(from press release)

The Salem (Va.) Red Sox, the Carolina League Advanced Class-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, will be hosting Pink in the Park Weekend from today through Sunday, May 10. The Salem Red Sox will be collaborating with Susan G. Komen for the Cure throughout the weekend. Pink in the Park Weekend will span four games and include free pink ribbons for fans at each game, as well as pink baseball and T-Shirt giveaways. Pink in the Park Weekend is presented by Kroger.

Limited-edition Salem Red Sox pink t-shirts will be available for sale in the souvenir store all weekend, with proceeds benefiting the Komen Greater Roanoke Affiliate. The Salem Red Sox will wear pink jerseys during Saturday’s game to heighten breast cancer awareness, and the bases at Lewis-Gale Field will bear pink ribbons. A silent auction featuring the jerseys and the bases will be held during Saturday’s game, and winning bidders will have their jerseys autographed on the field immediately following the game on Saturday.

The Salem Red Sox will kick off the weekend with a pink T-Shirt giveaway to the first 1,000 adults that enter the gates on Thursday through a partnership with Save 2nd Base, followed by a pink baseball giveaway for the first 1,000 fans on Friday, compliments of StellarOne. On Saturday, the Salem Red Sox will wear pink uniforms, compliments of Fast Signs. All proceeds from the Pink Jersey auction will benefit the Komen Greater Roanoke Affiliate.

Also on Saturday, the Salem Sox introduce Baseball 101 for Women from 9:00AM – 12:30PM. The event will include a tour of Lewis-Gale Field, instruction in the clubhouse, hitting, pitching, and fielding clinics, as well as a question and answer session with Salem field manager Chad Epperson and players Mike Jones and Matt Sheely. Baseball 101 for Women also features a lunch with special guest speaker, Dr. Robert Williams, President of the Komen Greater Roanoke Affiliate. The Salem Red Sox will donate 25% of the proceeds of Baseball 101 for Women to the Komen Greater Roanoke Affiliate. All participants will receive a t-shirt, lunch and a Reserved Seat ticket for the May 9th Salem Red Sox game.

On Sunday May 10th, the Salem Red Sox will welcome an honorary Manager. In honor of Mother’s Day, fans can nominate a mom, friend, or daughter, indicating why the Salem Sox should recognize that person as honorary Manager on Mother’s Day. All stories must be submitted by Thursday, May 7th, and all proposals must be entered on behalf of individuals that are 18 years of age or older. Interested parties may submit stories to Jeanne Boester at jboester@salemsox.com.

The Salem Red Sox will also introduce a new Mother’s Day tradition: Bombs for Moms. If a Salem Sox slugger swats a home run during Sunday’s game, all fans will receive a free ticket valid for a designated future home game. Throughout the homestand, fans will also have the opportunity to record a special message to their own Mom to be played on the videoboard on Mother’s Day.

For any additional questions about Pink in the Park Weekend, contact the Salem Red Sox at (540) 389-3333, or visit our website at www.salemsox.com.

(from press release)

The Ogden Raptors, Pioneer League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, announced a new partnership with McDonald’s and Comcast for the 2009 season.

To celebrate the partnership, the Raptors are releasing 1,000,000 free General Admission tickets to the public.

These tickets can be picked up at any McDonald’s restaurants from Centerville, Utah, to Brigham City, Utah. Each ticket’s reverse side details the 34 of 38 Raptors home games that the free tickets are valid for. There is no purchase necessary, and you may pick up as many as 30 tickets at a time.

“We understand that many families will face difficult choices when it comes to their summer time entertainment,” said Raptors President Dave Baggott. “We want these families to cross us off their list as we have you covered. We could never do this type of program if it wasn’t for the participation of the great folks at McDonalds. We hope you buy something when you visit them to pick up your free tickets.”

Additionally, fans can upgrade their free General Admission tickets to Reserved Box seats for only $5.00 ($10.00 ticket). When you do, you will automatically receive a $2.50 food voucher to spend in the park that night.

The Raptors Ticket Office, located at 2330 Lincoln Avenue in Downtown Ogden will open Monday May 4 at 9:00 AM for daily game sales. Opening Night is slated for Tuesday June 23 at 7:00 PM vs the dreaded Orem Owlz. For more Information, call (801) 393-2450.

(from press release)

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will welcome educational ambassador Ron Bolin to the Hall of Fame to debut his new educational program on the Black Sox scandal at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 2, 2009.

Bolin’s programs use artifacts, audience participation and lively role play to create an engaging and educational experience for Museum visitors. The program will take place in the Education Gallery and is included in the price of admission. Seating for the program — which is a part of the Museum’s ongoing Baseball Wisdom series — is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bolin will appear in a 1919 White Sox home uniform and period catcher’s gear while educating the audience about the Black Sox. The program will last about 45 minutes and will include a question-and-answer session.

The 1919 Chicago White Sox earned the name “Black Sox” after eight players were banned from baseball for life for throwing the World Series. The players, including former .400 hitter Shoeless Joe Jackson, were accused of intentionally losing the Fall Classic to the Cincinnati Reds.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week. The Museum observes offseason hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from the day after Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. Ticket prices are $16.50 for adults (13 and over), $11 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $6 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. For more information, call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.

(from press release)

The Mississippi Braves, 2008 champions of the Double-A Southern League, will host this year’s Atlanta Braves tryout camp at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi, on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at 10:00 AM.

The camp will be under the direction of Scout-Area Supervisor Don Thomas and will be free of charge.

Players must be between 16 and 22 years of age to participate and are expected to furnish their own cleats, gloves, and uniforms. The Braves will provide the other necessary equipment.

American Legion players must have written permission from their coach.

For further information, contact the Mississippi Braves at 601-932-8788.

Eddie Collins (born May 2, 1887)
Eppa Rixey (born May 3, 1891)
Red Ruffing (born May 3, 1905)
Chief Bender (born May 5, 1884)
Willie Mays (born May 6, 1931)
Dick Williams (born May 7, 1929)
Dan Brouthers (born May 8, 1858)
Edd Roush (born May 8, 1893)
Turkey Stearnes (born May 8, 1901)
Tony Gwynn (born May 9, 1960)
Ed Barrow (born May 10, 1868)
Charlie Gehringer (born May 11, 1903)
Nestor Chylak (born May 11, 1922)
Yogi Berra (born May 12, 1925)
J.L. Wilkinson (born May 14, 1878)
Ed Walsh (born May 14, 1881)
Alex Pompez (born May 14, 1890)
Earle Combs (born May 14, 1899)
Tony Perez (born May 14, 1942)
George Brett (born May 15, 1953)
Cool Papa Bell (born May 17, 1903)
Brooks Robinson (born May 18, 1937)
Reggie Jackson (born May 18, 1946)
Hal Newhouser (born May 20, 1921)
Earl Averill (born May 21, 1902)
Al Simmons (born May 22, 1902)
Zack Wheat (born May 23, 1888)
Martin Dihigo (born May 25, 1905)
Warren Giles (born May 28, 1896)
Amos Rusie (born May 30, 1871)