Jacoby Ellsbury was busy yesterday in Maine as he was on hand at the Dunkin Donuts in Westbrook, Maine to help the franchise promote a new menu item. He was there with representatives from the Boston Red Sox who also brought the World Series trophies with them.
Ellsbury even took time to work the drive-thru window and help serve some customers. I am sure they were pretty shocked to be getting their morning cup of java from the Red Sox center fielder. Unfortunately, Ellsbury didn’t have time to sign autographs for the masses.
Ever since the Red Sox current ownership took over the team, they have made it a point to honor the life of Jackie Robinson on his birthday, January 31st, which happens to fall just two days after mine. This year, the Red Sox plan to hold the biggest celebration for Robinson in team history.
“The Red Sox are proud to host this two-day ‘Celebration of Life for Jackie Robinson,’ a great American who was much more than a ballplayer,” said club president/CEO Larry Lucchino. “We decided to expand the event so that both children and adults could learn more about this man of character and courage who had such a profound effect on our country.”
On January 31st, the Red Sox will host youngsters from area after school programs to kick off the festivites. On February 1st, the Red Sox will host an event entitled “Sports, Race and the Legacy of Jackie Robinson” at 5:30 PM in the EMC Club at Fenway.
The panel will include Bill Russell, Boston Celtics legend and 11-time NBA champion; Elaine Steward, Red Sox vice president/legal affairs and former Jackie Robinson Scholar; Faye Fields, entrepreneur and part-owner of the Washington Nationals; and Steve Jacobson, Newsday columnist and author. Internationally recognized legal theorist and Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree will moderate the panel. Red Sox play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo will serve as the master of ceremonies.
Coincidently, Black History Month also starts on February 1st. A truly amazing panel for an amazing person. If you are interested in attending the event, tickets are $50 and can be obtained at the fenwayparkwriters.org website.
Ellsbury’s visit a breakfast treat [KeepMEcurrent.com]
Sox announce Robinson tribute [redsox.com]
