Public Affairs Jenna Raizes at (603) 606-4177 or visit www.nhfishercats.com. Corporate sponsorships are also available.
Opening Day 2013 is Thursday, April 4 against the Reading Phillies at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Full and Half-Season Tickets and a complete 2013 schedule are available by visiting www.nhfishercats.com.
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