Hall of Famer Phil Niekro & Atlanta Braves All-Star Javy Lopez Highlight the Hot Stove Banquet
Greg Colbrunn, the hitting coach for the 2013 World Series champion Boston Red Sox, will join this All-Star lineup.
The Hot Stove Banquet is an annual event hosted by the Charleston RiverDogs that brings all baseball fans together to celebrate the magic of
Tom McQueeney State Farm Insurance is the presenting sponsor for the seventh consecutive year. Proceeds from the Hot Stove Banquet benefit The Citadel,
"The Hot Stove Banquet is one of the premiere baseball banquets in the region and in our 10th year, I believe this will be our best one yet," said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols.
The reception begins at 6 pm with the dinner starting at 7 o'clock. Tickets are $65 per person and include dinner, a table gift and autograph or photo opportunity. Tables of eight with preferred seating are available for $550.
Fans will also have the opportunity to bid on an exclusive meet and greet session with both Niekro and Lopez that will be held on January 31 from 4:15-5pm. There will be an opportunity to get autographs and take pictures with the two former Braves, and light food and drink will be provided by Kickin' Chicken. For more information or to bid on the meet and greet, please click here.
Niekro, who was enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, had a 24-year career playing for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays. He was Nicknamed "Knucksie" for his fluttering knuckle ball that helped him achieve an impressive lifetime record of 318-274. Niekro produced a winning percentage significantly higher than the teams for which he pitched.
He twice led the National League in wins and propelled
Lopez played for the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and most notably the Atlanta Braves.
He was a member of the Braves' 1995 World Series team and caught for John Smoltz, Tom
Glavine, Greg Maddux and Steve Avery, also known as the "Young Guns." In 1996 Lopez established himself as the Braves' regular-season catcher and helped
Lopez had his best season in 2003 with a .328 batting average, 43 home runs and 109 RBI in 129 games. He broke Todd Hundley's record for most home runs hit in a season by a catcher (41) which propelled him to win the Silver Slugger Award and a spot on the All-Star Team for the third time. In 2003, Lopez was recognized with the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award. "Javy Lopez is the total package," said former
Colbrunn, the RiverDogs' hitting coach for five seasons and manager for another, played in the Major Leagues for 13 years as a first baseman and pinch-hitter. He played for Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners, and was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks World Series team in 2001. This past year, he served as the hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox and helped lead them to a World Series title. Colbrunn is one of the few in history to have won a World Series ring as a player and a coach.
For tickets and additional information, please contact the RiverDogs at (843) 577-DOGS (3647). Tickets may also be purchased online at www.riverdogs.com or www.rileyparkevents.com.
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Previous Hot Stove Speakers
2012 - Wade Boggs
2011 - John Smoltz
2010 - Bobby Cox
2009 - Dale Murphy
2008 - Gaylord Perry
2007 - Jeff Francoeur
2006 - Tommy John
2005 - Jim Bouton
2004 - Bobby Richardson & John Blanchard