SALISBURY, MD – An appearance from the Orioles’ general manager and a donation to a new Wicomico County project became highlights of the 19th annual Shorebirds Hot Stove Banquet, held on Thursday, January 23, at the Wicomico Civic Center in preparation for the silver anniversary season of Delmarva Shorebirds baseball.
The keynote speaker for the event was Mike Elias, general manager and executive vice president of the Baltimore Orioles. Elias, who last visited Salisbury for the Shorebirds’ playoff game on September 6, took questions from the audience and spoke at length about the importance of Delmarva and Baltimore’s other minor league affiliates in reversing the Orioles’ major league fortunes in the coming years.
“Some of the names we’ve been reading about are going to start to arrive in Camden Yards,” said Elias. “It’s still about player development and those individual performances and not necessarily the team’s win-and-loss record. Those guys are taking steps forward, graduating to the big leagues and adjusting to big-league life.”
Elias also paid one last homage to the 2019 Shorebirds, who won a franchise-record 90 games en route to a South Atlantic League postseason berth and earned MiLB.com Minor League Team of the Year honors. Delmarva was one of four Orioles affilates who either made the playoffs (Bowie), contended until the season’s final day (Aberdeen), or finished with their league’s best record (Gulf Coast League Orioles).
“It’s exactly what you want to see, especially when you’re in a rebuild,” said Elias. “We’re focused on that type of success. The success of teams like the Shorebirds is really going to dictate what we do the next couple of years in Baltimore.”
Before Elias’ keynote address, the Civic Center crowd of almost 300 heard from several other speakers, including Shorebirds General Manager Chris Bitters and 7th Inning Stretch LP President Pat Filippone. Orioles Director of Minor League Operations Kent Qualls was also scheduled to speak but was unable to attend due to unscheduled business.
Bitters announced during his presentation that the Shorebirds were donating $25,000 to Field 7 ½, a new initiative from the Wicomico County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism designed to provide individuals with physical or mental disabilities the opportunity to play baseball. Bitters presented a ceremonial check on-stage to Department Director Steve Miller.
In addition to the Field 7 ½ donation, the Shorebirds held a silent auction and raffle in order to raise funds for two other charitable partners. The auction and raffle brought in nearly $3,000 for the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, partner of the Shorebirds Fly Together Fund, and the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore.
The Shorebirds also presented hardware to their 2019 Fan of the Year, longtime season ticket holder and player host family mom Vicki Parks. Caroline Beauchamp, Shorebirds head groundskeeper, was named Employee of the Year by the Delmarva Shorebirds Fan Club.
The night served as the downbeat for the 25th season of Delmarva Shorebirds baseball, set to begin on Thursday, April 9, against the Asheville Tourists at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Season tickets are now on sale and single-game tickets will be unveiled week-by-week for online purchase in the coming weeks.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
WORCESTER, MA – As promised in the Community Benefits Agreement with the City of Worcester and the Worcester Community Labor Coalition, the Worcester Red Sox today announced the creation of the “WooSox Foundation” to benefit the people and the charities of the city, the region, and the Commonwealth.
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Houston Astros, announced today their heightened partnership with Blanton’s Air, Plumbing, & Electric heading into the upcoming 2020 season. The new agreement includes two pivotal aspects that current and future Woodpeckers fans will enjoy, while promoting the level of dedication to community involvement that fans have come to expect from their hometown baseball team.
COLUMBIA, S.C.- The Columbia Fireflies are seeking nominations for local military personnel, including those actively deployed, reservists and veterans, to be featured in their fourth annual Military Hero Baseball Card Set Giveaway presented by AllSouth Federal Credit Union. The card sets will be given away at a Fireflies game on Friday, April 10 to the first 1,000 fans in attendance.
SOUTH BEND, IN – Auditions and applications are now being accepted for individuals and groups to perform the National Anthem at Four Winds Field prior to a 2020 South Bend Cubs home game.
The Rochester Red Wings are in search of highly-motivated and customer-oriented game day employees for the upcoming 2020 baseball season. The annual job fair will take place on the suite level of Frontier Field on Saturday, February 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Singers of all ages welcome to audition at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on Saturday, February 15th at 9 AM
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are looking for you to join their team! The Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers will host a Job Fair for prospective game day employees for the 2020 season on Monday, February 24 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. The event will be held in the Fox Communities Credit Union Fox Club at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
JACKSON, TN – The Jackson Generals are in search of seasonal employs for the 2020 season and are hosting a pair of job fairs on Saturday, February 22nd and Saturday, March 7th at The Ballpark at Jackson from 10 am -3 pm. We are looking for hardworking individuals that love spending time at a ball game while providing exceptional customer service and family entertainment.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Jan. 28, 2020) – Three local companies will be searching for new employees at a community Job Fair at BB&T Ballpark on Saturday, February 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rhino Sports & Entertainment Services, Legends Hospitality Management, and the Winston-Salem Dash are looking to add to their teams.
IronPigs Charities, the philanthropic branch of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, announced the 20 recipients of the 2020 Community Grants. Grants, which totaled $53,400, were provided to the following organizations in support of educational and recreational programs for youth in the Greater Lehigh Valley, especially those in underserved populations or those who are differently abled. IronPigs Charities has donated $1,081,329 since 2007.
Boys & Girls Club of Allentown
The Salvation Army
The Quad Cities River Bandits are looking for dedicated, hardworking people to assist during the 2020 season. These positions are paid and capped at 40 hours per week! Come get experience in the sports industry at “The Friendliest Ballpark in America.”
CORPUS CHRISTI – The full slate of games at Whataburger Field featuring high school baseball teams from the Coastal Bend region was announced Monday.
ROUND ROCK, Texas – Have you dreamed of working at Dell Diamond? The Round Rock Express, RS3 Strategic Hospitality and RS3 Turf are hiring gameday and concessions staff for the upcoming 2020 season! The organizations will host a job fair on Saturday, February 15 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. inside the United Heritage Center at Dell Diamond.
PEARL, MS – Visit Trustmark Park’s Farm Bureau Grill, Saturday, Feb. 15, from 10 am to 3 pm for the M-Braves’ 2020 Job Fair. M-Braves staff members will conduct open interviews on a first-come, first-serve basis for seasonal, part-time positions.