Category: Red Sox News

Support the WEEI / NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon

The ninth annual event will take place on Thursday, 19 August and Friday, 20 August on WEEI Sports Radio Network and New England Sports Network. With your help, we can reach our goal of raising $5 million this year.

Tune in Thursday, 19 August and Friday, 20 August on WEEI Sports Radio Network and New England Sports Network for the ninth annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon. Cheer on the Boston Red Sox as they take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Thursday and the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and help strike out cancer. Listen to or watch the broadcast between 6:00 AM and midnight on both Thursday and Friday.

Striking out cancer

The 36-hour broadcast will feature compelling stories and celebrity guests, as well as emotional ceremonies prior to both Red Sox games during the two-day period. The lineup is packed with interviews with Dana-Farber patients, doctors, researchers and nurses. There will also be special ceremonies with celebrities at both Red Sox games.

Generous support

Last year’s event raised $4.5 million, with gifts coming in from every state in the country. This year we’re looking for Red Sox and Jimmy Fund fans outside of New England to host Radio-Telethon viewing parties as part of our 50 State Challenge. Since 2002, your generous support of this event has raised more than $21 million to support research and care for both children and adults at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. With your help, we can reach our goal of raising $5 million this year.

For more information

Phone (toll-free): (877) 738-1234
E-mail: jimmyfundradiotelethon@dfci.harvard.edu

Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament To Benefit Journey Forward

This year, the Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament will benefit Journey Forward, a non-profit gym dedicated to bettering the lives of those affected by spinal cord injuries. It is truly a great organization and Jason has decided he wants to help them out. This year’s tournament will be held at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, MA on 01 July.  Doors open at 5:00 PM and the event starts at 7:00 PM.

Varitek and his Boston Red Sox teammates will come together to compete in a miniature golf tournament with fans and fellow players.  It is a great family fun event and fans get the opportunity to interact with their favorite Red Sox players, even the opportunity to snag autographs.  The day also includes a live band, interaction with the players, and other entertaining events.

General Admission tickets are $15.00 each and can be purchased either at the door or online at Ticketmaster.

Bottom Line Apparel Partners with Kevin Youkilis Hits For Kids

Bottom Line Apparel, a designer and retailer of Boston sports fan apparel, donates proceeds from t-shirt sales to support charity.

BOSTON – Bottom Line Apparel, based in Carver, MA announced today that it has teamed up with Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids to help raise funds for the charity by introducing the new “Yoouuk!” t-shirt.  Bottom Line Apparel will donate $5.00 for every t-shirt sold through their website and through participating retailers like Chowdaheadz.com.  The t-shirts will also be available at select Bottom Line events throughout the baseball season.

The “Yooukk!” t-shirt will be available at participating retailers throughout New England in adult and children’s sizes. The front of the shirt features a unique design, created by founder Rob Munstis, with the Kevin Youkilis Hits For Kids logo on the back.

“Kevin has been kind enough to work with us, answering questions from the readers of The Bottom Line blog for the past few years, and we thought this would be a great way to say thank you”, said Munstis.

The promotion will begin 01 April 2010 and run through 30 June 2010, with the possibility of a second run in the fall.

About Bottom Line Apparel and The Bottom Line blog

Founded in 2006, The Bottom Line blog features daily news and analysis on the Boston Red Sox, including game previews and recaps, player evaluations and Hot Stove coverage all offseason long.

Bottom Line Apparel was founded in 2009 and offers original t-shirt designs for the Boston sports fan. Bottom Line Apparel t-shirts can be purchased on the web and in retail stores throughout New England.

About Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids

Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids is a charitable organization focused on raising support and awareness for the health, advocacy, safety, and well-being of children. Rallying the support of individuals and businesses Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids teams up with existing community-based children’s charities and medical research efforts, which currently lack sufficient funding. Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids also identifies and partners with businesses that can deliver products and services to children in need, on the behalf of Hits for Kids.

To learn more about Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids, or to make a donation, please visit www.youkskids.org.

Nomar Garciaparra to Retire as Red Sox Player Today

Is Nomar Garciaparra retiring?  Say it isn’t so.  At age 36, with several surgeries having limited his playing time in recent years, the last rock at the shortstop position in Boston is hanging up his uniform for good – maybe, maybe not – with a press conference this morning in Fort Myers.

