Spring Training will be here at the end of next month, but for those who need a shot of pine tar in their veins, Saturday offers up a trio of events that can oblige.
The Jimmy Fund Council of Greater Boston hosts the ninth annual New Stars for 
Young Stars at Jillian’s in Boston. The event, which runs from 11:00am to 1:30p.m., offers fans the opportunity to meet new and upcoming Red Sox, all while supporting a great cause.
This year’s guests include free agent acquisition A.J. Pierzynski, pitchers Drake Britton and Rubby De La Rosa, Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year Mookie Betts and 2011 first-round selection Blake Swihart.
There will be an autograph signing, buffet lunch, silent auction, bowling and much more, with proceeds going to benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Since the event began in 2006, over $220,000 has been raised. You can find more information on New Stars for Young Stars here.
After two dormant winters the Spinners have restoked the flames on their annual Hot Stove Dinner. The event will be held at the UMass-Lowell Inn Conference Center, with an autograph session kicking things off at 5:00p.m.
As 2014 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Red Sox first World Series title in 86 years, the Spinners appropriately secured 2004 hero Dave Roberts 
as its keynote guest. Joining Roberts will be former Spinners manager (2000-2001) and current Red Sox first base coach Arnie Beyeler, Baseball America’s Red Sox top prospect in 2010 Ryan Westmoreland, former Spinner and UMass product Matt Gedman, broadcaster Jerry Trupiano and more.
Attendees will enjoy dinner, auctions, award presentations and a QA session with the evening’s guests. Proceeds benefit Lowell Spinners Charities and more information on the event can be found here.
Former Red Sox General Manager and current Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein returns for the “cool music” part of the two part Hot Stove Cool Music series. Proceeds benefit the Foundation to Be Named Later which was launched in 2005 by Epstein and his brother Paul to “raise funds and awareness for non-profit agencies, working on the front lines, serving disadvantaged youth in the Greater Boston area.”
The Hot Stove Cool Music series has been a staple of the foundation’s fund raising efforts and has in turn become one of the more highly anticipated music events to kick off the new year in Boston. This will be the 14th annual benefit thrown by the series which was founded by Peter Gammons in 2000.
Mike O’Malley hosts the affair at the Paradise which begins at 5:30p.m., and features musical guests Kay Hanley, Mike Mills and Joan Osborne among many others. More information can be found here.
The second half of the Hot Stove Cool Music series will be a roundtable discussion on January 21st at Fenway Park with Red Sox G.M. Ben Cherington, manager John Farrell, assistant G.M. Mike Hazen and the Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan.
So there are no excuses…I will not accept “the Patriots game” or “Frozen Fenway” as viable excuses…for you to get out there, get your baseball fix and support some great causes in the process. And before you know it, we’ll be back in season.
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