NORTON, MA — Golfers and Red Sox fans alike will have a unique opportunity to test their short games at historic Fenway Park later this month thanks to a “Chipping in for the Red Sox Foundation” event that will help kick off the Deutsche Bank Championship, the PGA TOUR Playoffs event being held 30 August through 05 September at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts.

On Monday, 29 August, three lucky Grand Prize raffle winners will have the chance to join Red Sox legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Rice and step up to home plate at Fenway to chip a golf ball into the outfield. Anyone hitting a one-foot-diameter target in center field will win a $5,000 prize and the first to hit the target will generate a $50,000 donation to the Red Sox Foundation in the winner’s name.

Golfers and Red Sox fans hoping to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can purchase raffle tickets for $25 each at http://www.redsox.com/golf. Raffle tickets will be on sale 05 August through 25 August, and the drawing is open to Massachusetts residents 18 and older. In addition, each raffle ticket purchased will include a ticket to the Deutsche Bank Championship’s Red Sox Legends & Friends Pro-Am, held Tuesday, 02 September at TPC Boston.

A limited number of tickets will be sold, and the drawing will be held 25 August at noon ET.

“We’re looking forward to once again starting Deutsche Bank Championship week with a fun and unique event that combines New England golf fans’ passion for golf and the Red Sox,” said Eric Baldwin, Championship Director of the Deutsche Bank Championship. “Moreover, we’re excited for the opportunity to drive charitable dollars to the Red Sox Foundation, as supporting local charities is a big part of what we do at the Championship.”

In addition to the three Grand Prizes to golf at Fenway, other raffle prizes include: a Red Sox Destinations Spring Training package; a package that includes four Green Monster tickets to an April 2012 Red Sox game, an opportunity to watch batting practice and a personalized scoreboard message; five 30-minute golf lessons at the Golf Town Academy, located at each of the 6 Golf Town stores in Massachusetts; a package that includes four grandstand tickets to a 2012 Red Sox game, an opportunity to watch batting practice and a personalized scoreboard message; and a Red Sox home jersey signed by Rice.

All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Red Sox Foundation’s award-winning programs, including Red Sox Scholars, RBI youth baseball and softball and the Red Sox Foundation and MGH Home Base Program.

Aside from the three raffle winners, Rice, a Red Sox front-office executive and two randomly drawn participants from the Red Sox Legends & Friends Pro-Am will chip golf balls during the event, increasing the odds that someone will hit the target and secure a $50,000 donation to the Red Sox Foundation.

“The Red Sox Foundation is excited to partner with the Deutsche Bank Championship in bringing this unique golf moment to Fenway Park,” said Meg Vaillancourt, the Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the Red Sox Foundation. “Red Sox Nation will be rooting hard for Hall of Famer Jim Rice and the raffle winners to hit the perfect chip shot. A $50,000 donation would go a long way to supporting our team charity’s Red Sox Scholars and RBI programs and our community’s wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain injuries and combat stress disorders.”

The event is part of the Deutsche Bank Red Sox & Friends Pro-Am draw party at Fenway Park, the first in a series of great events highlighting Deutsche Bank Championship week. The Deutsche Bank Championship opens on Tuesday, 30 August with practice and pro-am events on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Competition rounds begin Friday, 03 September and run through Labor Day Monday, 06 September, giving the Deutsche Bank Championship the only scheduled Monday finish on the PGA TOUR. The Championship features the top 100 players in this year’s PGA TOUR FedExCup standings.

About Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank is a leading global investment bank with a substantial private clients franchise. Its businesses are mutually reinforcing. A leader in Germany and Europe, the bank is continuously growing in North America, Asia and key emerging markets. With more than 100,000 employees in 73 countries, Deutsche Bank competes to be the leading global provider of financial solutions, creating lasting value for its clients, shareholders, people and the communities in which it operates.  For more, visit http://www.db.com.

About IMG

IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at http://www.imgworld.com.

About the Red Sox Foundation

The official team charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Red Sox Foundation is committed to using the power of Red Sox Nation to support community partnerships that will improve the lives of children, adults and families across New England. The Foundation’s efforts are primarily focused on four cornerstone programs and the new Home Base Program. A 501c3 nonprofit, the Red Sox Foundation raises most of its funds through special events with Red Sox owners, players and their wives, donations and fundraising activities. Founded and initially funded by Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, President/CEO Larry Lucchino and their partners, the Red Sox Foundation has won numerous awards for its innovative programs and impact in the community, including the 2009 Patterson award for Sports Philanthropy, also known as the “Best Sports Charity” award given by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Sports Philanthropy Project. For more information about the Red Sox Foundation, please visit http://www.redsoxfoundation.org.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Deutsche Bank Championship, Jim Rice, PGA Tour, Red Sox Foundation

Tune in Tuesday, 30 August and Wednesday, 31 August on WEEI Sports Radio Network and New England Sports Network for the 10th annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon. Cheer on the Boston Red Sox as they take on the New York Yankees and help strike out cancer.

