Completed Event: Baseball versus No. 11 seed Kansas State on May 19, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 9
Final Score
Baseball
5
vs No. 11 seed Kansas State
9
The University of Utah Athletics
'An Evening With' Becomes a Baseball Tradition
1/10/2019 4:26 PM | Baseball
Yearly Baseball Banquet Becomes Cool Way to Begin Season
When 'An Evening With' banquet began 15 years ago, head baseball coach Bill Kinneberg never imagined it would become a yearly tradition to kick off the baseball season.
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"I never anticipated doing this 15 straight years and have the type of people we've had come in," Kinneberg said. "Every year I think I'm not going to do it again, but it has to happen."
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With speakers like Terry Francona, Cal Ripken, Tommy Lasorda and John Farrell among other baseball greats, 'An Evening With' has been wildly successful inviting donors to come and enjoy a fun night while supporting the Utah baseball team.
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When Kinneberg became Utah's head coach, he wanted to get a banquet going and Terry Francona, a close friend, agreed to be the first speaker right after he coached the Red Sox to its first World Series in 86 years.
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"The day after Boston won their first World Series in 2004, I talked with Terry and he said if I can do something for you then let me know," Kinneberg said. "I thought this would be a good opportunity for him to come in and speak and do the banquet. My whole reasoning on this after thinking about it is, everyone calls it a fundraiser and I really don't like that term. For me, it was more of getting the public to understand we have a baseball team and to generate interest from the media and fans. That's how it began."
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The next year, Kinneberg brought in Cal Ripken Jr. and the banquet quickly became a tradition.
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"We went from World Series Champion to one of baseball's biggest icons in Cal Ripken," Kinneberg said. "He came in and did a marvelous job and it kind of took off from there. We've had Hall of Famers, we've had managers and great people over the years that have continued this. We've been very lucky and very fortunate."
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This year, the Utes are bringing in another big name as three-time National League Manager of the Year Dusty Baker will be the speaker.
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Fans can come hear Baker speak as well as interact and meet the 2019 Utah baseball team on Tuesday, February 5 by purchasing a ticket. The evening features a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. There will also be a silent and live auction. Tickets for the event are $100 per person or $1,000 per table (10 plates per table).
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To reserve your seat, make a donation or for more information, reach out to Sydney Jones at 801-585-6779 or sjones@huntsman.utah.edu.
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"I never anticipated doing this 15 straight years and have the type of people we've had come in," Kinneberg said. "Every year I think I'm not going to do it again, but it has to happen."
Â
With speakers like Terry Francona, Cal Ripken, Tommy Lasorda and John Farrell among other baseball greats, 'An Evening With' has been wildly successful inviting donors to come and enjoy a fun night while supporting the Utah baseball team.
Â
When Kinneberg became Utah's head coach, he wanted to get a banquet going and Terry Francona, a close friend, agreed to be the first speaker right after he coached the Red Sox to its first World Series in 86 years.
Â
"The day after Boston won their first World Series in 2004, I talked with Terry and he said if I can do something for you then let me know," Kinneberg said. "I thought this would be a good opportunity for him to come in and speak and do the banquet. My whole reasoning on this after thinking about it is, everyone calls it a fundraiser and I really don't like that term. For me, it was more of getting the public to understand we have a baseball team and to generate interest from the media and fans. That's how it began."
Â
The next year, Kinneberg brought in Cal Ripken Jr. and the banquet quickly became a tradition.
Â
"We went from World Series Champion to one of baseball's biggest icons in Cal Ripken," Kinneberg said. "He came in and did a marvelous job and it kind of took off from there. We've had Hall of Famers, we've had managers and great people over the years that have continued this. We've been very lucky and very fortunate."
 Â
This year, the Utes are bringing in another big name as three-time National League Manager of the Year Dusty Baker will be the speaker.
Â
Fans can come hear Baker speak as well as interact and meet the 2019 Utah baseball team on Tuesday, February 5 by purchasing a ticket. The evening features a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. There will also be a silent and live auction. Tickets for the event are $100 per person or $1,000 per table (10 plates per table).
Â
To reserve your seat, make a donation or for more information, reach out to Sydney Jones at 801-585-6779 or sjones@huntsman.utah.edu.
Â
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