governor’s baseball dinner -...
TRANSCRIPT
Governor’s Baseball DinnerFebruary 13, 2015
West Palm Beach, Florida
Cocktail Reception
Welcome by Tommy Hutton: Former MLB Player & Veteran Sports
Analyst for the Miami Marlins
Mayor of Palm Beach County, Shelly Vana
Mayor of the City of West Palm Beach, Jeri Muoio
Dinner Service
Rick Nafe, Chairman of the Florida Sports Foundation Board of Directors and Vice President of Operations for the Tampa Bay Rays
The Honorable Rick Scott, Governor of Florida
The Honorable Jeff Atwater, Chief Financial Officer of Florida
Robert D. Manfred, Jr., MLB Commissioner
Special Guests:
Reid Ryan, President of Business Operations, Houston Astros
Matt Williams, Manager, Washington Nationals
Jim Kaat, 16 time Gold Glove Winner
It’S my pleaSuRe to welCome you to the City of west palm Beach. I hope while in our great city you experience all it has to offer. West Palm Beach is a vibrant, growing waterfront city that offers the business advantages available in the region, combined with a more refined and relaxed environment for living and working. From our downtown, home to our growing Flagler Financial District to the natural beauty of our Grassy Waters Everglades Preserve, West Palm Beach has something for everyone.
I want to personally welcome Florida Governor Rick Scott, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, and all the teams that call Florida home during spring training. Of course, I also extend a special welcome to the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals. To those two premiere clubs, let me say: Welcome Home!
the Board of County Commissioners welComeS you! It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Florida Sports Foundation’s celebration of Major League Baseball Spring Training in Florida. Palm Beach County is one of the nation’s premier baseball destinations and is home to Roger Dean Stadium, the only baseball complex in Florida to host two Major League Baseball teams. Major League Baseball will continue to draw even more fans to the county with the creation of a spring training facility for the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals. With the Marlins and Cardinals holding spring training at Roger Dean Stadium, a new facility will provide two stadiums with a total of 26 baseball diamonds, creating an even greater hub for baseball in Palm Beach County.
Mayor Shelley VanaPalm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Mayor Jeri muoioCity of West Palm Beach
GRAPEFRuIT LEAGuE FACTS:
The 2015 Season celebrates 125 Years of Major League Baseball Spring Training in Florida.
Thirty-five different Florida sites have held spring training. All but six of today’s major league teams trained in Florida (Anaheim Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners,
San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks).
The Florida cities with the most years of spring training are St. Petersburg and Tampa (87 years), Bradenton and Clearwater (76 years), Lakeland (75 years), Sarasota (74 years), Fort Myers (64 years), west palm Beach (63 years), Orlando (62 years),
Vero Beach (58 years) and Winter Haven (55 years).
The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals move to West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County will secure 15 teams
in the State of Florida and preserve Major League Baseball in Palm Beach County until at least 2047.
message from Governor Rick Scott
For more than 100 years, Florida Spring Training has
helped to bring families together, create jobs across our
state, and drive tourists to Florida. We are proud to be
the home of fifteen spring training teams, and excited
to announce that the Washington Nationals and the
Houston Astros have chosen to stay in Florida for the
next 30 years. Florida is undoubtedly the best state for
baseball, and we look forward to many more years
of Spring Training inspiring generations and
creating opportunities for Florida families.
“We would like to thank the City of West Palm Beach and
Palm Beach County, the Tourist Development Council, the Palm
Beach Sports Commission and the Economic Council of Palm Beach
County for their collective support and hard work. The Washington
Nationals and Houston Astros look forward to calling West Palm
Beach and Palm Beach County home for the next 30 years.”
mark D. lernerVice Chairman & Principal OwnerWashington Nationals
Jim CraneOwnerHouston Astros
FO RT L AU D E R DA L E | JAC KS O N V I L L E | M I A M I | O R L A N D O | PA L M B E AC H | ST UA RT
TA L L A H A SS E E | TA M PA | T H E F LO R I DA K EYS | V E RO B E AC H | W EST PA L M B E AC H
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Welcome to our home base.
Gunster is proud to support spring training in Florida
atlanta Braves vs New york mets march 4 1:05pm Kissimmee (Disney)
Baltimore orioles vs Detroit tigers march 3 1:05pm lakeland
Boston Red Sox vs Boston College march 3 1:05pm Fort myers
Detroit tigers vs Florida Southern march 2 1:05pm lakeland
Houston astros vs philadelphia phillies march 5 1:05pm Kissimmee
miami marlins vs Florida International march 2 1:05pm Jupiter
minnesota twins vs university of minnesota march 4 7:05pm Fort myers
New york mets vs atlanta Braves march 4 1:05pm Kissimmee (Disney)
New york yankees vs philadelphia phillies march 3 1:05pm Clearwater
philadelphia phillies vs university of tampa march 1 1:05pm Clearwater
pittsburgh pirates vs toronto Blue Jays march 3 1:07pm Dunedin
St. louis Cardinals vs miami marlins march 5 1:05pm Jupiter
tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore orioles march 5 1:05pm port Charlotte
toronto Blue Jays vs pittsburgh pirates march 3 1:07pm Dunedin
washington Nationals vs New york mets march 5 5:05pm Viera
2015 Spring Training Opening Games