Striking out cancer

Over the span of 36-hours and two Boston Red Sox games, this broadcast features compelling stories from Dana-Farber patients, doctors, researchers and nurses, celebrity guests and athletes, inspiring people all over the world to support Dana-Farber’s mission. There are also special ceremonies prior to both Red Sox games during the two-day period.

Generous support

Since 2002, your generous support of this event has raised more than $25 million to support research and care for both children and adults at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Join the WEEI / NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon fan page on Facebook

For more information:

Phone (toll-free): 877.738.1234
E-mail: jimmyfundradiotelethon@dfci.harvard.edu

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Jimmy Fund

Tonight marks Game No. 100 on the season for Terry Francona and the Red Sox, who will go for win number 63; that’s even more impressive when you consider that Boston started 0-6 and 2-10.  Would that win total mark the most ever for the franchise over the first 100 games of a season?  Believe it or not, no.  According to Baseball-Reference.com, the 1946 team, led by Joe Cronin, won an astonishing 70 games in that same span on their way to 104 wins and the American League pennant.  The 1912 team, which won a team record 105 games against 47 losses, won 68 games in its first 100 games and eventually the second World Series title as a franchise.

Not including this season, the following is a list of all Boston teams that have won at least 62 games in the team’s first 100 games:

Year  Wins  Final Record
----  ----  ------------
1946  70    104-50
1912  68    105-47
1915  65    101-50
1903  64    91-47
1939  63    89-62
1978  63    99-64
1979  62    91-69

Three of the four teams – 1903, 1912, and 1915 – went on to win the World Series that fall.   Three other teams – 1939, 1978, and 1979 – finished out of the playoffs, though the 1978 team did appear in a one-game playoff.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Joe Cronin, Terry Francona

With great anticipation, the Boston Red Sox will open the 2011 season this afternoon at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington against the 2010 American League Champion Texas Rangers.  The revamped Sox, who last season missed the playoffs for only the second time under manager Terry Francona, have the baseball world abuzz as they are considered the pre-season favorite by many, including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sportsline, FOX Sports, and The Hardball Times, to win the World Series this fall.

The Opening Day lineup includes two of the newest Red Sox players, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and left fielder Carl Crawford, as well as several familiar faces, including second baseman Dustin Pedroia, third baseman Kevin Youkilis, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, and designated hitter David Ortiz.  On the mound will be Jon Lester, who is another pre-season media favorite as the 2011 Cy Young Award winner.

Here is the complete Opening Day roster for Boston (asterisk denotes Opening Day starters):

Starting Pitchers: Lester*, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka

Relief Pitchers: Matt Albers, Daniel Bard, Bobby Jenks, Jonathan Papelbon, Dennys Reyes, Tim Wakefield, Dan Wheeler

Catchers: Jarrod Saltalamacchia*, Jason Varitek

Infielders: Gonzalez*, Jed Lowrie, Pedroia*, Marco Scutaro*, Youkilis*

Outfielders: Mike Cameron*, Crawford*, J.D. Drew, Ellsbury*, Darnell McDonald

Designated Hitter: Ortiz*

Tags: Adrian Gonzalez, Bobby Jenks, Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dan Wheeler, Daniel Bard, Darnell McDonald, David Ortiz, Dennys Reyes, Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jason Varitek, Jed Lowrie, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Josh Beckett, Kevin Youkilis, Marco Scutaro, Matt Albers, Mike Cameron, Terry Francona, Tim Wakefield

Get up close and personal with the Boston Red Sox.  The Jimmy Fund Council of Greater Boston presents New Stars for Young Stars VI on 15 January 2011 from 11:00 A.M. until 1:30 P.M. at Jillian’s Boston.  Participating players include Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Robert Coello, Ryan Kalish, Darnell McDonald, Dan Wheeler, Tim Federowicz, Jason Rice, Will Middlebrooks, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Ryan Lavarnway, and this year’s special guest, former Red Sox player Bill Mueller (this list of players is subject to change). Tickets are on sale at www.jimmyfund.org/new-stars and cost $99 and $250.

Tags: Bill Mueller, Boston Red Sox, Dan Wheeler, Darnell McDonald, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jason Rice, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Jimmy Fund, Robert Coello, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway, Tim Federowicz, Will Middlebrooks

BOSTON – This holiday season, get into the spirit by purchasing a cheerful array of original holiday cards, candles, and ornaments to support adult and pediatric cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

The card collection has something for everyone’s holiday list. Warm the hearts of your loved ones and colleagues with 12 new holiday card designs created by award winning artists and our patients, featuring bright and cheery depictions of winter scenes and decor, or send special cards from our “Classic Favorites” collection. For sports fans, there is a Boston Red Sox Jolly Wally card, a New England Patriots Santa card, and, for $20 each, two different candles and two ornaments that showcase both Boston teams. E-packs and photo cards, which let you upload your own photo to select card designs, are also available. You can also create a customized corporate e-card out of any holiday card on the site.

For $20 customers receive a package of 20 cards and 21 envelopes, and both cards and envelopes can be customized with personal messages or company logos for an additional fee.

