“Baby, it’s cold outside!”
That classic song from 1944 describes Northeast Ohio all too well right now. But for baseball fans, there’s good news: the Akron RubberDucks’ annual Hot Stove Banquet is back as anticipation of a new baseball season heats up.
Last week, I had the privilege to sit down with three members of the RubberDucks front office to get the inside scoop. Jim Pfander, the team’s President and General Manager, explained the roots of the Hot Stove tradition. “Many years ago, before smartphones and cable TV, folks used to get together before Spring Training. They would gather around a hot stove to warm up, and they would talk about baseball. That’s what got people through the winter months.” And if you’re anything like me, it’s still what gets you through the winter.
That’s the spirit behind the Hot Stove Banquet, set for this Friday, January 23, at the Hilton Garden Inn Akron. It’s a chance for the community to come together and talk about baseball right when we need it most.
This year’s event is unique. For the first time, the featured guest is a baseball executive with the Cleveland Guardians. Past banquets have had Hall of Famers like Jim Thome and Roberto Alomar, as well as Hall of Fame sportswriters like Tim Kurkjian. There have been unforgettable stories like those shared by former Tribe skipper Mike Hargrove and his wife, Sharon, about their decades-long career in baseball. Last year, Guardians reliever Cade Smith was the special guest. Everyone received a signed Cade Smith baseball and had the opportunity to get a picture with him, which I did. (Love me some Cade Smith!)
But this year, the RubberDucks are bringing in Chris Antonetti, the President of Baseball Operations for the Guardians. How’d they pull this off? Pfander told me, “Believe it or not, we were flying back from the winter meetings two years ago and Chris and I just happened to be sitting next to each other on the plane. So, I’m like, I’m going to make the ask. And Chris was so gracious, so genuine. He goes, ‘Jim, I would love to help you out.’”
Antonetti’s been a part of the Cleveland front office since 1999. He was promoted to General Manager in 2010 and then to President five years later. Under his leadership, Cleveland has the third most wins over the last 13 years in all of Major League Baseball. Only the Dodgers and Yankees have more, and the Yankees only have 27 more wins over that stretch. In a small market like Cleveland, that’s truly remarkable and it’s a testament to Antonetti and his team.
Brian Lobban, Senior Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Special Events, walked me through the schedule for the banquet: Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. with appetizers and beverages, followed by dinner and the main program at 6:30. There will be a highlight video recapping the Guardians 2025 season, a few introductions, and then Antonetti will take the stage for a moderated conversation with Ray Horner of Akron’s WAKR. Questions from the audience will be part of the fun as well. In addition to all this, there will be a silent auction/raffle featuring a variety of sports and community items and experiences from throughout Akron and Northeast Ohio. All proceeds will benefit a community charity of Antonetti’s choosing.
“It’s a time for people to network and see each other,” Lobban said. “It’s really our last event of the offseason and our first event of getting ready for 2026.” Pfander added, “It’s a great way to give back to the community.”
Pfander, an Akron native, sees the RubberDucks as much more than just what happens on the baseball field. His vision is to make the greater Akron area a better place to live, work, and play for everybody. “We do a program called Helping Hands where our front office staff is in the community volunteering throughout the year. It’s really important for us that we’re part of this community.”
Another unique twist this year is the arrival and presence of new ownership. The Prospector Baseball Group, led by John Abbamondi and Ben Boyer, acquired the RubberDucks from Ken Babby’s Fast Forward Sports Group in December. Pfander told me he’s excited to see what the new ownership will bring to Akron. “They have a lot of great energy. So excited to be a part of this.”
As anticipation builds for Opening Day, everyone in the community is invited to gather around the Hot Stove and help Akron warm up for baseball season. A few tickets are still available. Just visit AkronRubberDucks.com or call (330) 253-5151.
Hope to see you this Friday!
J.W. Mulpas resides in Northeast Ohio and is a lifelong Cleveland sports fan. His favorite baseball player of all-time is Indians legend and 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Thome. He enjoys playing Fantasy Baseball, especially dynasty leagues. J.W. is the creator of CLEBoxscoreBeat.com and is also a contributor at Prospects1500.com. You can follow him on X @CLEBoxscoreBeat.
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