Press Release:

GOVERNORS’ CUP TROPHIES TO BE ON DISPLAY AT HOT STOVE

Hall of Fame President Idelson, International League President Mobley on guest list

Syracuse, NY—The Syracuse Chiefs, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, are pleased to announce that both the original and current Governors’ Cup trophies will be on display at the team’s 50th Annual Hot Stove Dinner and Silent Auction next Friday, January 21.The original Governors’ Cup was created in 1933 to be given annually to the International League’s playoff champion. It was retired following the 1987 season and given a permanent home in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The version of the Governors’ Cup that is currently in circulation was first awarded in 1988 and has been presented to the League champion in every season since. The trophy presently resides in Columbus, Ohio as a result of the Clippers’ championship series victory over the Durham Bulls this past season.

The original cup will be personally escorted to Syracuse by Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson, who has been added to the list of dignitaries at the Hot Stove’s head table. International League President Randy Mobley has also been added to a guest list that already included Washington Nationals Executive VP and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Manager Jim Riggleman.

“We are grateful to the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Columbus Clippers for allowing us to borrow the original and current Governors’ Cups for our Hot Stove,” said Chiefs President Ron Gersbacher. “Our theme for this year’s dinner is ‘The Quest Begins Now’ and there is no better way to signify the beginning of that quest than with the presence of the trophy our team will be chasing this season. We know our fans will appreciate seeing the trophies up close and we are also very excited to add such distinguished guests as Jeff Idelson and Randy Mobley to our event.”

The Syracuse franchise has captured the second-most Governors’ Cups in the history of the IL, taking home the trophy following the 1935, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1954, 1969, 1970, and 1976 seasons.

The Hot Stove will take place at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Liverpool. The silent auction and cocktail hour will get underway at 5:30pm with the dinner program set to start at 7:00pm.

Tickets for the event are $55 for adults and $25 for children 12 and younger or $500 for a table of ten. Fans may purchase tickets in person at the Chiefs ticket office at Alliance Bank Stadium or by calling 315-474-7833 during normal business hours, Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm.

The Harrisburg Senators’ are hosting their First Annual Hot Stove Dinner to discuss the upcoming 2011 season on Saturday, January 22, at the National Civil War Museum.  The Senators are the Double-A Affiliate for the Washington Nationals.

Several special guest speakers are committed to attend. New Senators manager Tony Beasley will be present, as well as Washington Nationals skipper Jim Riggleman. Also attending are Nationals’ Director of Player Development, Doug Harris, and David James from MLB, representing the RBI program. Former Sens players Erik Arnesen, Adam Fox and Steve Lombardozzi will also be on hand. Fans have the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with both Beasley and Riggleman.

The event starts with a cocktail hour at 6:00 pm, and dinner following at 7:00pm. Beasley, Riggleman, Harris, and James will address the fans following dinner.

Fans can participate in a live and silent auction, as well as a raffle to benefit the RBI program, featuring several sports memorabilia items including:

• Autographed sports items signed by Hall-of-Famers Cal Ripken Jr., Bob Feller, Brooks Robinson, and Gaylord Perry
• Autographed baseball by former Senators, and current Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg
• Autographed scale stock cars by Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, and Kyle Busch
• Autographed photo of Pittsburgh Steelers Troy Polamalu

Tickets for the event are $55 per person, or $500 for a table of ten. The price includes a buffet-style dinner with chicken, pork, and vegetarian pasta, along with the question and answer session. Fans can purchase tickets through the Senators website at http://www.senatorsbaseball.com/, or by contacting Emily Winslow at (717) 231-4444 ext. 109. The last day to purchase tickets is Monday, January 17th, as no tickets will be sold at the door.

All proceeds benefit the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program. The RBI Program gives boys and girls a chance to participate in baseball and softball, while increasing interest in the game and encouraging academic participation and achievement. The organization teaches the value of teamwork and encourages academic participation and achievement. Beginning in 1989, RBI has helped over 100,000 children, in over 200 cities worldwide. Through 2009, MLB clubs have drafted 170 of those RBI participants.

Hot Stove Dinner presented by KPMG and home run sponsor Ollie’s Bargain Outlet.

The Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman will be chatting live with fans on Friday, Jan. 29 at 11:00 a.m. ET to field questions from fans.  Possible discussions could be the Nationals' recent signings, winter meetings, Winter Caravan and Natsfest and other Hot Stove topics for the off-season.  The chatroom will open at 10:00 a.m. ET for you to pre-submit your questions.

If you don't already have an mlb.com account, register here for one now to be a Nationals Insider (required for chat and free).

There was a good size crowd at the Hard Times Cafe in Arlington for the first day of the Nats Winter Caravan. 

Manager Jim Riggleman and MASN Analyst Rob Dibble each addressed the fans with positive messages about the upcoming season.  Pitcher Ryan Speier and Prospects Danny Espinosa and Drew Storen joined Riggleman and Dibble at a long table to sign autographs and answer questions. 

I was a little shocked to see Danny Espinosa wearing a Number Three jersey and confirmed with him that Catcher Jesus Flores was indeed still wearing number three.  If given the option, Espinosa would like to wear Number Eight.

Ryan Speier is a local guy, however, all of the others have been living in Florida or California in the off-season. They seemed a little uneasy about snow in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.  Screech and the Nat Mobile also participated in the festivities. 

Here are a few photos from the Hard Times Cafe event on January 27, 2010:

Dibble addressing fans

Fans were happy to get autographs

Manager Jim Riggleman

MASN Analyst Rob Dibble

Pitcher Drew Storen

Pitcher Ryan Speier

Shortstop Danny Espinosa

Screech

The Nats with the Hard Times Cafe Folks