Pete Rose Headlines Chiefs' 2016 Hot Stove Dinner

The Syracuse Chiefs are thrilled to announce the details for the 2016 Hot Stove Dinner & Charity Fundraiser. All-time major-league hit leader Pete Rose will appear at the annual dinner, speaking during the event and holding a VIP Autograph Session beforehand. Former Baldwinsville standout and National League All-Star Jason Grilli, Chiefs manager Billy Gardner, Jr. and members of the Washington Nationals' front office, among others, will also attend the event. Fans can also bid on memorabilia, baseball-related and otherwise, from 4:45 to 8 p.m. during the annual Silent Auction.

The 2016 Hot Stove Dinner will take place on Friday, January 22nd at the OnCenter Convention Center in downtown Syracuse. Doors will open at 4:45, with events scheduled throughout the night until after 9 p.m.

"Last year, the Hot Stove set records and exceeded our wildest dreams," said Chiefs general manager Jason Smorol. "This year, we're going to even exceed those! We have one of the best baseball players of all-time and one of the best storytellers of all-time in Pete Rose, one of Syracuse's favorite sons in Jason Grilli and so much more to come! Is it January 22nd yet?"

The 2016 Hot Stove Dinner will be headlined by Rose, the all-time major-league leader in hits (4,256) and games played, who compiled 17 All-Star appearances and an MVP award in his 24-year major-league career. Rose will sign autographs, take pictures and greet fans at a special VIP session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. This session is limited to the first 50 individuals who sign up. Rose will also speak and tell stories from his major-league career during the dinner portion of the evening.

Other currently-confirmed guests include Grilli, Gardner, Nationals assistant general manager Doug Harris and Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba. Gardner, the 2014 International League Manager of the Year, who returns for his third year in Syracuse, Harris and Scialabba are scheduled to participate in a sit-down group discussion during the dinner. Grilli, a former Syracuse native currently pitching for the Atlanta Braves and son of Syracuse Baseball Wall of Famer Steve Grilli, will also speak during the night. Future guests may be announced leading up to the event.

This year's Silent Auction will start at the opening of the Hot Stove event at 4:45 and run until 8 p.m. A cash bar will also begin at 4:45 and run throughout the night. A sit-down dinner will be served beginning at 7 p.m., with guest speakers to follow from 7:30 on.

The 2016 Hot Stove Dinner raises funds directly for the Syracuse Chiefs Charitable Foundation, which in turn puts those funds to use in our community. 501C3 organizations that will benefit from this year's dinner include Challenger Baseball, Special Olympics of Onondaga County, RBI Baseball and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central New York.

Tickets to the 2016 Hot Stove Dinner are $65 per adult and $30 per child (12 and under). Admission to the event and a full dinner are included in the cost. Groups can purchase discounted-rate tickets for a table of eight ($495) or a table of 10 ($625).

In addition, 50 VIP tickets are available for an Autograph and Meet & Greet Session with Pete Rose. VIP tickets can be purchased for $200 apiece, in addition to the cost of a regular ticket for admission.

Tickets are on sale now at the Chiefs' ticket office. To purchase, fans can call the office at 315-474-7833, fill out the order form found below, or stop by the NBT Bank Stadium front office during regular business hours. The Chiefs also welcome anyone interested in sponsorship opportunities for the event. Please contact the office at 474-7833 to connect to Julie Cardinali, the team's Manager of Corporate Sales.