Brian Walton
January 12, 2005
Rocking with the Enemy…for a Good Cause
By Brian Walton
When a Beantown buddy of mine told me he had an extra ticket for a long sold-out rock concert on Sunday at a club in Boston, I barely feigned interest. He went on to explain the event included a baseball-themed benefit auction and was being held at an intimate 500-capacity hall where, in the past, bands like U2, The Police and Van Halen appeared. Still, he didn’t get a bite, even though I like rock-‘n-roll almost as much as baseball.
However, the lay of the land changed dramatically when he revealed that the show was none other than Hot Stove, Cool Music, the fifth annual charity event organized by ESPN’s Peter Gammons. The beneficiary of 100% of the proceeds is
The Jimmy Fund, founded back in 1948 to support the fight against cancer through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
That was all I needed to know. Whether or not it was right for a Cardinal backer to wade into the middle of Red Sox Nation, I was in.
Musical performers, baseball fans all, included The Gentlemen, Kay Hanley, Bill Janovitz and Crown Victoria, Dropkick Murphy, Majorette, Theo Epstein and Buffalo Tom plus Peter Gammons and the Hot Stove All-Stars. While some of those names may not be familiar outside the Boston music scene, there was a lot of talent in the house. Every one was cheered enthusiastically by the packed crowd. For the All-Star blues jam finale, Little Feat guitarist Paul Barrere joined Gammons and the rest.
From the MLB community, in addition to Gammons and Red Sox general manager Epstein, players Johnny Damon, Todd Walker, Casey Fossum and Tim Wakefield made appearances at last year’s event. This year, none other than Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo performed with his band, as did Sox player Lenny DiNardo. I was not the only one surprised by Arroyo’s strong voice. The many ladies in attendance seemed to go for his good looks, too. Gone is the corn-row look of 2004.
There were many items available at auction; both goods and events like recording sessions, fishing trips and luxury boxes at Red Sox games. The highest selling item of the night was the chance to sit with Epstein during an upcoming game. In fact, when the bidding between two determined buyers climbed over $15,000, Theo decided to let each of them win. They topped out at $22,000 and $21,000, respectively. One winner was the producer of TVs “This Old House”. When the other winner was asked where she came up with the cash, she loudly and proudly proclaimed that her divorce became final last week. It elicited the loudest reaction on what was a night full of cheer.
Interestingly enough, the chance to join Sox principal owner John Henry during a game went for “just” $5700. There is no doubt as to the identity of the King of the Red Sox Nation. On this night, the “market” valued the wunderkind GM at four times that of the team owner.
One of the items in the silent auction that interested me was a jersey signed by Scott Rolen, who Gammons singled out for his gracious contribution, but its price quickly spiraled out of my comfort range. For $25, one could pose with actual the World Series trophy, brought in by the Red Sox just for the occasion. While I truly expect to see the 2005 version to soon reside near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, I did take advantage of the photo op, anyway. I did the same thing with the host of the evening, though unfortunately there was no time to talk baseball.
Gammons was both in his glory and in his element at the event. As if there was ever any doubt, through his remarks and actions, Gammons reiterated the reality that he is a Bostonian through and through. Not that I am against that, as we all have favorites. Like so many in Red Sox Nation, to him, the removal of the curse was a blessed event. They deserved the party.
Gammons emceed with co-host, comedian Mike O’Malley, who had one of the most fitting lines of the night, when he observed that his strength was playing overweight lugs who don’t want to grow up – namely himself.
Epstein was very much in evidence throughout the evening, appearing very much like an average 30-year-old guy in a beard, tight-fitting and low-slung Patriots cap and jeans. Instead of the general manager of the World Series champions, Epstein actually looked more like one of the roadies.
Although the Theo hero worship became overdone for my tastes, at least he tried to wave it all off as “divine intervention”. He played second guitar with multiple groups over the course of the night. Theo did provide one of the evening’s highlights when he presented Gammons with a Baseball Hall of Fame cap, reminding us all that Gammons will be enshrined in Cooperstown this summer. Gammons was especially gracious in his remarks.
Yankee bashing was the common thread throughout the night. In fact, Arroyo’s encounter with Alex Rodriguez in the ALCS when A-Rod slapped the ball out of Arroyo’s glove was hit on time and time again. Nary a single time were the Cardinals mentioned, even in pity.
The concert itself and the entire evening was a blast. Even better, the last unofficial fund raising mark I heard was $120,000. If you want to support Boston baseball’s fight against cancer, you didn’t have to attend the show. You can order a Hot Stove, Cool Music benefit CD here.
What a great way to support a good cause and get some hot music to help pass the long nights between now and spring training!
