Sox On The Town

The baseball season may have ended, but that doesn’t mean the Sox aren’t busy. Members of the team held benefits, made appearances, attended basketball games and signed autographs at different places around the country this week. Here’s a rundown of the goings-on… and some notes about what’s next on their busy social calendars.

First up: some catch up video from last week’s trophy tour. Here’s a quick little clip of the trophy at the Bruins game (with John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino) and at the Celtics game (with Tim Wakefield, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Manny Delcarmen).

On Saturday, Jacoby Ellsbury made an appearance for autograph signings at the Natick Collection (don’t call it the Natick Mall) in Natick, MA. The asking price? $90 for autographs on a photo, and $125 on balls, bats and other items.

Manny Delcarmen was at King’s Back Bay on Tuesday practicing his bowling form in preparation for his upcoming charity benefit “Bowlin’ Strikes for Schools” on November 17th. This is the third time Manny has held the event, to benefit Boston public schools through the Boston Educational Development Fund. Tickets are on sale, for bowlers or spectators ($50 (General Admission-does not include bowling); $100 (Individual); $450 (Team of six))- and the 2007 World Series Trophy will be on display at the event.

Manny also was spotted on Tuesday at Cigar Masters, the store in the Back Bay where he bought cigars back in September to celebrate the birth of his son. He reportedly signed some autographs and took pictures with fans.

Busy bee Kevin Youkilis has been all over the place. Back on November 1st, Kevin was inducted in the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame at his alma mater, the University of Cincinnati. Next, Kevin attended the Joslin Diabetes Center’s annual High Hopes Gala last Saturday night, and brought along a donation of $50,000 from his Hits For Kids foundation- and a jersey that he signed during the live auction went for $5,700. He popped up again at the Celtics game on Wednesday night (arriving at the end of the first quarter), and then was announced and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Then on Saturday night, Kevin’s own foundation hosted the Crackin’ It Up benefit at the Mohegan Sun, and raised over $350,000. The highlight of the evening’s festivities was a comedy sketch in the style of the Newlywed game, with Kevin and his fiance Enza, Tito Francona and his wife Jacque, Jacoby Ellsbury and his girlfriend Kelsey and Manny Delcarmen and his wife Anna.

Asked what the skipper does – or doesn’t do – around the house that irritates her, Tito’s long-suffering spouse, Jacque, joked: “I’m not sure where to start.” A kickoff for Kevin Youkilis’s charity Hits for Kids, the laugh fest at Mohegan Sun was ably emceed by sitcom star Mike O’Malley and featured a “Newlywed Game”-style show scripted by “Saturday Night Live” regular Seth Meyers. Without exception, the Sox’ significant others said their players are error-prone away from the field. “When he takes his clothes off, it’s always right in the middle of the room,” said Manny Delcarmen’s wife, Anna. Of Jacoby Ellsbury, galpal Kelsey Hawkins said the future star falls short when it comes to unpacking his bags. “He leaves his suitcase on the floor and just lives out of it,” she said. Youkilis’s fiancee, Enza Sambataro, gave the Gold Glove first baseman props for being a perfect dad to her young son Mikey, but wondered why Youk can’t pick up after himself. “He leaves water bottles everywhere,” she said.

There was also a silent auction, including a dinner for the winner and ten friends with jacoby that went for $9,000, and a poker table signed by every member of the ‘07 Sox, including Manny Ramirez’s mother and aunt, that went for $6,600. Here’s a video clip from the event:

Josh Beckett was honored by the San Antonio Spurs before the Miami Heat game on Wednesday night in San Antonio, and given his own special Spurs jersey. Josh is from Houston, but very recently bought a home in San Antonio so he could be closer to his ranch out in Cotulla. “I have a ranch in South Texas and I got tired of the five hour commute from my ranch,” said Beckett, explaining why he moved. “[San Antonio is] a great city. You have the big city life with the small town atmosphere.” Josh has season tickets to the Spurs, but spent Wednesday night’s game down at the scorer’s table courtside. One tip, Josh: don’t pull a Lebron James and show up at any Celtics-Spurs games wearing that new San Antonio jersey.

And I was hoping to locate some video of the pregame festivities, but no such luck- these random snippets of Josh sitting courtside with his girlfriend Whitney will have to do… but be careful: blink, and you’ll miss him. I am a little in love with that shirt he’s wearing… western-style shirt with pearl snaps? Very nice, Mr. Beckett.

Speaking of the Celtics, Tito Francona was courtside for the Celtics-Hawks game in Boston on Friday night…. and even got in on the action by holding the ball for a Lucky the Leprechaun stunt dunk. “I told [Tito] he needs to go to a beach somewhere and just get away,” said his good friend, coach Doc Rivers.

Here’s some video footage of the dunking fun:

And now for some upcoming events:

Kevin Youkilis will be signing autographs tonight in Manchester, NH at BC Sports in the Mall of New Hampshire from 6:30-8:00pm. Then, Kevin will be at the Cask ‘n’ Flagon tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) at 5pm– because he will be shaving off his goatee (!) for charity. Now that’s gonna be something to see- how odd it will be to see his bare chin again… won’t it get cold in the winter temperatures?

Curt Schilling will be in New York tonight, Monday the 12th, to attend the “Salute to Our Troops” at Radio City Music Hall- and other attendees will be: Minka Kelly, Connie Britton, and Adrienne Palicki from “Friday Night Lights”, Joely Fisher, several members of the “Rescue Me” cast, and Miss Universe Riyo Mori.

Jacoby Ellsbury will get a hometown hero’s welcome back in Madras, Oregon- the town is throwing a parade in his honor this Saturday the 17th. Jacoby, his family, youngsters from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Madras and Warm Springs and little league teams will participate in the procession, and then Madras city officials and representatives of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will honor him in a ceremony afterwards.