The legendary Ted Williams touted “NO-mah” as the game’s next great player and he seemed destined for a Hall of Fame career.  First, he easily won Rookie of the Year honors in 1997, then followed that with a second-place finish in the MVP ballot in 1998 and two batting titles in two years (1999 and 2000).  Five times, he was named to the All-Star while with Boston, and he was often compared to other great shortstops of his time, including Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Miguel Tejada.

When Garciaparra returned as an Oakland Athletic last July to Fenway Park for the first time since being traded away in 2004, he received a lengthy standing ovation from an appreciative crowd, to which he tipped his cap and graciously clapped along with them.  It reminded us of the moment following a series-ending loss to Cleveland in the 1998 American League Division Series; as the Indians celebrated on the field by the visitor’s dugout, Garciaparra stepped back out from the Boston dugout, turned to the stands, and began clapping in genuine appreciation of the Red Sox fans that had followed the team all season and every season before then.

Boston is still searching for the answer at short while fans search for answers on why such a promising career ended too soon; some might say that Garciaparra is to this generation what Fred Lynn was to the last one and Tony Conigliaro was to the one before then.  Red Sox fans will always have a place in its collective heart reserved for Garciaparra, who gave all he had with the club for eight seasons, but we will always wonder what might have been for him.

Journey Forward Hosts Casino Night and Jason Varitek Spring Training Raffle

RANDOLPH, MA – The Journey Forward Foundation is putting on an event like no other for one night.  Journey Forward will be hosting their annual Casino Night at Lombardos.  The night will consist of popular casino games, an auction with amazing prizes, and food and drinks to be enjoyed by all. Tickets for the event are $125. The first event, Casino Night, has a ticket that includes $1,000 play money, drink tickets, dinner, and a great evening. This event will not only be benefiting a remarkable foundation but allowing people to enjoy giving back. For more information regarding the event and to purchase tickets please call 978-749-6700.

The second is a raffle that includes a dinner with veteran Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. The raffle closes on Monday, 22 March 2010 at 9:00 AM EDT.  The winner will receive two (2) tickets to Red Sox Spring Training games in Ft. Myers, FL on 27 March and 28 March, dinner for the winner and a guest with Jason Varitek, and $1,500 to put towards traveling expenses during the trip.  The online raffle will take place at www.netraffle.org; tickets cost $2.00 each and there is a minimum purchase of 5 tickets. This gives every fan a chance.

About Journey Forward

Journey Forward was founded by Dan Cummings who was paralyzed one day while going for a swim with his friends. Dan was diagnosed a C6 quadriplegic and was in ICU for four weeks. Dan fought to live and showed improvement but was told there was a good possibility of never walking again. Dan promised to anyone that would listen that he would walk again and after three years in Boston and four years in California he did. Dan realized that his new mission was to make the program he used in California easily accessible to those in need so he moved back to Boston and began Journey Forward. Journey Forward is a non profit organization that is dedicated to bettering the lives of those who have suffered a Spinal Cord Injury through an intense exercise program. Journey Forward’s exercise program is designed to assists those with Spinal Cord Injuries so that they can achieve basic lifelong functions and receive the benefits.

About the Celebrities for Charity Foundation

The Celebrities for Charity Foundation was established in 1997 to assist charities in obtaining celebrity support for their organization fun raising and charitable purposes. It was also established to support celebrities in fulfilling their philanthropic aspirations. CFC is professionally managed by volunteers and provides celebrities with advice, fulfillment services, state of the art technology and a 501 (c) (3) public charity vehicle from which they can conduct their charitable work. Over the past 11 years Celebrities for Charity has donated $2 million of memorabilia and funds to over 1,000 different causes.

Boston Red Sox Pitcher Clay Buchholz Rallies Against Cancer with the Jimmy Fund

Buchholz announced today as fifth spokesplayer for annual fundraiser

BOSTON – Today, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund announced that Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz is the fifth honorary Rally Against Cancer Spokesplayer. He joins the ranks of past Red Sox spokesplayers Jon Lester, Trot Nixon, Dustin Pedroia, and Kevin Youkilis.

Now in its fifth year, Rally Against Cancer encourages Red Sox fans to partner with their companies and schools, as well as their co-workers, classmates, and friends, to each contribute $5 or more to the Jimmy Fund. In exchange, they have the opportunity to wear Red Sox gear to work or school on Rally Day, Tuesday, April 6, when the Sox take on the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The top fundraising company, school (K-12), and college or university are each eligible for a visit from Buchholz, if located within two-hour travel distance from Boston.

