Former Red Sox Outfielder Dwight Evans to Serve as Hot Stove Banquet Speaker
Evans spent nineteen of his twenty Major League Seasons in a Boston uniform compiling a .272 career batting average with 2,446 hits, 385 homeruns, and 1,384 RBIs. In 2000, Evans was voted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame. Evans currently serves as a player development consultant with Boston.
"2011 is the third consecutive year the Hot Stove Banquet will feature a Red Sox outfield legend," said Salem Red Sox General Manager Todd Stephenson. "We are honored to have another speaker this year that has meant so much to Red Sox fans for decades."
Evans, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-around outfielders in Boston Red Sox history, won 8 Gold Glove awards (most in Boston history), was a 3-time All-Star and a valuable member of Red Sox teams that won American League East titles (1975, 1986, 1988,1990) and American League pennants (1975, 1986). Over the period from 1981-1990, the outfielder's 251 homeruns were the most in the American League and his 605 extra-base hits were most in the Major Leagues.
Evans will serve as the keynote speaker for the 3rd Annual Hot Stove Banquet to benefit the West End Center on Thursday, February 10 at the Salem Civic Center. The evening will include a reception, silent and live auction, dinner and a keynote address by the Red Sox legend.
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. 2011 will be the second year the scholarship is awarded to one local area high school or college game day employee.
Thanks to community support over the past two years, the Salem Red Sox have been able to raise over $10,000 for Children's Miracle Network and YMCA Roanoke Valley, CHIP, and Mike Smith Scholarship Fund.
Tickets for the Hot Stove Banquet will go on sale January 3rd, 2010. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased by calling the Salem Red Sox at (540) 389-3333 or online at www.salemsox.com. Sponsorship possibilities are still available for this community fundraising event, contact Jeanne at (540) 389-3333 for more information. This event is presented by The Creekmore Law Firm with support from WFIR and K92 radio.
ABOUT THE WEST END CENTER
West End Center has been transforming the lives of Roanoke's most disadvantaged children for thirty-one years through after school and summer programs that encourage youth to stay focused on positive life directions, good decision making, and academic achievement. In addition, the safe environment provided allows parents to work as productive citizens of the community. Over 2,000 children have benefited from the Center's programs since 1979. Currently, more than 150 children participate annually. West End Center students graduate from high school at the rate of 83% compared to Roanoke City's 67% graduation rate. West End Center's pregnancy prevention program has a 99.3% success rate.
ABOUT THE CREEKMORE LAW FIRM
Located in Blacksburg, The Creekmore Law Firm provides general business counseling and litigation, with a heavy emphasis on intellectual property counseling and litigation to clients ranging from small start ups to public Fortune 500 and larger clients nationally. For more information, visit www.creekmorelaw.com.
ABOUT THE SALEM RED SOX
The Salem Red Sox, a subsidiary of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), is a professional minor league baseball team and a member of the Carolina League. Salem plays its home games at Lewis-Gale Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark. The ballpark opened in August 1995, and has hosted more than 3 million fans since the stadium's inaugural game. With 12 skyboxes, a stadium club and multiple picnic areas, Lewis-Gale Field is one of the premier facilities in the Carolina League. For more information, visit www.salemsox.com or call 540-389-3333.
ABOUT FENWAY SPORTS GROUP
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of New England Sports Ventures (NESV). In addition to Fenway Sports Group, NESV owns the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, and 80 percent of New England Sports Network. A premier sports management organization headquartered in Boston, FSG specializes in representation, sponsorship sales, event marketing and strategic marketing consulting for corporations who conduct business in sports and entertainment. For more information, visit www.fenwaysportsgroup.com.
CONTACT:
Salem Red Sox, Jeanne Boester, 540-389-3333, [email protected]