The Lowell Spinners, Class-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, will welcome Red Sox star and 2001 Spinner Kevin Youkilis back to Lowell for the Eighth Annual Lowell Spinners Alumni Dinner Tuesday, Dec. 29 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in downtown Lowell to raise money for the Joann Weber Charitable Fund.
The highlight of the Spinners offseason, the evening will begin at 5:30 with an autograph session and silent auction before dinner, provided by Outback Steakhouse. The dinner debuts this year at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium for the first time after many years at the DoubleTree Hotel.
The still growing guest list is highlighted by Red Sox All-Star infielder Kevin Youkilis, making his return to the Merrimack Valley to be honored as the Dick Berardino Lowell Spinners Alumni Award winner.
The award, named after the former Red Sox coach, instructor, and Spinners manager, is given annually to a Lowell Spinners alumnus who has displayed tremendous coachability, dedication, a passionate work ethic, determination, and the heart to make it to the Major League level.
Youkilis has been one of the most successful former Spinners at the Major League level, continuing the success he found in Lowell where he reached base in every game he wore a Spinners uniform.
A two-time World Champion, two-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, member of Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and 2008 Hank Aaron Award winner, Youkilis has a full resume at the age of 30.
The evening will also feature several former Spinners: Jeff Natale, a 2005 Lowell Spinner and Trinity (Conn.) College alumni; 2001 Lowell Spinner and Youkilis teammate, Dan Generelli; 2005 Lowell Spinners catcher and current head baseball coach of Elms College Mike Leonard; and 1999 Lowell Spinners pitcher Cory Spencer.
Local baseball legends set to attend include: former Spinners manager and Red Sox third base coach Dick Berardino; former Red Sox pitcher Bill Monboquette; and NESN Red Sox post game host Tom Caron.
More guests are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The dinner will also feature the presentation of the Peter Gammons Lowell Spinners Media Award to 980 WCAP's Teddy Panos and the first ever Greg Montalbano Award, given to a local baseball ambassador who has gone above and beyond being a leader in the community and in the game of baseball. Montalbano, a guest at the Spinners 2008 Dinner and a former Spinner himself, passed away in August after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.
The 2009 award winner will be Patrick Mason, currently an assistant coach at Northeastern, who served as Montalbano's catcher during his tenure at Northeastern.
Serving as special guest emcee is local comedian Dave Rattigan.
There will also be a silent and live auction. The silent auction will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the program to follow.
A very limited amount of tickets were recently made available and can be purchased for $55.00, which includes a dinner and autograph session from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m by calling 978-459-2255. Tables of 10 are also available. All tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available the date of the dinner. Please note Kevin Youkilis will not be signing autographs during the autograph session.
For more information, contact Jon Boswell at jboswell@lowellspinners.com or by phone at 978-805-5117. If you are a media member that would like to cover the Lowell Spinners Alumni Dinner, please contact Jon Boswell at jboswell@lowellspinners.com.
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