Foley's to Host Fundraiser on Weds, January 8, 2014, with Jeff Nelson and Jim Duquette to Provide Equipment and Instruction to Young Baseball Players in Ireland
New York, NY (PRWEB) December 30, 2013 -- Foley's NY Pub & Restaurant, New York's top baseball bar, will host a fundraiser on Weds, January 8, 2014, from 6:30 - 9:30 PM featuring guest bartenders Jeff Nelson and Jim Duquette to help expand the game of baseball in Ireland.
The money will go to the Baseball United Foundation, which helps grow the game of baseball in places where the game is relatively new, and the Baseball Miracles group, led by Chicago White Sox scout John Tumminia and former MLB pitcher Rob Bell. Donations will help defer the travel expenses of instructors, as well as the cost of shipping a half ton of donated baseball equipment for young players in Ireland. The game has been played in Dublin since the mid-1990s. Today, over 500 youth and adult players participate in the sport throughout the country.
Guest bartender Jeff Nelson was a four-time World Series Champion with the New York Yankees and held batters to a .191 average with runners in scoring position and two outs. One of the tallest pitchers in MLB history at 6' 8", Nelson compiled 62 strikeouts and 2.65 ERA in 55 postseason games and also set the Seattle Mariners' all-time record holder for most games pitched (383). An inductee into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012, Nelson has family roots in Co. Donegal.
Guest bartender Jim Duquette served the general manager of the New York Mets before joining the Baltimore Orioles' front office. Currently, Jim co-hosts "Power Alley" with Mike Ferrin on Sirius XM's MLB Network Radio (Sirius 209 and XM 89). He also has been a member of the Mets radio broadcast team.
In addition to the gift of equipment, the Baseball Miracles group will hold baseball clinics in Limerick and Dublin for players of all ages and skill levels. As part of the event, each participant will receive their own personalized baseball card. The clinic in Limerick will take place on January 18, 2014. The Dublin clinic will take place the following day. The project is being coordinated with the help of the New York-based Baseball United Foundation.
“The importance of this trip to the development of baseball in Ireland cannot be understated,” explained Baseball United Foundation founder John Fitzgerald. “Kids are going to receive much-needed baseball equipment and professional baseball instruction. The positive impact of the Baseball Miracles trip to Ireland will be felt for years to come.”
“Since Foley's is the home of the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame, it's appropriate for us to help provide equipment and training to grow the game in Ireland," said Shaun Clancy, owner of Foley's NY Pub & Restaurant and an Irish native. "I'm thrilled to help John Tumminia, Rob Bell, and John Fitzgerald in this effort to provide bats, balls, gloves and other gear to play the game in Ireland. We hope that all of our 'Friends of Foley's' will help support this cause."
About the Baseball United Foundation
The Baseball United Foundation is a 501c3 organization based in New York. The foundation is primarily focused on helping grow the game of baseball in places where the game is relatively new. In addition, the foundation recently raised over $20,000 to help families rebuild in Monmouth County, New Jersey, following Super Storm Sandy. For more information, please visit http://www.BaseballUnitedFoundation.org.
About Baseball Miracles
Baseball Miracles is a group of baseball players, coaches and scouts who hold instructional baseball clinics in areas where baseball is not traditionally played. For more information, visit http://www.BaseballMiracles.org.
About Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant
Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant (18 W. 33rd St.) is home of the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame. A popular destination among baseball players, executives, umpires, media, and fans, Foley's is located across from the Empire State Building. The "Irish Bar with a Baseball Attitude" features walls adorned with 3,000 autographed balls, bobbleheads, game-worn jerseys, stadium seats and other artifacts that make it the top baseball bar in New York and one of the best sports bars in America. For more information, call (212) 290-0080, follow on Twitter @foleysNY and "Like: on http://www.facebook.com/FoleysNYPub.
John Mooney, Over The Moon PR, +1 (908) 720-6057, [email protected]
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