USA – Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry will be the featured speaker at the 5th Annual Hot Stove Banquet & Silent Auction on January 30 at Mark Clark Hall on The Citadel campus.

The event is being sponsored for a second year by Tommy McQueeney State Farm Insurance Company located at the Towne Center next to Lowe’s.

The Hot Stove Banquet is an annual collaboration between the Charleston RiverDogs and The Citadel to whet the appetite of Charleston area baseball fans. In addition to the banquet, a silent auction will be held with proceeds going to The Citadel Foundation and to MUSC’s Storm Eye Institute, the RiverDogs’ primary charity.

Also in attendance will be former Citadel baseball standouts.

“The Hot Stove Banquet is designed to get Lowcountry fans excited about the upcoming baseball season, and we believe that pitching legend Gaylord Perry will help do that,” said RiverDogs general manager Dave Echols. “Gaylord has thousands of great stories from his 22 years in Major League Baseball that will certainly entertain everyone.”

“Last year’s event that featured Atlanta Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur was outstanding, and we’re extremely excited about the 2009 banquet,” said Citadel head baseball coach Fred Jordan. “It is great to have this event as we’re all gearing up for our respective baseball seasons.”

Perry, a native of Williamston, NC, spent 22 seasons in the Major Leagues and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. While playing for the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals, Perry was notorious for (allegedly) doctoring baseballs.

Perry won 314 games, was a five-time All-Star and was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in each league, claiming it in 1972 with the Indians and in 1978 with the Padres. He is also distinguished, along with his brother Jim, for being the second-winningest brother combination in baseball history — second only to the knuckleballing Niekro brothers, Phil and Joe. While pitching for the Mariners in 1982, Perry defeated the Yankees to become the 15th member of the 300 win club for pitchers.

Previous speakers for the Hot Stove Banquets included former New York Yankees Bobby Richardson and John Blanchard, Jim Bouton and Tommy John, and Francoeur.

The reception and auction begin at 6 p.m. with the dinner to start at 7:30. Tickets are $65 per person which includes dinner, beverages and admission to the auction. Tables that seat eight individuals are available for $500.

For individual tickets and additional information, please contact the RiverDogs at (843) 723-7241. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.riverdogs.com.

Media Release: Charleston RiverDogs

Tags: USA