West Hartford, CT - Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill “Spaceman” Lee headlines a slate of 13 former major league players who headline the 2009 University of Hartford Baseball Fundraising Dinner. The dinner is being held at the Farmington Marriott on Saturday, February 21, with a pre-event reception at 6:00 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 p.m.

The slate of VIP guests includes five players with at least 10 years of major league experience. In addition to Lee, they are Steve Rogers (13 seasons with Montreal), Dave LaPoint (11 seasons with nine teams), Joe Lahoud (11 seasons with five teams) and Ted Lepcio (10 seasons with five teams). Lee, Lahoud and Lepcio will join Jerry Moses and Roger LaFrancois as former Red Sox in attendance. Others attending the dinner are Bud Anderson (Cleveland), Ron Diorio (Philadelphia), Dave Flemming (Seattle and Kansas City), Dave Stenhouse (Washington), Bobby Taylor (San Francisco) and George Yankowski (Philadelphia and Chicago White Sox).

This year's Fundraising Dinner is co-sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and will feature live and silent auctions that include an assortment of more than 30 signed bats, balls and photos. The auctions will be highlighted by items from Hall-of-Fame players Stan Musial, Wade Boggs, Lou Brock, Paul Molitor, Carlton Fisk, Harmon Killebrew, Tom Seaver, Dave Winfield, Jim Rice, Dennis Eckersley and Bobby Doerr. Proceeds from the 2009 Fundraising Dinner will go towards Hartford baseball and the MLBPAA for youth clinics and charitable endeavors. 

For more information or to reserve a space at the dinner, log onto HartfordHawks.com or call Jim Keener at (860) 768-5063 or jkeener@hartford.edu.