BELOIT, WI - One of the most popular aspects of the Beloit Snappers Annual Hot Stove Banquet has always been the silent auction. Those in attendance get the chance to bid on memorabilia and services provided by businesses and sports teams from around the country. On February 5th, the Snappers are holding their 9th Annual Hot Stove Banquet at the Eclipse Center in Beloit. Not only will the silent auction once again be an integral part of the event, the evening will also include, for the first time, a live auction. This new wrinkle will add an exciting element to this year's banquet, which is only enhanced by the fantastic collection of items that will be available for fans to bid on.

Over the course of the last month, the Snappers have been receiving donations for the auction, courtesy of many generous organizations. The services that will be available include two free wine tastings from Wines for Humanity and a free manicure/pedicure from First Class Cosmetology School. There will also be an extensive collection of sports memorabilia up for grabs, including many autographed items. A baseball signed by Hall of Fame pitcher Goose Gossage provided by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, an autographed Justin Morneau ball contributed by the Minnesota Twins and a Jason Heyward autograph sent in by the Gwinnett Braves are just a few of the plethora of valuables that will be there for the taking. All those who attend the hot stove banquet will be eligible to bid in both auctions.

Tickets for the banquet are $40 per person and are currently on sale. Each ticket includes dinner, two box seat ticket vouchers to any April Snappers home game in 2013 and the program for the evening. Tables of eight are also available for $300 ($37.50 apiece). Tickets can be purchased by calling the Snappers offices at 608-362-2272 or by dropping by Pohlman Field at 2301 Skyline Drive in Beloit. Tickets to both the dinner and the program are non-refundable.

The Eclipse Center is located at 1701 Riverside Drive. The doors for the event will open at 5:15pm for the silent auction and social hour. Dinner will begin at 6:30pm and the program is scheduled to start at approximately 7:15pm.

The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and are a Class-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Opening Day at Pohlman Field is set for April 11, 2013 at 6:30pm, when the Snappers face the Burlington Bees, the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. For ticket information, contact the Snappers office at 608-362-2272 or visit our website at www.snappersbaseball.com.