In four years, the Rally has raised $1.6 million in support of the fight against cancer at Dana-Farber. This year, the program hopes to raise $600,000. Buchholz will talk about his participation in the Rally at an upcoming press conference during spring training in Fort Myers, FL.

For more information about the Rally, please visit www.rallyagainstcancer.org.

Founded in 1948, the Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, supporting the fight against cancer at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise the chances of survival for children and adults with cancer around the world. Unrestricted support from the Jimmy Fund is an integral part of Mission Possible: The Dana-Farber Campaign to Conquer Cancer, a $1 billion capital campaign to accelerate cancer research, speed development of lifesaving therapies, and expand the Institute’s signature patient and family-centered care.

Ellsbury, Cameron to be Honored with NLBM Legacy Awards

Red Sox outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron will be honored by the Negro League Baseball Museum when the 10th annual Legacy Awards are presented at the Kansas City Convention Center on 30 January 2010.  Ellsbury, who set a new single-season mark for the franchise last season with 70 stolen bases, will receive the Cool Papa Bell Award as the 2009 American League Stolen Bases leader and Cameron, a recent free-agent pickup by Boston, will receive the Pop Lloyd Award in recognition of baseball/community leadership.  Tickets for the event are $150 each, which include a one-year membership to the museum, and can be obtained by calling 816.221.1920.

Ken Burns Seeks Fan Photos for New “Baseball” Episode Focused on 2004 Red Sox

Ken Burns and Florentine Films are working on a new episode of its Baseball documentary series, focusing extensively on the Red Sox’s 2004 season.

To tell this story from the fans’ perspective, we are doing something new for us — we’re combing New England for personal photos taken by fans showing their jubilation in the days following the 2004 victory. …

The types of photos we’re seeking include: scenes of celebration taken in the hours and days after the 2004 World Series win, congratulatory signs posted in homes or businesses, memorabilia left at grave sites of loved ones (there were several reports of this happening throughout New England), and anything else that may be relevant.

If you have anything that might qualify, send it to photos@florentinefilms.com.

The episode is scheduled for broadcast this fall.

(Credit to Allan Wood from The Joy of Sox for this information.)

Fenway Park Readies for Hockey on New Year’s Day

Baseballs, gloves, and bats will soon be traded in for pucks, pads, and sticks as Fenway Park readies to host the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers on New Year’s Day in the third installment of the National Hockey League’s Winter Classic.  Grounds crews have already installed a rink over the Fenway infield and the puck is set to drop 01 January at 1:00 PM.  After the success of last season’s installment at Chicago’s Wrigley Field between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks and the first Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY in 2008, expectations are high in this match-up between two storied NHL franchises being played in the oldest active ballpark in baseball.

In addition, two NCAA college games will be played one week later.  The doubleheader features the first-ever NCAA women’s outdoor game between the University of New Hampshire Wildcats and the Northeastern University Huskies.  The other contest will feature the Boston College Eagles and the Boston University Terriers, the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Men’s Hockey Champions, respectively.

Dom DiMaggio, Former Red Sox Center Fielder, Dies at 92

Dom DiMaggio, a seven-time All-Star Red Sox center fielder who played with the likes of Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, and Bobby Doerr, passed away Friday morning at the age of 92. Known as “the Little Professor” due to his glasses and his small frame, DiMaggio was the youngest of three brothers who played in the Major Leagues, which included Hall of Fame outfielder Joe DiMaggio and Vince DiMaggio. He played eleven seasons in the majors, all with Boston, and like Williams and Pesky missed three years between 1943 and 1945 serving with the US Armed Services during World War II.

While his brother Joe is remembered for a 56-game hitting streak that remains unbroken since 1941, DiMaggio holds a record of his own – a 34-game streak set in 1949 – that still stands as the water mark for Boston. In his career, he batted .298 and finished with 1046 runs scored, 87 home runs, 618 RBI, and an OBP of .383; his best season came in 1950, when he batted .328 and led the league in triples (15), stolen bases (11), and runs scored (131). That same year, on 30 June, he and Joe both homered in the same game playing against each other, only the fourth pair of brothers to accomplish the feat, in a 10-2 win for Boston over New York in the second game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park. In 1946, after returning from active duty, he made his one World Series appearance following Boston’s first pennant in 28 seasons, and batted 7-for-27 with two runs scored and three RBI, including a two-run double that tied the score in the top of the eighth inning of Game Seven of the series. DiMaggio was also part of the inagural class enshrined in the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995, where he again joined his teammates Williams, Pesky, and Doerr.