Castiglione to keynote Western Massachusetts Hall of Fame banquet

Date: 12/18/2014

SPRINGFIELD – The Valley Blue Sox and MassLive will partner once again to host the 2nd Annual Western Mass Baseball Hall of Fame banquet; which will take place Jan. 28, 2015, 6:30 p.m., at the La Quinta Inn & Suites.

This year’s lead inductee and keynote speaker will be Boston Red Sox play-by-play announcer Joe Castiglione.

Tickets are $45 per individual or $350 per a table of eight. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Blue Sox front office at 533-1100 or tickets@valleybluesox.com.

In addition to inducting this year’s class, the night will include sports memorabilia auctions, a cocktail hour and a buffet dinner. A cocktail hour starts at 6 p.m., with the dinner and program set for 7 p.m.

“Obviously we’re tremendously excited to build off of last year’s success,” Hall of Fame Committeeman and Blue Sox team President Clark Eckhoff said. “Last year’s event was tremendous and we’re looking forward to seeing another great crowd this year.”

Castiglione, who has been the voice of the Red Sox since 1991, called his first baseball game ever at MacKenzie Stadium in Holyoke – the present home of the Valley Blue Sox.

“I think that all things considered, he’s a natural fit,” Eckhoff said. “It’s going to be fun to ‘bring Joe home’ and recognize the work and presence he’s had around the game in Western Mass over the years.”

Classes of 2015 inductees will be chosen by a committee of local baseball executives, media members and former area players. Reader-submitted nominations will also contribute to the selection process. The Hall of Fame committee will begin accepting nominations immediately in the following categories:

Resident or non-resident: professional. a resident professional is a player or coach who resided at least three years in Western Massachusetts and went on to success at high levels of professional baseball as a player, coach or manager. A non-resident professional is a player or coach who spent at east one season in Western Massachusetts and went on to success in high levels of pro baseball as a player, coach or manager.

Resident amateur player: a resident amateur player is someone who was successful as a player in youth, high school and/or adult amateur baseball in Western Massachusetts and may have also played in a lower level of minor league baseball.

Amateur coach or manager: an amateur coach or manager must be a Western Massachusetts native or longtime resident who achieved great success with teams at the local, state or national levels.

Non-uniform person: A non-uniform person must be a Western Massachusetts native or longtime resident who has achieved great success as a supporter or administrator of baseball at the local, state or national level.

The deadline for entrants will be Dec. 31. Inductees will be announced the following week. All nominations should be sent to Clark Eckhoff c/o Blue Sox Baseball 100 Congress St Springfield, MA 01104 or to info@ValleyBlueSox.com.

“Based on the response from last year and the enthusiasm people had, we’re really looking forward to selecting this year’s class,” Eckhoff added. “There are so many incredible stories to tell – we’re just humbled to be the ones who get to help tell them. We’re excited to see this year’s nominations.”