The Granite State Baseball Dinner, presented by Delta Dental, is an annual charitable event that benefits two outstanding organizations: the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD), New Hampshire’s only comprehensive full-service children’s hospital and the Fisher Cats Foundation, a statewide charitable organization that provides scholarships to college-bound New Hampshire and Massachusetts high school student athletes in addition to supporting youth organizations and charities throughout the state.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, in partnership with the Ted Williams Museum, have been putting on this event for the past 13 years. Through sponsorship donations, ticket sales, silent and live auctions, and raffle ticket sales, the dinner has generated more than $1.75 million for these worthy charities.

This year’s event will be broadcast on Facebook Live on Saturday, November 21 from the state-of-the-art studio at Events United in Derry, NH. The event will be free to watch, but viewers are encouraged to donate $10 to Pack the Park for Kids — each donation will mark off a virtual seat at Delta Dental Stadium, and add to the fundraising total for CHaD and the Fisher Cats Foundation.

Continuing the popular Question & Answer session from year’s past, viewers will be able to submit questions to the baseball celebrities via Facebook Live throughout the broadcast. A full list of guests is available below.

2020 Guests

Luis Tiant, affectionately known as ‘El Tiante’, was one of the most dominant, durable pitchers of his generation. Over 19 seasons, he dazzled lineups with his overpowering stuff and unique, back-to-the-hitter wind-ups. A three-time All-Star, he shined for the Red Sox from 1971-78, perhaps making his biggest impact for the 1975 American League Champions.

In Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, Bernie Carbo hit one of the most memorable home runs in Red Sox history. Facing elimination and a three-run deficit in the bottom of the eighth inning, Carbo was brought in to pinch hit with two on and two out. He drilled a game-tying blast to center field, and the Red Sox eventually prevailed in the 12th inning on a Carlton Fisk homer.

Danny Jansen is the starting catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, who enjoyed a breakout season with the Fisher Cats in 2017. Previously known as a defensive specialist, Jansen hit .323 and earned a spot in the Eastern League All-Star Game in New Hampshire. Just over a year later, he was suiting up for the Blue Jays, and began his MLB career with a six-game hitting streak.

John Schneider led the vaunted 2018 Fisher Cats to an Eastern League Championship as the youngest manager in team history. The following year, he joined Fisher Cats All-Stars Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Toronto as a Major League Coach with the Blue Jays.

Worcester, MA native Oliver Drake earned a spot on the Tampa Bay Rays playoff roster during their run to the World Series this season. The former US Naval Academy pitcher kept the Yankees off the board during a strong inning of relief in the ALDS.

Dennis Ray “Oil Can” Boyd pitched for the Boston Red Sox (1982-89), Montreal Expos (1990-91) and Texas Rangers (1991) during his 10-year career. He won a career-high 16 games during the Red Sox 1986 American League Championship season, and started Game 3 of the World Series against the Mets.

Dick Drago spent 13 years in the major leagues as a pitcher for the Red Sox, Royals, Angels, Mariners, and Orioles, and pitched in the iconic 1975 Red Sox – Reds World Series.

Sue Parsons Zipay of Hingham, MA played for the Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1950s. She is the Founder and President of American Girls Baseball, which develops, manages, and promotes training and instructional programs for girls and women in the game of baseball.

Lois Youngen spent four years in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, catching a perfect game with the South Bend Blue Sox in 1953. Lois Youngen Ball Field in West Eugene, OR is named after her.

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