The exclusive Dana-Farber Holiday Greetings collection can be viewed and ordered online at www.jimmyfund.org/holiday. The cards will be sold at the end of September at The Paper Store, which has 25 locations in New England. To find a location near you please visit www.thepaperstore.com. The entire collection will also be sold in the Dana-Farber lobby and gift store at 44 Binney Street in Boston, starting 01 November, Monday-Friday, from 10AM until 2PM.

The Jimmy Fund supports Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research and improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world. It is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, as well as the official charity of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, and the Variety Children’s Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund (www.jimmyfund.org) save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (www.dana-farber.org) is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. It provides adult cancer care with Brigham and Women’s Hospital as Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and it provides pediatric care with Children’s Hospital Boston as Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center. Dana-Farber is the top ranked cancer center in New England, according to U.S. News & World Report, and one of the largest recipients among independent hospitals of National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health grant funding.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, cancer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Jimmy Fund

Tune in Thursday, 19 August and Friday, 20 August on WEEI Sports Radio Network and New England Sports Network for the ninth annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon. Cheer on the Boston Red Sox as they take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Thursday and the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and help strike out cancer. Listen to or watch the broadcast between 6:00 AM and midnight on both Thursday and Friday.

Striking out cancer

The 36-hour broadcast will feature compelling stories and celebrity guests, as well as emotional ceremonies prior to both Red Sox games during the two-day period. The lineup is packed with interviews with Dana-Farber patients, doctors, researchers and nurses. There will also be special ceremonies with celebrities at both Red Sox games.

Generous support

Last year’s event raised $4.5 million, with gifts coming in from every state in the country. This year we’re looking for Red Sox and Jimmy Fund fans outside of New England to host Radio-Telethon viewing parties as part of our 50 State Challenge. Since 2002, your generous support of this event has raised more than $21 million to support research and care for both children and adults at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. With your help, we can reach our goal of raising $5 million this year.

For more information

Phone (toll-free): (877) 738-1234
E-mail: jimmyfundradiotelethon@dfci.harvard.edu

Tags: Boston Red Sox, cancer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, donate, Jimmy Fund, telethon

Did you cry the day Johnny Damon went to the Yankees? Would you travel thousands of miles to see a Red Sox game? Would you go to Fenway Park no matter what the weather? Boston Casting is seeking DIE HARD Red Sox Fans for a television commercial. We want to know what makes you such a devoted fan!

Come to our Open Casting Call:

Date: Friday, June 18, 2010
Time: 5 pm – 8 pm
Location: Outside GAME ON
82 Lansdowne Street
Boston, MA 02215

Only DIE HARD FANS will be considered.

If chosen, you must be available Saturday, June 19 and Sunday, June 20 for the shoot.

We look forward to seeing you! Go Red Sox!

Tags: Boston Red Sox

This year, the Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament will benefit Journey Forward, a non-profit gym dedicated to bettering the lives of those affected by spinal cord injuries. It is truly a great organization and Jason has decided he wants to help them out. This year’s tournament will be held at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, MA on 01 July.  Doors open at 5:00 PM and the event starts at 7:00 PM.

Varitek and his Boston Red Sox teammates will come together to compete in a miniature golf tournament with fans and fellow players.  It is a great family fun event and fans get the opportunity to interact with their favorite Red Sox players, even the opportunity to snag autographs.  The day also includes a live band, interaction with the players, and other entertaining events.

General Admission tickets are $15.00 each and can be purchased either at the door or online at Ticketmaster.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, charity, Jason Varitek, Journey Forward

Is Nomar Garciaparra retiring?  Say it isn’t so.  At age 36, with several surgeries having limited his playing time in recent years, the last rock at the shortstop position in Boston is hanging up his uniform for good – maybe, maybe not – with a press conference this morning in Fort Myers.

The legendary Ted Williams touted “NO-mah” as the game’s next great player and he seemed destined for a Hall of Fame career.  First, he easily won Rookie of the Year honors in 1997, then followed that with a second-place finish in the MVP ballot in 1998 and two batting titles in two years (1999 and 2000).  Five times, he was named to the All-Star while with Boston, and he was often compared to other great shortstops of his time, including Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Miguel Tejada.

When Garciaparra returned as an Oakland Athletic last July to Fenway Park for the first time since being traded away in 2004, he received a lengthy standing ovation from an appreciative crowd, to which he tipped his cap and graciously clapped along with them.  It reminded us of the moment following a series-ending loss to Cleveland in the 1998 American League Division Series; as the Indians celebrated on the field by the visitor’s dugout, Garciaparra stepped back out from the Boston dugout, turned to the stands, and began clapping in genuine appreciation of the Red Sox fans that had followed the team all season and every season before then.

Boston is still searching for the answer at short while fans search for answers on why such a promising career ended too soon; some might say that Garciaparra is to this generation what Fred Lynn was to the last one and Tony Conigliaro was to the one before then.  Red Sox fans will always have a place in its collective heart reserved for Garciaparra, who gave all he had with the club for eight seasons, but we will always wonder what might have been for him.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Fred Lynn, Nomar Garciaparra, Ted Williams