Thank You Thommies

I just wanted to thank everyone that helped make Monday night special for Jerry, Professor Thom's, and all of the baseball fans in attendance.

It was a night long overdue for a legend of Red Sox Nation right here in New York City.

Fitzy went above and beyond the call of duty as MC for the entire night. Sandy Jordan and Randy Ingram put together a terrific Jazz show. And the mighty Quinn put in some overtime in setting up the items for auction.

We are also much obliged to Andrea and Kim and everyone that helped sell tickets at the door. And, of course everyone that donated so many great things: The Aardsma family, Fred Lynn, the Red Sox, Larry Lucchino, Pat Casale, Joe Cosgriff, the BLOHARDS, ESPN Magazine, Sandy Jordan, Joe Desmond, Joe Castiglione, Dave Lipman, Supahfans, Tavern on Jane, Brett Rapkin, Bombo films, Doug Lipp, Bill Nowlin, Harpoon Brewery, Jere Smith, Boston Latin School, Jim Calhoun, and everyone else that pitched in.

Check out all of the photos Manager Matt took on Flickr. Feel free to add your own.

As a special reward for your generosity I put a few new films on YouTube. Click on the link to the page above or check out the most recent here. And, as an extra special bonus, I convinced the Yankees to sign Richie Sexson. No need to thank me; you deserved it.

The Sox are back on Tonight after what was hardly an All-Star break. The Olde Towne team dominated headlines in New York all week, dominated the roster of the American League team, and even took home MVP. Not too shabby for a vacation. Come see them defend first place this weekend against the Angles.

Thursday Night Movies at Thom's

Look for movie nights at Thom's in the very near future. We'll be screening "Blessed! Still We Believe 2" which was shot at Thom's, "Rooters: The Birth of the Red Sox Nation", and "Crazy Legs Conti: Zen and The Art of Competitive Eating".

WANTED in connection with extreme flattery, whoever is responsible for sending Fred Lynn down to Thom's on Saturday night. Free drinks await you! Lynn amused Sox fans with tales of the 70's and the real difference between home and road uniforms.

Support a Local Legend

Welcome to The event of All-Star Week, "An Eventing for Jerry Casale"

Tonight at 7:00 pm baseball fans will gather at Professor Thom's to honor former Sox Hurler Jerry Casale. The night will be hosted by Paul "Fitzy" Fitzgerald and will feature music by Sandy Jordan and Randy Ingram and hopefully a few surprise guests.

There has been an overwhelming amount of generosity in support of this event (even Castiglione has been mentioning it during Sox broacasts) and I would just like to thank everyone that has helped by either donating their time, talent, or items to be raffled and auctioned.
And, speaking of items, below is a list of everything we have so far. Some of them will be available for raffle, tickets for which will cost $20 for 5. The other items will be available by silent auction. There will be a suggested donation of $20 at the door which includes 5 raffle tickets and one drink.

Brooklyn native Jerry Casale pitched for 5 years in the Major League Baseball having had his most successful year for the Red Sox in 1959 winning 13 games. After baseball, Jerry opened Pino's, a small Italian eatery in midtown Manhattan where an entire wall inside the restaurant was made into a mural of Fenway Park and the Green Monster. Pino's became the place to be for Sox fans either exiled or just visiting enemy territory. Jerry would entertain all patrons with his stories of playing for the Sox and would even play the radio call of his homerun against the Yankees in Fenway Park. In many ways Pino's paved the way for the now rabid following of Sox fans in New York City and the many bars and groups that now serve as their beloved sanctuaries.

Sadly, Jerry recently suffered a stroke. We have learned that due to a lack of sufficient health insurance coverage, Jerry is having great difficulty affording proper medical care. On Monday, July 14, baseball fans in New York City will gather for one special night to honor Jerry for his contributions to Red Sox Nation and what he means to our community, and raise money to help him cover some of his medical expenses.

Some of the items available so far:

• A sketch of Ted Williams signed by Ted Williams.
• A plaque of Ted Williams signed by Ted Williams.
• A bat signed by Carlos Delgado.
• A Jersey signed by David Aarsdma.
• A ball signed by Fred Lynn at Professor Thom's.
• A $200 gift vertificate to Capital Grille.
• A collection of three Red Sox books donated by Bill Nowlin.
• 3 DVDs donated by Bombo including: "Still We Beleive", "Still We Believe 2", and "New England Hockey: Life at the Rink".
• Assorted autographed items from Joe Klecko incuding a football, photos, and a jersey.
• Two Sox tix: Section 86 RF box seats for Sunday, Aug. 17th vs. Toronto.
• A trip to Harpoon Brewery's BBQ event on July 26, 27 in Vermont including a package is for two people, one night stay (7/26) Passes to get in for Saturday 7/26 and Sunday 7/27, meal tickets for 2 and 3 beer tickets per person per day.
• Many great items from Boston Latin School including sweatshirt, mugs, golf gloves, etc.
• Mike Lowell autographed bat.
• Josh Beckett autographed baseball.
• Tavern on Jane: Dinner for 4 up to $200.
• An autographed poster of Jerry Casale's rookie card.

Excerpt from June 20, 1956, page 25 The Sporting News:

"While Casale is no hitter-for-an-average as a pitcher, he occasionally gets hold of a ball and all but knocks the coveroff it. A 551-foot homer over the center field wall at Seals Stadium recently was the fifth-longest clout on record in the 24-year history of the park."

More Thom's Foolery
WANTED in connection with extreme flattery, whoever is responsible for sending Fred Lynn down to Thom's on Saturday night. Free drinks await you! Lynn amused Sox fans with tales of the 70's and the real difference between home and road uniforms.

A bottle of reds, a bottle of whites

Whatever kind of mood you're in tonight

I'll meet you anytime you want

In our Italian Restaurant.

-William Martin Joel