Bernie CarboRich Gedman

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2016) – Former Red Sox players Bernie Carbo, Rich Gedman and Luis Tiant will be attending the upcoming 11th Annual Evening with the Red Sox as special guests and signing autographs in addition to signings from the team’s current players.

Bernardo ‘Bernie’ Carbo is a former outfielder and designated hitter who started his Major League career in 1969 with the Cincinnati Reds and later played for the Boston Red Sox from 1974 to 1976. In his 1970 rookie season, Carbo posted career highs in batting average (.310), home runs (21), runs batted in (63), hits (113), on-base percentage (.454), slugging average (.551), on-base plus slugging (1,005) and games played (125). Carbo was selected Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News. On Nov. 10, 2004, he was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.

Richard ‘Rich’ Gedman is a former catcher and left-handed batter who played with the Red Sox for 10 years, making his debut in September 1980 pinch hitting for Carl Yastrzemski. In 1981, regular Sox catcher Carlton Fisk was granted free-agency and signed with the Chicago White Sox, leaving the catcher position open. Gedman shared catching duties with Gary Allenson and was named The Sporting News’ Rookie of the Year. He hit career-high 24 home runs in 1984 and followed with career highs in batting average (.295) and runs batted in (80) in 1985 while throwing out nearly half of potential base stealers. In that season, he became the 16th Red Sox player and only the sixth catcher since 1900 to hit for the cycle. He currently serves as hitting coach for the AAA International League’s Pawtucket Red Sox.

Luis Clemente Tiant Vega is a former right-handed starting pitcher, primarily pitching for the Cleveland Indians and the Red Sox in his 19-year career. Despite struggling through 1971 with a 1-7 record and 4.88 earned run average, he would soon become one of the greatest and most beloved pitchers in Red Sox history and an idol in Boston. Becoming known as El Tiante at Fenway Park in 1972, Tiant regained his old form with a 15-6 record and led the league with a 1.91 earned run average. He won 20 games in 1973, 22 in 1974 and 18 in 1975 for the American League Champion Red Sox. In the playoffs, he defeated the three-time defending World Champion Oakland Athletics, allowing only three hits in a 7-1 complete game victory, and opened the World Series against the Reds. Tiant went 21-12 in 1976, 12-8 in 1977 and 13-8 in 1978. He was later inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997 and inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame on July 23, 2002, in a pregame on-field ceremony at Fenway Park. As of 2007, Tiant works for the Red Sox as a pitching advisor.

Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, the 11th Annual Evening with the Red Sox will be held on Wednesday, March 2 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Bell Tower Shops, located at 13051 Bell Tower Drive in Fort Myers. The evening will begin at 5:30 and include a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, dinner, autograph signings from Red Sox players, and silent and live auctions that will include exciting trips to major cities, sports memorabilia packages, theme park passes, golf outings and more. Last year’s event included autograph signings by former Red Sox Manager John Farrell, former Red Sox player Derek Lowe and current players Brock Holt, Joe Kelly and Tommy Layne.

David Dombrowski, president of baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox, will serve as this year’s Evening with the Red Sox guest speaker, and Bill Banfield, the voice behind the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles and co-host of FGCU Eagles Hotline Coaches Show on ESPN Radio 99.3, will serve as the event’s auctioneer.

This year’s presenting sponsors are Allstate Insurance and Ted Todd Insurance.

Sponsorships and tables are still available from $1,600. Donations for auction items are also being accepted. Funds raised during the event provide more than 30,000 hours of service to more than 420 young people in our community who are a part of the BGCLC. Last year, more than 1,300 youth demonstrated academic success, character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles from the agency’s programs.

Celebrating 41 years of providing quality youth programs and brighter futures for young people in the Lee County community, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County work to inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The BGCLC strives to provide a safe, world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through its doors. The organization envisions all of its members graduating high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship while adapting a healthy lifestyle.

The area’s five Clubs are located in communities with the greatest need where similar services are limited or nonexistent. Membership dues are $10 per school year so that all children can have access to its programs. The BGCLC relies upon the philanthropic support of individuals, corporations and foundations in order to sustain and grow its services.

For more information, to register, sponsor or donate to the event, contact Shannon Lane at 239-334-1886 or slane@bgclc.net.