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Strawberry to Hit Cleanup at Hot Stove

Iconic Slugger Added to Lineup of Celebrity Guests
January 14, 2011
RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Flying Squirrels have announced the addition of eight-time MLB All-Star Darryl Strawberry to the lineup of celebrities slated to attend their Inaugural Hot Stove Banquet at the Richmond Marriott Downtown on January 28th. Strawberry, the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year, joins seven-time All-Star Billy Wagner, legendary pitcher Tommy John, San Francisco Giants' reliever Javier Lopez, former Richmond Virginian Eddie Kasko, the entire 2011 Flying Squirrels' Field Staff and Minor League Baseball President Pat O'Conner as celebrities that will be on hand for the banquet.

"The banquet already boasted an impressive pitching staff, but we felt like we needed a big bat in the middle of the lineup," joked Flying Squirrels' Vice President & COO Todd "Parney" Parnell. "Darryl has really placed an emphasis on aiding others following his playing career, and we are eager for our fans to hear his truly unique story."

Tickets for the Flying Squirrels Inaugural Hot Stove Banquet are currently available and can be purchased by calling the Flying Squirrels at (804) 359-FUNN (3866) or by visiting the Flying Squirrels' Ticket Office at The Diamond. Tickets are available to Flying Squirrels' season ticket and mini-plan holders for $75.00, and to non-package holders for $100.00. Fans that wish to purchase a ticket package and include the Hot Stove Banquet will receive the discounted rate. Sponsorship opportunities for the Hot Stove Banquet, including table sponsorship are also available.

Strawberry's 17-year playing career included his Rookie of the Year award in 1983, eight consecutive All-Star selections (1984, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91) and four World Series Championships (1986, '96, '98, '99). He also won the National League Silver Slugger Award twice (1988, '90), and was the co-champion of the 1986 All-Star Game Home Run Derby. He finished his career with 335 home runs and 1,000 RBIs. He was best known for his years with the New York Mets (1983-1990) and New York Yankees (1995-1999), but also spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1991-1993) and Giants (1994).

In 2006, Strawberry and his wife Tracy founded the Darryl Strawberry Foundation, an organization dedicated to children with autism. Their mission: To ensure quality of life for individuals affected by autism through the development of programs that focus on special education, socialization, and independent skills training in a structured learning and caring environment. For more information on the Darryl Strawberry Foundation, please visit www.darrylstrawberry.com

Strawberry is currently an analyst for SNY and in 2009 published "Straw: Finding My Way." The memoir covers his meteoric rise in the game of baseball and also his well-chronicled off the field battle with drug use throughout and following his career.

Season tickets and mini-plan packages for the 2011 season are also currently available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (804) 359-FUNN (3866), visit the Flying Squirrels' ticket office at The Diamond or log on to SquirrelsBaseball.com.